Natural Remedies for Ferrets

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I used to be rather skeptical about natural remedies but when my ferrets developed certain cancers, I did try to add certain items to their diet, like colloidal silver.

However when I was in France in June ’07, I saw for myself what a naturopathic vet could do for a sick animal. A cat belonging to friends of my sister got feline AIDS and looked like it was going to die. The owners took him to a naturopathic vet and after several weeks, this cat looked like he did before his illness. I saw him when he had recovered and I couldn’t believe that this cat was the one my sister had been crying about, thinking he wouldn’t be around when I arrived. He really was the picture of health.

When I got back home, our 8 year-old BEW girl, Kaos, was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy. I decided that I would supplement the medication she got from our vet with some TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine).

You can read about it all in Kaos’s Story.

 


 

Natural Remedies for Ferrets
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I have been trying out different types of supplements to add in my guys’ smoothie to keep them as strong and (I hope), as cancer-free, as possible. At the time of writing (06/2015), I have a girl, Mojo, who has both adrenal & liver disease.

I was putting black seed oil in the smoothie but when I read about oleocanthal, an ingredient in Extra Virgin Olive Oil, I decided to try that instead. It might be just a coincidence but since I’ve been adding that to their smoothie, Mojo, has been so sprightly and full of beans! I have fingers crossed that the smoothie keeps her well for as long as possible!

My vet had told me to bring her home and make her comfortable as she thought that the most Mojo would last would be a week. I’m happy to say that with my smoothie, Mojo was with us for just over 18 months and she was her usual idiotic state during that time!

This smoothie recipe was one I was making a few months ago (around June 2015) …

My Smoothie Recipe (2015)

1/2 cup of No Lactose milk

one free-range egg yolk

1/4 teaspoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)

2 drops Astaxanthin

1/8th teaspoon Camu Camu powder (Vitamin C)

1/8th teaspoon powdered Curcumin / Organic Turmeric  *

1/8th teaspoon powdered Boswellia serrata (Indian frankincense)

Put the no lactose milk in a jug, add the supplements and egg yolk and whisk together with an electric beater/whisk so that all the powder gets mixed into the milk really well. Serve at room temperature ?

NB* Curcumin thins the blood so if your ferret is scheduled for surgery, please talk to your vet about when to stop putting it in the smoothie.

** When Dash was ill and on prednisone, I added 3 drops of Milk Thistle to the smoothie. I asked the vet who gave Dash his ultrasound and confirmed it was lymphoma if I could have milk thistle to give him when he was on pred so she prescribed Herbal Authority Silymarin Milk Thistle 500mg.  I was told to give him 3 drops twice a day.

But please remember … medicinal herbs shouldn’t be used for extended periods of time.

Gregory L Tilford and Mary L Wulff explain in their book entitled Herbs for Pets: The Natural Way to Enhance your Pet’s Life: “Despite much of the publicity that has been generated about this ‘wonder herb’, milk thistle should not be used as a daily food supplement. Milk thistle is a medicine that is best reserved for situations in which the liver is already under abnormal stress.”

Most holistic doctors feel that milk thistle should be administered for 3-6 weeks with a 1-3 week break.


I felt so drained when Mojo left us and then Kimiko refused to eat or drink so she had to be taken to her final vet’s visit soon after that I felt I couldn’t have more ferrets due to severe heartache ?

However that feeling only lasted a few weeks and then I began wishing I had some running around to cheer me up! Fortunately WAFFS Rescue had just received two 6 month old brothers so I was the lucky person to give them a new home ?

Misha and Grisha have brought me so much laughter and love that I can’t believe I ever thought I couldn’t have more ferrets in my life! But after they’d been with me for a few month’s I noticed Grisha’s tail looking a bit ratty ?

So this is what I’m giving the boys in their smoothie these days (November 2019)

My Smoothie Recipe (2019)

1/2 cup of No Lactose milk

one free-range egg yolk

1 whole liquid capsule of Astaxanthin

10 drops of Organic Turmeric Extract

5 drops of Adrenal Support by Herb Pharm

5 drops of Lymphatonic Professional Strength by Herbs Etc

Put the no lactose milk in a jug, add the supplements and egg yolk and whisk together with an electric beater/whisk so that everything gets mixed into the milk really well. Serve at room temperature!

 


 

I am also aware of many people who do ferret out (sorry, couldn’t resist that ?) natural remedies for their sick ferrets and I thought it would be great for us all to be able to share our experiences, thoughts, advice and opinions.

Therefore I would be delighted if people would write down their stories so that we will all able to learn what might, or might not, be best for our sick ferrets together!

