What causes ferret balding?

Answer 1

There are a few different reasons why your rabbit might lose her fur:

First Answer: If your rabbit is losing fur and you can't seem to find where it is then she is just pulling out her extra fur from winter don't worry about that it's normal. However if she is putting her fur in holes and small corners that means usually that she is having a baby/babies. If you want to know any more signs then check her stomach for any small bumps that is another sign. Remember if she isn't putting it in corners or in holes then she is just getting rid of extra fur.

Second Answer: More than likely if she is just 'losing' fur she is moulting. Or she could have fur mites, but if she has been with a buck she is probably pregnant and making (or trying to make) a nest.

To summarise, your rabbit might be:

• Moulting or losing her winter fur
• Pregnant (if she's female)
• Fur mites or other parasites or skin problems

Other reasons could be:

• Stress, boredom, or illness
• False Pregnancy (if she's female)

About moulting: If your rabbit is moulting you should brush her. When rabbits eat too much fur, they can get sick. (Rabbits can't vomit fur balls like cats can, so it can get stuck in their digestive tract.)

About stress and boredom: Stress and boredom lead to low-quality of life and even illness in rabbits. You should do what you can to minimise stress in your rabbit's life. See the related question below for details and helpful links.

About parasites: If your rabbit has parasites or other skin problems it needs to see the vet with experience and knowledge in rabbits. Some cat/dog treatments are toxic for rabbits, so you can't just pick something off the shelf.

About false pregnancy: These are stressful for rabbits. If you aren't actively breeding your rabbit, you should spay her. This is only one among many good reasons to spay/neuter rabbits.

See the related questions and links below for more information about all of the above conditions!

Answer 2

There might be one or more reasons that your ferret is losing fur, ranging from being normal to being a serious illness. Please take time to moniter your ferrets heath to prevent serious complications. If your ferret does not regrow fur, then the probable cause is an illness or disease that needs prompt veterinary care.

• The most common cause of ferret fur loss is Adrenal disease (thought to be caused by neutering too young) - Hormonal changes. Your ferret needs veterianarian care or advice

• Seasonal change - this is normal, most ferrets naturally shed their fur twice a year - they will shed fur in the fall to grow back thicker and in the spring to grow less fur - some ferrets shed more than others, almost looking bald, but it will regrow and this also depends on the climate they are kept in or their environment

• Hair loss on the tail - blocked pores or "blackheads"

• Malnutrition or malnourished, poor nutrition - Feed your ferret a high quality food specially formulated for ferrets

• Food allergies or topical irritants - Do not use cat, human or dog products on ferrets, only products specific to ferrets only.

• Parasites - fleas

• Skin infection or skin conditions - ferrets don't need baths, dry their skin out, makes them itch

• Stress - ferrets are not caged animals, you only cage them for protection, loss of fur can be caused by not enough exercise and caged for too long.

Always consult your veterinarian about treatment and proper diagnosis.

From other contributors:

• I have two ferrets at this time. there is an adrenal gland problem that some ferrets may contract this may or may not be threatening. Some times they just itch too much or become nervous and that will cause the hair to fall out. What I would do is ask a vet or go online for some information. I know my ferret Twizzler just lost all his hair but grew it back within a month.

  it depends entirely on if it lives in the house or outside, if the animal lives in the house, its body will react to the temperature and think 'well maybe its not winter, there's no need for this coat then is there' but if it is living outside it could be due to his age or the food you are feeding it, best to get him/her checked with the vet to be on the safe side!

Answer 3

Many of the diseases in ferrets (ECE (Epizootic catarrhal enteritis), problems of the digestive tract, endocrine disease, Lymphoma, parasitic infections,adrenal disease) can cause severe weight loss, and due to their size, it can be a more extreme problem than in other animals. If you notice any unusual symptoms in your ferret, do not wait, if your ferret is ill, it's important to contact the veterinarian immediately. Ferrets that are ill can go downhill very rapidly, usually there is no time to "wait and see" if they will be okay.

Due to seasonal changes in ferrets, they will loss or gain of about 30-40 percent body weight, especially males. The winter season causes their fur to grow thick and they gain weight. In the spring season these changes reverse, but not all ferrets gain and lose so much, and more subtle changes may go unnoticed.

An underweight ferret could be due an underlying medical condition. Many of the diseases present in ferrets can cause severe weight loss, which, due to their size, can be a dangerous situation. If your ferret is eating and he's still underweight, take him to a vet to find out what's wrong.

If your ferret is not eating, he might not like a new food, try changing. If your ferret seems to be eating, take him to a vet to find out what's wrong. There could be some underlying medical condition. Many diseases can cause loss of muscle mass. They may be depressed or stressed due to some changes in their lives. Intestinal worms are rarely a problem in ferrets. Any time a ferret is losing weight, because they can go downhill very rapidly, don't wait, take him to the veterinarian immediately.

advise from other contributors:

• I had a ferret that began losing weight and became very listless. I took him to the Vet, his blood sugar was very low. The ferret has a very short gastrointestinal tract. Get your ferret to the vet - this can kill them. Their intestines are so slender that it's easy for them to get intestinal blockage. Insulinoma usually does not present with rapid weight loss. This is not something you can wait on. Take it to a good ferret vet and tell him/her upfront if you are concerned about medical costs. It's better than letting it go untreated. To find a good ferret vet, call several vets in your area and ask for recommendations, or call your local ferret shelter and ask them.

• In my experience, Adrenal Disease or some kind of intestinal blockage. Make sure that you are feeding him/her/them the right things.

• It is not healthy to keep them on Cat Foods, etc. Those foods do not have the right nutrients in the right amounts.

• Also make sure that they haven't stolen "chewy" items. These can be anything from foam and bouncy balls to pens or pencils with those squishy grips. So check your furniture and all their hiding spots for things that they would've eaten that would cause blockage.

• Hope your fuzzy gets better!! Just to add on to this not trying to put your spirit down but my ferret started losing weight and it's hind legs stopped functioning a couple weeks before it died. God bless you and you furry friend.

Answer 4

Hair loss on the tail could be blocked pores or "blackheads", from stress or the beginning of adrenal disease. Check for a skin infection or irritation, it could be scabes or mange. If your not sure, take your ferret to the Veterinarian for a checkup.

See related question below

Answer 5

Most ferrets go through a seasonal change of their coats (depending on your climate you live in) and shed twice a year. If this is not the case, if could be due to illness or disease, contact your veterinarian

Answer 6

Ferrets commonly have thinning hair during fall and spring coat changes. At this time, you may see more skin through the fur. However, if your ferret has bald spots that don't seem related to seasonal coat changes, you should suspect adrenal problems. In particular, balding at the base of the tail, on the rump, or on the tail means a high probability of adrenal tumors. Ferrets with adrenal tumors may also bald on their necks or tops of their heads. This balding should not be treated with topical medications or vitamin supplements. The source of the problem is most likely to be an adrenal tumor. Your ferret can be ultrasounded to find the tumor, or a blood test can be conducted. Surgery is the best option.

Answer 7

first of all do u have 2 degus? if u do it's either because they other one is eating it's fur or it ate food its not supposed to eat

Answer 8

A ferret has fur