The chances of your ferret having a stroke when it is still young are very low. Mostly, ferrets up to 5 years old get a stroke; the chances of stroke increase as they age.
Strokes don’t usually show signs like other diseases; it happens in a hurry like a heart attack in the human body. You have a couple of seconds or minutes to take your ferret to a nearby vet.
If you get to a vet in time then they might be able to lessen your ferret’s suffering. We are going to teach you how to identify any symptoms of stroke, so you can be prepared to act and take care of your ferret in time.
Reasons Why A Ferret Suffers A Stroke
If you notice your ferret’s diet, and how it has been acting recently due to that diet, you will be able to understand what is happening. A stroke in a ferret largely depends on its diet.
There are few things you need to pay attention to regarding his diet.
For example, is your ferret eating too much or too little for the past few months? If there is any change in his diet or he is showing signs of lethargy for the past few weeks, there is a chance he is going to suffer some severe stroke.
For that reason, according to many professional vets too, as a pet owner, it is your duty to be extremely cautious about your pet’s diet.
Any change in his diet is an indication that something is not well.
How A Stroke Happens
In case you are pondering how a stroke happens in a ferret, you must first know what a stroke is. A stroke occurs when part of the brain does not receive blood because of certain interruptions. This can happen due to many reasons, such as other diseases, stomach-related problems, or more.
Mostly, the interruptions in ferrets happen because of chronic disease. If you take care of your hob or jill extremely well and take them to the vet after every few months for a check-up, there is a good chance they won’t deal with the symptoms of a stroke. A professional vet will perform the necessary checks to prevent any disease or illness from becoming chronic.
That’s why they stay safe in the long run, and their brain cells don’t die rapidly too like other pets. The parts of their brain keep on receiving a healthy amount of oxygen on and on.
How to Know Your Ferret is Dealing with a Stroke
Well, in this unfortunate situation, your ferret will most likely fall unconscious and won’t respond. When going through a stroke he can also put his head down and start revolving in circles. This weird behavior can last up to few minutes. Don’t delay if you happen to be present right when it starts happening!
In some severe cases, your ferret won’t respond at all and remain lying on the floor without any movement. If this happens, try to clap near its ear or rub its head a little with your fingertips to check if it is sleeping or actually potentially suffering from a stroke.
Sadly, strokes aren’t easy for ferrets.
They can leave behind a temporary scar on their bodies, especially if they survive it during their playtime. Furthermore, they can paralyze a certain part of their body and remain vulnerable for the rest of their lives.
Situations like paralysis occur, especially on the neck and legs. If you notice any hind leg symptoms particularly, it is pertinent to take him to a vet as soon as possible to avoid any temporary or permanent brain damage. You can learn about other causes of back leg weakness here.
What about Heat Stroke Symptoms?
Heat stroke, or hyperthermia, is actually a common occurrence for ferrets. When you keep a ferret in too warm of a room or house, or accidentally leave them in a hot cage for too long, they can suffer because of their inability to regulate their body temperatures. Ferrets are unable to sweat, so you must be careful with the room temperature if you live in a hotter area. A good level to be aware of is keeping the room or house below 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you find your ferret laying unconscious, or suffering from any symptoms like lethargy, drooling, dizziness, panting, or diarrhea, it might be suffering from heat stroke. Check your ferret’s gums and tongue as well – they may be extremely red if suffering from heat stroke.
So what do you do? First, bring your ferret’s temperature down. Take him out of his cage or away from the heated area, and place him somewhere cooler. You can consider using a cold compress or bathing your pet in lukewarm or cool water, but don’t use cold water. Make sure your pet’s temperature is coming down gradually rather than quickly. The goal is to get his temperature down to about 103 degrees if possible, and then immediately take him to a veterinarian. If his temperature is above 103, it is already in danger.
You can learn more about heat stroke in ferrets here.
Quickest Way To Deal With A Ferret Going Through Stroke
Most of the time, you won’t be able to know the true complications related to the stroke.
No matter how much you love your pets, you won’t be spending your entire day with them… So, the only option you have is to look for symptoms of stroke before any serious damage is done to your ferret.
When all the symptoms are indicating that your ferret is going through a stroke or has suffered a stroke recently, your first priority should be to take the little guy to the vet quickly.
A professional vet has all the equipment and tricks to deal with the stroke on the spot.
What to Expect From Your Vet
If you need help finding a good vet near you, check out our quick guide first.
For starters, your vet can treat the stroke by using anti-inflammatory steroids – this is one of the most famous and quickest methods to save the life of your pet. Once your ferret becomes calm after receiving the dosage of the anti-inflammatory steroid, the vet will propose that your ferret gets some physical exercise to relieve the symptoms of stroke.
One thing you can do is to note how the vet massages your pet, and then copy it on your own when your ferret has been discharged.
This can save him in emergency situations. Ask for some tips while you’re there. The vet can tell you what to do or what type of exercises you need to perform exactly when your pet is suffering from a stroke.
Once he discharges your pet, check his pulse. The pulse of a ferret exists in the femoral arteries and its normal rate is 200-250 beats per minute. This is quite fast and it can be tough for you to notice, however, this pulse rate goes down for a little when your ferret survives a stroke.
The pulse rate slowly gets steady with time after your ferret has consumed some food and drink.
But don’t just wait for the pulse rate to become steady. Keep your focus on your pet’s physical exercise after the vet discharges him. The vet recommends physical exercises at least for a week to prevent paralysis in your pet’s body.
Finally, try to keep your ferret warm and give it some water to drink after the effects of stroke wear off. This strengthens his immune system and helps him get on his feet quickly.
What You Can You Do To Help With The Healing Process
Your ferret will need a good environment even when things have cooled down. Keep a close eye on your pet for a couple of days and call your vet if you feel something strange. Even if it doesn’t look much serious, call your vet to remove your doubts.
Procrastinating during this time is not an option; you have to be extra alert to keep him alive.
It will take some time for your ferret to get back to its normal diet routine, so don’t rush it. Give it fresh food in small portions.
Slow and steady steps will greatly improve the healing process.