I’m also keen to add names of vets who have a “holistic” approach to treating ferrets as and when I come across them. Please let me know of any names of naturopathic vets you’ve come across who’ve helped your pet/s. I’m sure other owners who are searching for a natural course of treatment for their sick ferrets would be very grateful if that information is shared.

I’m looking forward to having a great community of different ideas, opinions and information, with everyone sharing what they trust will be of help to other people’s sick ferrets!

 


 

I was recently asked by an experienced ferret owner what to do with a rescued girl that she took in and who was a fear biter. I gave her my thoughts on how to train her ferret and then thought about Bach Rescue Remedy as I heard that it worked on nervous ferrets.

I haven’t tried it on any of my ferrets but if anyone has a highly-strung ferret, perhaps you might find it’ll help to calm them. If you do try it, I’d really appreciate it if you let me know if it helped or not ?

 


 

Links to Holistic Sites for Ferrets

Alternative Medicine for Ferrets – Alternative Veterinary Medicine Centre

Vitamin Therapy in Lymphomic Ferrets – Scales and Tails Exotic Pet Rescue

Vitamins and Minerals – Friend or Foe? – Smithsonian

Shirley’s Wellness Cafe – Ferret Natural Health Care and Optimum Diet

HealingCancerNaturally.com – Success Story: Cancer and Ferrets – Adrenal Cancer GONE!

The New Rainbow Bridge – Nutritional Supplements

 


 

Non-Ferret Specific Links

Why Your Holistic Vet Should Also Be an Excellent Conventional Vet

Are Nutritional Supplements for Pets Really Necessary?

Holistic Pet Info – Pet Health Articles

Herbal Healing for Pets

Use Of Supplements With Ferrets by Jennifer Robertson (Holistic Ferret Forum)

“What, In My Opinion, Is Truly the Best Way to Ensure Your Pet’s Nutritional Needs?”

Find a Homeopathic Vet

You can download the pdf which explains the benefit of Astaxanthin HERE.

 


 

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page…

Make a glass pitcher of water with 1 tablespoon of Opti MSM and only give them that water to drink. It will keep your ferrets healthy, even if they have disorders, and will keep them pain-free naturally. It will also keep their teeth plaque-free.
Mix Gerber’s chicken and gravy baby food with water to make a soup and give to them twice a day, but also leave hard food out for them — preferable Blue Wilderness chicken for cats. This should keep them healthy.
I’ve had 9 ferrets and have only been to the vet twice in the past 6 years! Once to put my oldest 10 to sleep because he had pain when urinating and he was too elderly for an operation; and one younger ferret because she has some calcium stones in her bladder and had to get antibiotics.
Make sure it is Opti MSM as the processing of the MSM makes a major difference in the quality. Also most ferret food and cat food use peas as the binder — this causes calcium stones so Blue Wilderness chicken cat food in the bag is the best bet.
The ferrets must have a wet protein as well — Gerber chicken and gravy with water is the purest protein, with no fruits or veggies added (which ferrets cannot digest).
You have to usually feed them off your fingers to start them on the baby food to get them used to it but after that they go crazy for it 😀
(Lisa B)

TheChocandBlancShow
Hi,my female ferret Blanca has adrenal disease that has quieted down since using several supplements on a daily basis and darkening her room

Advice Needed 
2 weeks ago, my 2 year old ferret Butters somehow injured himself and wasn’t putting any weight on his font paw and was basically army crawling around. …

Rosie
My little Rosie is losing weight so fast and will not eat, just water. Now she’s starting to fall over, I have no money to take her to a Vet. Is there …

FLEAS, AHHHHHHHHH!
I was stroking my ferret, and a little flea appears in his coat. Do You Have Any Flea Treatments For Ferrets?

Nursing Sick Ferrets
In the last year my 2 elderly ferrets (now 7 and 6 1/2yrs) have had bouts of illness that without intensive nursing and care would have seen them not survive …

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have a 7-8 year old albino ferret named China. As you can probably understand she is old. But my main concern is that she has been losing hair on her …

UH OH
My albino ferret has been losing his fur. At first I thought it was due to seasonal shedding, but soon he started losing fur on his back and stomach. …

My poor little Noni
Noni is about 8 years old and and has developed a small bubble on his ear and according to a on call vet she thought it could be a tumor. I am unsure if …

TheChocandBlancshow
Hi,my female ferret Blanca has adrenal disease that has quieted down since using several supplements on a daily basis and darkening her room. She readily …

