My ferret is very itchy!

[Deleted]

Hello,

My ferret, Zeus, has been very itchy for the past few days, but I can't get him to the vet until Monday evening. I have checked for fleas but can't see any and he has also been treated with flea medication for the summer. He has been to the vet this past summer for itching a lot, but at that time he was itching at his ears, and the vet found that he had ear mites. This time, he seems to be itching under his neck/chin and at his sides, closer to his shoulder blades.

I actually think that he has been itching so much that he is causing himself to bleed. He has one cut in the area that he is scratching that is about a centimeter long and several other very small scabs on the back of his neck. Around the bigger cut that has now scabbed over, it seems like his fur has disappeared.

We just started switching our 2 ferrets to raw about a month ago, if that could be the cause of any of this.

Does anyone know possible reasons he could be so itchy, and also anything I can do to help relieve his itchiness until he gets to a vet?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[Sherry]

It's shedding season. Itching right now is fairly normal Once the new fur grows in it should ease off.
You can also give some fish oil, or salmon oil. 1/2 tsp every third day usually does quite well.

[Deleted]

OK Thanks - I will have to get some of that for him.

Do ferrets get so itchy that they will jump out of bed and just start aggressively itching then go back to bed. It seems like he is doing this every half hour to an hour .

[Sherry]

Yep ;D Mine have actually fallen out of bed and then off the platform to the floor of their cage and not even noticed the itch was so sudden and severe
Also keep in mind yours are not just shedding for winter- they are also in the process of getting a whole new coat because of their diet change.

[Deleted]

Ok thanks Sherry! Makes me feel better that it is probably just him shedding!

Do you think that we should still keep the vet appointment, or wait it out a little while? Maybe see what happens once he is on the fish oil.
I just feel so bad for him! How long do you think the fish oil will take to help him stop itching?

Our vet isn't super knowledgeable about ferrets in particular. He is just the vet for all the small animals so I don't know if he will really help. I also don't think he is going to be very enthusiastic about us switching to raw!

[Heather]

It is rare that a shedding ferret scratches to the point of bleeding. Might I enquire as to what you're feeding? Are you using supplements? Flax?
Ferrets are indeed a very itchy creatures and unfortunately this time of year during the shed they itch even more. Launching out of a hammy from a dead sleep, isn't uncommon. I had one wee fellow who often launched himself (from a dead sleep I might add)right off the top shelf. I eventually had to resort removing the shelf all together and only allowing him to live on a single level.
Ferrets also suffering from adrenal, itch more than most, so there can be a medical reason too.
ciao

[Deleted]

We are not 100% sure that the bleeding was caused by Zeus. The ferrets and our cat wrestle together sometimes, and it sometimes does get a bit rough, but we have had Zeus for 2 years, and the cat for longer and he has never caused either of the ferrets to bleed. Since the bleeding coincided with the itching we are guessing that it was Zeus doing it to himself.

We are still at the stage of feeding the ferrets soup with small chunks of meat in it. The soup consists of chicken meat, chicken heart, chicken liver, pumpkin, egg shell and water. This is all that we are giving them right now.

[Heather]

Are you feeding any oils? It could be just shedding, my guys are very itchy right now.
ciao

[Deleted]

Oh sorry I forgot - a bit of olive oil on top of their soup.