VetHealth for ferrets? Absolutely!

11 May 2023

Ferrets are very sensitive animals, so they don't always react as expected to a range of things - from essential oils (pet owners should think before buying humidifiers that add essential oils) to too much sugar - which they can get their little paws on!

Domestic ferret, i.e., "African ferret" (Mustela putorius furo), is most likely a domesticated form of the wild European polecat (Mustela putorius).

It is gaining more and more popularity among pet owners.

Ferrets were domesticated some 2500 years ago, so - like other types of pets - they are prone to various diseases - from thyroid problems and cancer to ear infections and even diabetes.

If you have a lively and energetic pet at home, you probably worry about his health. Because ferrets are very sensitive animals, they don't always react as we would expect to a range of things - from essential oils (pet owners should think before buying humidifiers that add essential oils) to too much sugar - which they can get their little paws on by accident.

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Finding a veterinary clinic with a lot of experience with ferrets can be challenging. As for the use of CBD oil - probably a good number of veterinarians will not dare to suggest its administration.

The problem is that there have been no official scientific studies on ferrets, and there needs to be more anecdotal evidence. Therefore, veterinarians and breeders approach CBD for ferrets with great caution, not to mention a certain reservation.

Although we have emphasized in several places, we will repeat that all mammals (animals that give birth and nurse their young) have an endocannabinoid system.

The endocannabinoid system regulates many of our basic functions, such as sleep, appetite, and pain.

In studies on "ordinary" domestic animals and humans, CBD has been shown to affect the endocannabinoid system by regulating these functions and helping the body achieve homeostasis (equilibrium, balance).

People who give CBD to their dogs and cats (and rabbits too!) can expect improvement for various problems, such as inflammation, pain, or poor appetite, and CBD has also been shown to have anti-cancer properties.

Because of this, a few American veterinarians in California and Colorado have started using it to treat cancer and other diseases in ferrets since, in the few available anecdotal cases, it has been shown to help without negative consequences.

However, due to the delicate nature of ferrets, we only recommend trying CBD oil on your pet after first talking to a vet - yours or ours!

If you decide to use CBD for your ferret, you must be very careful in your selection, as ferrets will not tolerate an oil that contains even a small amount of impurities, THC, or terpenes. So never use CBD oil for humans on your pets, as humans can handle much more contaminants in the oil than dogs and cats, not to mention ferrets.