The wonders of canned pure pumpkin
I have three ferrets. My oldest has had stomach problems from day one. She would alternate between diarrhea and regular stools every few days. All my …

my ferret Figgy and cancer
I just want to tell you guys about my ferret Figgy who had cancer basically throughout her entire body. She was 3.5 yrs old and I had her diagnosed …

Sick Ferrets natural remedies
I’d like to make sure that everyone knows I am not a vet. Just a ferret lover. When my Fluffy was diagnosed with Insulinoma at the age of 6yrs, my vet …

please help!!!!
I share my home with 6 wonderful ferrets – my Lemmy is 2-1/2 years of age. He recently has developed these sores around his mouth and nose. The vet …

…..JULIAN’S COMEBACK…..
WHEN we brought Julian home in Sept ’07, 5 months ago, she was in very bad shape and little was known about her history aside from a girl dropped her off …

Herbal remedies from Azmira
Abby, my female albino ferret is about 7 years old. Several years ago she started losing her fur, her vulva was enlarged and she had that pot-belly. She …

Insulinoma and Essiac Tea……
Imp is my 6 year old Marshall Farms ferret who was diagnosed with insulinoma several months ago. I’m very familiar with insulinoma and not at all happy …

homeopathic ferret
I would like to add a link to a newly formed group for those with interest in homeopathic ferret treatment. practices, and herbal aids in general. homeopathicferret@ya …

Caspar’s story
My 7 year old albino male called Caspar developed lymphoma last year. The vet said there was nothing to be done as the cancer was in a very difficult …

 


 

Since I’m not longer with SBI, I can’t have a comment section laid out like I did. However I do hope you’ll still write comments in the comment box and it would be great if other readers would also put their comments down. Please don’t think that I’m the only one who should reply to comments 😀

 


DISCLAIMER:  I would stress that this site is not run or written by vets! The stories here are just shared experiences of ordinary ferret owners who are keen to help, or have helped their sick ferrets with alternative remedies.The information contained on this page is not meant to replace seeing a veterinarian if you think your ferret is ill.And I would strongly recommend you check with your vet before you use any natural remedies on your ferret, just in case it does something to stop your vet’s medical treatment from working properly!


 

43 thoughts on “Natural Remedies for Ferrets”

  1. Hi! I have a 9 yr old female ferret, and about a year a go she started developing a bad rash (the vet and I tried many different creams and drops) and it wouldn’t go away. I then thought to try some colloidal oatmeal instead of her ferret shampoo and it has been amazing! It completely cleared her skin irritation, and on top of that it left her feeling much softer after bath times. I found that even her ferret shampoo seemed to dry out her body oils too much. I’ve pretty much switched to just bathing her with the oatmeal (from any pharmacy like CVS, Rite-Aid) and she’s much happier with it!
    I’m passing this along because I want to make sure that other ferret owners know to try this – and possibly switch out from shampoo – bc its much more soothing to their skin, and does a great job of keeping the little guys clean without the fake “watermelon-cucumber” scents 🙂

  2. Thanks so much for sharing that information with us, Lucia! It’s wonderful to know what shampoo doesn’t cause irritation and is better for our little guys!
    Hugs to your senior citizen 😉 from her new friends down under 😀
    Cheers
    ~Nona

  3. I am so thankful I found your site. My 7 yr old ferret Has been sick for days.I have tried every site I could think of to try to find something natural. I just made Mojo’s smoothie.I have my fingers crossed. Thank you.

  4. Hi Bethany
    I hope the supplements in the smoothie help your old friend! Fingers crossed!
    When I first started giving Mojo that smoothie, she’d seen the vet and had been diagnosed with a very swollen liver. My vet thought she had but a few days left on this earth 🙁
    Thanks to the supplements, I kept the old girl going with a good quality of life for another 18 months so I hope it will do the same for your ferret 🙂
    Hugs to your oldie from friends down under and for you, good luck!
    Cheers
    ~Nona

  5. For some of the supplements, it would be nice if you could provide better measurements. Like saying that you’re giving 2 drops of something, how many mg? Ounces? Something? While I’m glad there’s some information out there, there’s no way to figure out how much is a good amount to start on if there’s no proper amounts given.

  6. Monica – which supplements were you referring to?
    I wrote down what I gave my guys for their daily smoothie and gave measurements so am not sure which ones you meant 🙂
    Cheers
    ~Nona

  7. Oh Ashley – if your ferret is dragging its back legs, that could be a sign of insulinoma; however the green pee is a sign of a ferret with heartworm, so I honestly don’t know what is wrong with your ferret ?
    Both my suggestions could be way off base and so you need to take your ferret to a ferret-savvy vet to be checked over ASAP!
    I hope it’s nothing that can’t be helped with medication but if it’s heartworm, then there is nothing which can be done ?
    ~Nona

  8. Hello! My ferret within the last few months has developed a bump on his throat. It looked like a scab at first but several times has gone away and then come back with a vengeance. It now looks more like a tumor and continues to grow. Would you suggest this smoothie recipe? Or any supplement in particular? Thank you so much.

