Coccidiosis in ferrets

The signs of coccidiosis in ferrets vary depending on the ferret and the severity of the infection. Signs include:

• Diarrhoea
• Reduced appetite
• Depression/lethargy
• Pale gums
• Painful tummy
• Blood or mucous in their faeces

1. Keeping clean. Ferrets can be at risk of coccidiosis even in a clean environment, but keeping everywhere fresh and dry is the best step to protecting your ferret against coccidiosis. Litterboxes should be cleaned on a daily basis.
2. Monitoring. If you see any changes in your ferret's faeces, appetite or behaviour, always get them checked over by a vet who will be able to help diagnose and support them.
3. Bedding. Get bedding from a reputable supplier as coccidiosis can be transmitted in contaminated bedding.
4. New friends. If you want to introduce a new ferret to your group, consider a quarantine period before the new friends are allowed to mingle.

If you think your ferret might have coccidiosis, the best thing to do is to go to your vet. They can do a full physical examination, and check your ferret over from nose to bottom! If there is a risk your ferret may have coccidiosis, your vet may recommend faecal tests to try and identify the parasites, although this can be tricky. Treatment is usually well tolerated, especially in adult ferrets, although acutely infected or young kits can struggle to recover from severe infection.