Ferret First Aid Kit

Portable snap-lock box contains first aid fundamentals for ferret emergencies. Animal lovers and veterinarians have designed the Ferret First Aid Kit so you can treat minor injuries or stabilize serious wounds until you can reach your local veterinarian. Includes laminated emergency care card and instructions.

Please click on "More Information" for Information on the Ferret First Aid & Emergency Care Card.

Ferret First Aid & Emergency Care Card

• Vomiting repeatedly.
• Severe diarrhea (especially green in color).
• Constipation or signs of strain or vocalizing when trying to pass a bowel.
• Excessive coughing or nasal discharge (green or yellow in color).
• Extreme change in appetite or not eating at all.

• Stay calm and try to keep your ferret calm.
• Wrap your ferret in a towel or blanket; cradle their body with your hands to prevent further injuries.
• Avoid being close to the muzzle (an injured ferret might bite).
• If your ferret is conscious, check your ferret for symptoms of shock:

• Labored Breathing or effort to inhale or exhale or breathing with an open mouth are all signs of a serious health problem. Common causes of breathing difficulty suggest a respiratory infection or an allergic reaction.
• Loss of Consciousness or bleeding from ears, nose, or mouth is very serious. Keep ferret immobilized and horizontal with minimal handling. Get to your veterinarian immediately!
• Change in Color of Gums. Gums and nose should always be pink. Pale or white gums are a serious problem and suggest anemia, internal bleeding, or shock. Gums that are severely red can be a sign of serious systemic infection.
• Change in Temperature from the normal, which is between 101° and 103° Fahrenheit. Use a lubricated thermometer to easily get a proper temperature.
• Loss of Appetite or a ferret not eating on their own should be fed approximately 25-35 cc of food every 3-4 hours for a daily intake of 80-120 cc's. Call your veterinarian.

Treating Cuts or Wounds
Abrasions, cuts, bites, and other accidents can cause bleeding. Latex gloves are available for the ferret owner treating bleeding wounds. Attention: If the wound is bleeding excessively, call you veterinarian and transport your ferret immediately.

• Cut the hair from around the wound (if possible).
• Flush the wound with the skin wash.
• Apply PVP iodine wipe to cut or wound.
• Place gauze pads over the wound area and hold until bleeding stops. Don't remove blood-soaked pads; just add another on top, cover with gauze bandage roll and secure with adhesive tape (consider circulation when tightening the bandage).
• If the wound is bleeding excessively, call you veterinarian and transport your ferret immediately.
• If the wound is a mild abrasion or cut, you should still contact your veterinarian.

Puncture Wounds

• Apply a PVP iodine wipe to a puncture wound first.
• Bandage with gauze to protect wound from debris (consider circulation when tightening the bandage).
• All puncture wounds should be seen by a veterinarian for removal of any foreign matter.

Burns
Burns on the lips and gums may be visible. Ferret may have difficult breathing - the most common consequences of electrical shock are pulmonary edema or fluid accumulation in the lungs.

• Apply cool compress and call your veterinarian immediately.
• Non-chemical burns need to have a cool compress followed by application of a burn cream.

Eye Injuries
Eye injuries should be evaluated by a veterinarian immediately.

Keep the eye and surrounding tissues hydrated with Eye and Skin Wash until veterinarian treatment is possible.