  9. Hi Deanna
    I would strongly advise you to take your little guy to the vet to see what is exactly going on with that bump!
    It could be a mast cell tumour, which normally is non-cancerous, but it worries me that it’s on his throat. I would be scared that if it gets really big, it would prevent him from eating food.
    At least if you get him checked out by the vet, you’ll know what the problem is and if the vet says it’s not a malignant tumour, then I would be able to suggest some supplements to help his immune system to recover.
    At this time, I’m afraid I don’t know what to suggest to help him. Sorry 🙁
    Hope all goes well and it’s nothing awful ?
    Hugs to your little man from his new buddies down under ??
    ~Nona

  10. I am not sure how old my ferret is we found him outside in my back yard. He has been great. In the last two days he isn’t eating or drinking much I have been giving him water and some liquid protein and some olive oil. I thought maybe he ate something he can’t pass. He doesn’t do anything but lay around. I think I need to change his food I get it from Walmart. And we get the stuff to put in his water for to help with smell. There are so many different types of food I am really not sure where to begin. I am not rich but I can afford to spend 20 to 25 on some foods needs to beable to last him a month and I think he needs more than one food???

  11. Hi Ann
    I would suggest you take your ferret to the vet to find out why he’s not eating or drinking as it could be terrible if he’s swallowed soft plastic or foam and it’s stopping food or water from passing along his gut!
    I had a ferret which swallowed a dried olive pit and it was touch and go as to whether she’d make it! It’s terribly serious!

    https://www.all-about-ferrets.com/blockages-in-ferrets.html

    Have you noticed if your boy’s poop is different to confirm he might have a blockage?
    Another ferret owner talked about giving her babies pure pumpkin to help fix their problem. If that sounds like what’s wrong with your boy, then perhaps you could try giving him pumpkin to see if that’ll help? But please be aware that ferrets go downhill very quickly so please don’t spend time trying things out and take him to the vet!

    https://www.all-about-ferrets.com/the-wonders-of-canned-pure-pumpkin.html

    You can read about the food you should give a ferret on this page and find out which is the best one to get for yours …

    https://ferretedu.weebly.com/ferret-food-charts.html

    I hope that is of help to you and that there’s nothing seriously wrong with your little guy!
    Hugs to your fellow from his new friends down under!
    Cheers
    ~Nona

  12. We have 2 female ferrets (both 3 years old). They have had no medical issues until now. They’ve eaten Marshall premium ferret food all of their lives. The one ferret has suddenly lost all of the hair on her tail. She has no other symptoms, but I’m suspecting adrenal gland disease. I do not want to put her on any meds. What should I do for her? Thank you for any advice.

  13. Hi Janet
    If all the hair on her tail has gone then it might not be adrenal related! It could be seasonal alopecia ?‍♀️ Have you noticed any other symptoms?
    I’ve noticed that ferrets with adrenal lose their hair at the base of their tail then moves up the back on either side of the spine. But then, having said that I admit hair loss anywhere on a ferret could be due to adrenal problems ?
    The thing is, if you can afford it and her problem is adrenal, it would be much better to take your girl to the vet and get that Suprelorin (Deslorelin) implant put in her. The implant doesn’t cure the problem but it does help to suppress the production of GnRH in the brain which, in turn, suppresses the production of hormones from the adrenal glands.
    Now, if you’re still keen to treat your girl with supplements, then please take a look at the two readers’ comments on my adrenal page …

    https://www.all-about-ferrets.com/adrenal-gland-disease-in-ferrets.html

    They are at the bottom of the page and will give you ideas about what to give your girl. I haven’t tried any of the supplements mentioned because at the time of Angus’ disease, they weren’t available in Oz 🙁
    I hope you get a good result and that your baby will get her hair back quickly!
    Oh … on the subject of food for ferrets – you might want to take a look at this chart which shows the best brands to feed to ferrets. You might want to think about changing their brand to a better one?

