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Poisons & Toxins harmful to Ferrets
Xylitol Toxicity
Xylitol is a sugar-free additive found to be toxic to dogs for a while but now it's been found that ferrets which have ingested products with Xylitol have the same bad reactions to it as dogs.
Some products which contain Xylitol are ...
sugar-free chewing gum
sugar-free baked goods
sugar-free candy, eg Tic Tacs
oral hygiene products, including toothpaste, mouthwashes and mints
chewable vitamins
throat lozenges
throat sprays
Symptoms can include:
Vomiting
Weakness
Depression
Ataxia (uncoordinated movements)
Hypokalemia (decreased potassium)
Seizures
Coma
Liver dysfunction and/or failure
These signs can be seen as soon as half-an-hour after a product containing Xylitol has been eaten by your ferret (or dog), so it’s absolutely essential that if you suspect your ferret of having eaten any of the above items that you get it to the vet as quickly as possible.
NEVER use human toothpaste to brush your ferret's teeth! Only use toothpaste suitable for pets and make sure you keep any of the above products out of your ferret’s reach.
Sugar-free chewing gum and candy are normally the most common item which get chewed up by ferrets so if you have them, please make doubly sure that these items are kept somewhere safe and out of reach of ferrets or any other pet in your house.
You can read more about Xylitol Toxicity & Ferrets on the following sites…
Who’d have thought! Raisins have been touted as treats for ferrets in the past and now they find out it could cause kidney problems if given to them regularly! They’re full of sugar, high in fiber and could even get stuck in a ferret’s gut if not digested properly Grapes can also cause kidney problems if given regularly so please don't give them to your ferrets as treats.
Chocolate
Chocolate contains theobromine, which is toxic to most animals. Please don't give your ferret any chocolate or leave it anywhere where it can be stolen by your ferret.
Avocado
Did you know that avocados have a substance called persin which is toxic to most animals?
The ads in Oz say “‘Ave an avo” and I know they’re great for humans but they’re an absolute no no for your ferrets to chow down on!
Aspirin Toxicity
If your ferret should accidentally get into a packet of aspirin and actually chews up and swallows some of the pills then there is a real danger it could develop aspirin toxicity, which could cause gastrointestinal problems, as well as bleeding disorders, kidney failure, respiratory difficulties or neurological problems.
Some symptoms to watch out for are:
Depression
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Anxiety
Lethargy
Abdominal pain
Black poop
Extreme thirst
Panting
Spontaneous bleeding
Pinpoint bruises in the skin and on the gums
If you think that your ferret has accidentally eaten some aspirins, try to work out how many pills it might have eaten and get it to the vet as soon as possible for treatment.
You can read more about Aspirin Toxicity & Ferrets on the following site…
Like with the aspirin, it is possible that your ferret might accidentally get into a box of anti-inflammatories and chew up some pills. That could cause bleeding stomach ulcers and even kidney failure, if the dose is high enough. This can be fatal if not treated.
Symptoms can include:
Weakness
Abdominal pain
Poor appetite
Black tarry stools
Lethargy
Dehydration
Vomiting (including vomiting blood)
If you see that your ferret has been chewing on anti-inflammatory pills, take it to the vet immediately for treatment.
You can read more about Ibuprofen Toxicity & Ferrets on the following site…
**N.B.** Please ask your vet to give you guidelines to follow if your ferret ingests a poisonous plant or has managed to swallow one of the items listed above because you need to know when to induce vomiting, and when not to.
You can read more about things around the house which are toxic to ferrets and what to look out for on the following sites…
DISCLAIMER: The information contained on this page is not meant to replace seeing a veterinarian if you think your ferret is ill. It’s only meant to supply general information on a particular illness which was obtained either from personal experience with my sick ferrets, or from books and/or the Internet.
Vomiting 
Grapes can also cause kidney problems if given regularly so please don't give them to your ferrets as treats.