    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Ugt4k4JPUw8X-WDsxbbOIBUqIKkTubrkpyba4YsUeEg/edit#gid=0

    Hugs to your little ones from their new friends down under ?
    Cheers
    ~Nona

  14. My ferret Kiki is about 2 years old now. And since September 2019 she’s been losing hair everywhere but her neck and head. I suspect adrenal disease, but I know that there is a number of reasons she could be losing hair. And I haven’t seen anything else wrong but hair loss. She’s eating fine and doesn’t seem to have any probems going to the bathroom like my last ferret did. I just want some recommendations for home remedies to help her out. I can’t take her to the vet because my parents are picky about money and don’t exactly like the ferret very much.

  15. Hi Erica
    It would seem that you’re correct in your assessment about Kiki having adrenal disease but it really would be best if you could take her to be checked out by a ferret vet! However I do understand your predicament re the money situation ?
    It’s sometimes dangerous for ferret owners to diagnose an illness – I found that out with my last boy, Dash, the hard way! I was sure he had a blockage as I noticed his poop was green and skinny. Took him to the vet and after xrays and an ultrasound, we found out that he had lymphoma, and the cancer was wrapped around his intestine and that was why his poop looked odd! My poor little fellow only lasted 6 weeks after the diagnosis ?
    Please take a look at my page about adrenal disease, if you haven’t already …

    https://www.all-about-ferrets.com/adrenal-gland-disease-in-ferrets.html

    There is a link there to the Choc & Blanc Show where a ferret owner wrote about how she cured her girl’s adrenal disease by using certain supplements. I haven’t been able to get some of those supplements down under so haven’t tried it myself but if you can get them, it might be worth you trying them out to see if they help regrow Kiki’s hair!

    https://www.all-about-ferrets.com/thechocandblancshow.html

    I hope they do help Kiki and I wish you the very best for trying to fix your girl’s problem ❤❤
    Hugs to Kiki from her new friends down under ?
    Cheers
    ~Nona

  16. Hi, I’m starting to give my 5 year old ferret this smoothie: 1/2 cup of No Lactose milk
    one free-range egg yolk
    1/4 teaspoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
    2 drops Astaxanthin
    1/8th teaspoon Camu Camu powder (Vitamin C)
    1/8th teaspoon powdered Curcumin / Organic Turmeric *
    1/8th teaspoon powdered Boswellia serrata (Indian frankincense)
    – but I don’t know how much to feed him daily and how long should he take it? He has Insulinoma. 🙁

  17. Hi Tae
    Have you read about the other supplements which are good for insulinoma on my page about the disease?

    https://www.all-about-ferrets.com/insulinoma-in-ferrets.html

    I would add Milk Thistle (5 drops) and 1/4 teaspoon of DMG to the smoothie and not add the EVOO. I would also suggest you squeeze the whole capsule of Astaxanthin into the smoothie, not just 2 drops.
    And as you only have one ferret, perhaps 1/4 cup of no lactose milk would be enough for him. Give it to him every day – it certainly wouldn’t hurt him and hopefully the supplements will kick in and make his quality of life a whole lot better. That is what we hope will help but, of course, there are no guarantees ?
    Hope that’s been of some help!
    Hugs to your little man from his new friends down under ❤
    Cheers
    ~Nona

  18. Hi, I’m here about Olaf again. I’ve been giving him 1/8 teaspoon of DMG, I didn’t realize you said 1/4 teaspoon. The bottle says 1 drop per 100 grams of weight. He’s about 2 pounds. Do you think that’s okay?
    Thank you so much for your help! 🙂

  19. Hi Tae
    If the bottle says 1 drop per 100g, 2lbs = .90g, so that would mean you could give Olaf 9 drops.
    Hope your little guy is doing well ❤
    All the best
    ~Nona

  20. My male ferret has a uti. Is there anything I can do so I dont have to take him to the vet?

  21. Hi, I’m here about my ferret Rex. He has been diagnosed with insulinoma for coming on a year now. He has acted fairly normal throughout it all and stopped the seizure things soon after starting to take the medicine. Unfortunately throughout the year, he has gained a very little amount of his weight back recently we’ve started switching him over to a healthier kibble and his ribs are starting to disappear a little. I have been searching for ways to have him eating healthier but have been too scared to really try anything. He can’t go on a raw diet or any diet changes. I’m just searching for anything to add to his diet to help. I was wondering if you could tell me what to put in the daily smoothie for him specifically and what would be best, I was also wondering if you could tell me why that particular ingredient was something you recommended. I’m also wondering if you have any tips for strengthening his back legs, as he’s recently attempted to start using them again but can’t seem to. Also, he is taking prednisone twice a day at ten in the morning and ten at night. He is in the range the vets want him to be for blood sugar.

    Thanks for any advice in advance.

  22. Hi Dan
    I was just replying to Annabelle who asked about Rex and his inability to use his hind legs properly!
    I would suggest a daily smoothie for Rex and this is what I advise you should put in the smoothie jug …
    — 1 cup no lactose milk
    — 1 egg yolk
    — 4mg Astaxanthin (make a hole in the capsule and squeeze the whole lot into the jug)
    — Milk Thistle, Alcohol-Free, 2,000 mg, 1 fl oz (5 drops) (milk thistle protects the liver as prednisone puts a strain on it)
    Mix it well and serve.
    What do you feed Rex? You said he can’t have any changes to his diet or go on a raw one but I was wondering if there was something you were feeding him which caused his insulinoma ?‍♀️
    I know when I added Nutrigel to my ferrets’ smoothie years ago, I had 2 ferrets which developed insulinoma and I realised it was because of the malt that was in the Nutrigel ? Please check all the labels of any food/drink you give Rex to make sure there is nothing sweet or sugary there!
    Read the post by Lisa B below and consider using what she suggests …
    Make a glass pitcher of water with 1 tablespoon of Opti MSM and only give them that water to drink. It will keep your ferrets healthy, even if they have disorders, and will keep them pain-free naturally. It will also keep their teeth plaque-free.
    Mix Gerber’s chicken and gravy baby food with water to make a soup and give to them twice a day, but also leave hard food out for them — preferable Blue Wilderness chicken for cats. This should keep them healthy.

    I’m afraid I don’t really have an answer about how to get Rex’s back legs stronger but I hope that the smoothie will help to give him strength.
    Oh, and do use good quality brands for the supplements in the smoothie as I understand the supplements sold by Walmart aren’t particularly good so would be a waste of money in the long run!
    I hope that’s been of some help!
    Hugs to Rex from his furry friends down under ❤
    Cheers
    ~Nona

  23. I need help. My 10 month old she is really sick. We took her to the vet, her spleen is enlarged, one lymphnode is enlarged. Fever of 105 but has since gone with metacam. She has been eating and drinking pretty well. Still going the bathroom fine albeit smaller amounts due to the amount she is eating. She is currently on her last two doses of amoxicillan. My vet, sought the help of the certified ferret vet here and he said he doesn’t think its lymphoma. The spleen and the lymphnode are reactionary to whatever is going on. The antibiotics, I think, haven’t done anything. She has periods where I think she is turning the corner and then i think we have regressed. She is dehydrated so I got some infant pedialyte no flavors, no dyes.i got canned kitten food, bone broth for her kibbles, she has eaten the last of the carnivore critical care from the vet. She is still lethargic, weak. Breathing i think is still rapid, elevated heart rate but that could be my ignorance. Maybe its normal. She has lost weight. No hair loss. No low blood sugar. No obstruction, no build up of fluids in her abdomen. I dont know what to do. Its been almost a week. I dont want to lose her. While we were at the vet they did blood work but couldn’t get enough blood for blood chem test. I am just sitting her watching her fade away it feels like. Has anyone experienced this? My heart is breaking. She’s still young and the vet nor I know whats going on..please help, I am desperate. I won’t let her die, please.

  24. Oh Laura, I am so sorry to hear about your furbaby’s illness and very much understand how you want to help her recover fully ❤️
    I would recommend giving her a smoothie with supplements on a daily basis to help her immune system!
    This is what I would put in a jug …
    — 150-200ml no lactose milk
    — 1 egg yolk
    — Squirt the contents of the softgel capsule of 10mg Astaxanthin* (once you see improvement or when you have finished all the 10mg capsules, you can put her on 4mg astaxanthin)
    — 5 drops of Essiac Tonic**
    — 5 drops of Lymphatonic Professional Strength by Herbs Etc (this has some of the same herbs as the essiac tonic so once you see your girl has improved, I’d suggest picking either the essiac or lymphatonic to continue with, not both)

    Mix well and serve at room temperature

    * https://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2013/4/astaxanthin-provides-broad-spectrum-protection
    ** http://www.newrainbowbridge.com/essiac_1.html

    If you get a small piece of cardboard and push a thumb tack into it, you can push the top of the softgel onto the tack then squirt it into the jug!

    You might also find this site of interest – I know you said your vet said your baby didn’t have lymphoma but it might be useful to add the supplements which are talked about there…

    http://www.scalesandtails.org/?page_id=11

    Just out of curiosity, did you read my page about Lymphoma/Lymphosarcoma to see if your ferret has any of the symptoms?
    As I said, give her the smoothie every day. My guys, both past and present, absolutely love their smoothie and coming running when they hear me use the stick beater smooshing up the milk ?
    If you do put the astaxanthin in (I highly recommend that you do use it), please don’t freak out when she poops after having her smoothie as the astaxanthin will make her poop look red!!
    Please make sure you get good brands for the supplements because it’d just be a waste of money to use cheap brands.
    I use this site for all my supplements, apart from the essiac tonic, as they stopped getting it. However I just looked and saw they have the tonic in softgels so if you can’t find it anywhere else, that might be an option, although it’s quite expensive there …

    https://iherb.com/

    I hope that has been of some help to you and I also hope the supplements will make your little one into a healthy, happy ferret.
    Big hugs for your little fighter from her new furry friends down under ❤️
    Wishing you all the very best
    Cheers
    ~Nona

  25. Hi Dan & Annabelle
    I forgot to mention these points re the supplements *IF* you decide to give Rex them in the smoothie!
    My guys, both past and present, absolutely love their smoothie and coming running when they hear me use the stick beater smooshing up the milk ?
    If you do put the astaxanthin in (I highly recommend that you do use it), please don’t freak out when Rex poops after having his smoothie as the astaxanthin will make his poop look red!! It can give ferret owners a heart attack if they’re not aware of that fact ?
    This article tells you what astaxanthin does …

    https://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2013/4/astaxanthin-provides-broad-spectrum-protection

    Please make sure you get good brands for the supplements because it’d just be a waste of money to use cheap brands.
    I use this site for all my supplements as I can’t find many of the ones I use so it really helps me, and they’re pretty fast re deliveries!

    https://iherb.com/

    I hope that you’ll find that they help Rex and he has a lot of good years with you guys!
    Stay safe and healthy, and please give Rex another hug from their furry buddies down under ?
    Cheers
    ~Nona

  26. Hey, Rex has been getting everything for around two weeks now. It’s amazing the effect it’s had on him. No more shaky legs, gaining back weight, not violently shivering every time he’s out of the cage. He’s gone from his ten minutes of playtime back up to three hours. He’s just overall a lot better. Plus he loves it. When I used to wake him up for his medicine I’d have to struggle to get him out of the hammock, but now by the time I enter my room he’s ready for the egg. It’s also way easier to give him his medicine because instead of taking time to gag and spit after receiving it he just goes straight back to eating his egg. Which makes me feel a lot more confident he’s getting most of the medicine. I was just wondering do you have any ways to combat the fishy smell the astaxanthin gives to his poop? I don’t want to use any sprays or anything to mask the scent because 1. My dog hates anything like that. 2. Rex hates anything like that 3. Most of that kind of stuff makes me sneeze. The fish smell doesn’t bother me all that much because I’ve gotten pretty used to bad smells but it’s coming through the vents and my family is getting bothered by it. Plus no one wants to spend any time in my room because of the smell which honestly is a bonus, but I figured while I was thanking you for everything your advice has done for Rex I could at least ask if you have any way to combat the smell.

  27. That is really good news, Dan – so happy to know that Rex has improved and is more like his old self ❤
    I’m sorry to say that I have no idea how to get rid of Astaxanthin’s fishy smell ?
    One thing that I did buy to put in all the rooms of our house is this …
    Natural Bamboo Air Purifier Deodorizer Bags 6 Pack 100% Activated Charcoal Car
    Odor Eliminator Kitchens Bedrooms Bathrooms Cars Shoes

    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/303594307275

    I don’t know if I’m imagining it but I feel that it’s helped with minimising the smell of our animals in the house! You might want to try that in your bedroom?
    Hugs for your little man from his furry buddies down under ?
    Cheers
    ~Nona

  28. My ferrett has a uti. Took him to the vet dec 23rd he was sedated for a cath to drain bladder kept overnight sent home he seems to be puddling on himself in small amounts and still hurts to pee only lil dibbles. Lucks hes genitals alot is this normal. ???

  29. Hi Gloria
    I’m afraid I don’t have any suggestions for natural remedies for UTIs as they need antibiotics to cure the problem ?
    I’d suggest you take him back to the vet to see as it seems like he needs more medication to get better!
    Hope everything goes well with him ❤
    Cheers
    ~Nona

  30. Hi I was wondering what I can give my ferret bandit he has been sneezing alot I think he has a cold he’s 5 months old

  31. Hi there!
    I don’t know of a supplement to give to a ferret with a suspected cold. It could be that Bandit went under some furniture which had a lot of dust on the floor and that’s the reason he’s sneezing so much! Keep an eye on him to make sure that if he DOES have a cold, it doesn’t get worse and turn into flu. If that happens, you’ll need to see the vet for medication to heal him.
    What I would suggest is giving Bandit a daily smoothie comprised of : NO LACTOSE milk; 1 egg yolk; 1 capsule of Astaxanthin which you make a hole in (using an upside down tack) and squeezed into the jug. Mix well and serve at room temperature.
    That will keep his immune system strong and hopefully keep all the bugs away!
    Hugs to Bandit from his new buddy down under ❤
    Cheers
    ~Nona

  32. My apologies! I should have been more specific!!
    I have been told that the Hawaiian Astaxathin capsules are the best so look for the brand called Bio-Astin. This pdf should give you all the information you need to research the supplement (even though it’s produced by that brand ?
    Scroll down to “Love your Pet? Give it Natural Astaxanthin. . . . .

    https://www.naturalnews.com/Files/Astaxanthin.pdf

    I give my pets 4mg capsules in their smoothie.
    I have heard that supplements from stores like Walmart aren’t particularly good as they have cheap brands to encourage people to buy cheaply (if you get my drift)!
    I live in Australia, as you know, and there are a lot of supplements we can’t get at our local stores so I go to the Australian website of this place : iHerb.com
    I find their supplements help my animals and their prices aren’t horribly high!
    Good luck!!!
    Cheers
    ~Nona

  33. I’d say 200-250 mls. If you leave it for Bandit to drink overnight then see how much he actually drinks, then you can give him less. However if you have another pet (cat or dog), you could always let it finish the smoothie the next day ?
    Our dog loves having the smoothie so I put 300 mls of the no lactose milk into the jug and pour half for Zac and give my ferret the other half. Sometimes Grisha drinks all of it and other times he leaves quite a lot so yours might do the same ?‍♀️

  34. I don’t think he’d like having that put in his water as it’s a bit oily and also a bit fishy. Like red krill oil, if you get my drift!
    Was wondering if you put your finger in the smoothie and then just dabbed a bit onto his nose, so that he has to lick it off. That might encourage him to drink?!?!
    All my guys loved the smoothie so I never had to persuade a ferret to take it; am really not too sure what to suggest ?‍♀️
    What a bummer ?‍♀️

  35. Hi Catherine
    I’ve been trying to think how Bandit would be persuaded to have the Astaxanthin and thought of this …
    Could you put an egg yolk on a dish and then squeeze the Astaxanthin on that?! Make sure you mix the supplement and egg yolk very thoroughly so it’s all included and see if he’ll enjoy that ?‍♀️
    Again, if he walks away, perhaps you could smear some yolk with the supplement on his nose to encourage him to take more?!?!
    If I come up with any more ideas I will definitely let you know but apart from the ones I’ve shared with you … I am at a loss!!!
    So sorry ?‍♀️
    Hugs to your stubborn little man ❤❤❤

  36. Hi my ferret Gemini is only 10 months old. At first I thought he was constipated but i found out he is having troubles urinating. He’s not eating or drinking, I’ve been giving him kitten formula by syringe so he doesn’t get dehydrated cause there are no emergency vets for exotics here in Tennessee. I am stressing out I have health issues myself. I don’t want to loose my baby! He is so sweet. He is deaf but he so hilarious with my other babies. I wish I could just take him to the hospital. I am so mad at the vets for not caring to have an exotic vet on call!!!

  37. Hi Christiana
    It’s quite serious if Gemini can’t piddle as it would seem there is something there blocking it. That would mean an operation!
    Please make sure you get some electrolytes in his water – I have information here …

    https://www.all-about-ferrets.com/dehydration-in-ferrets.html

    If you find that Gemini has a problem with pooping, perhaps this page will help you to fix the problem …

    https://www.all-about-ferrets.com/the-wonders-of-canned-pure-pumpkin.html

    I have a list of ferret/exotic vets in TN but I last updated it in 2015 ?‍♀️ Please take a look and I hope you’ll find a vet close to where you live. Get Gemini to the vet asap as once a ferret goes downhill, he needs help quickly!

    https://www.all-about-ferrets.com/ferret-vets-tennessee.html

    I did a quick check and found these sites which are not listed on my page …

    https://emoryanimalhospital.com/exotic-pets-care/ (in Powell)
    https://www.northmadisonanimalvet.com/avian-and-exotics (in Jackson)
    https://www.coffeevethospital.com/Our-Services/Exotics-Reptiles-Avian (in Manchester)

    Hugs to your poor little sick boy from his new buddy down under ❤
    Good luck and I hope you get him fixed up as soon as possible!
    Cheers
    ~Nona

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