Like cats, ferrets are fastidious self-groomers, licking their fur constantly. In the process, loose and dead hair sticks to your ferret's tongue and is swallowed. Also like cats, your ferret can't digest this hair as her stomach lacks the enzyme to break down the protein in the hair. Instead, the stomach's digestive juices cause the hair to stick together and you get the hairball - a mixture of hair fibers, digestive juices and stomach acid.
These hairballs continue to grow in your ferret's intestinal tract until they start to interfere with her ability both to digest food and eliminate waste products. Unlike a cat, however, your ferret cannot regurgitate the hairball and instead will eventually suffer an intestinal blockage.
Symptoms of an intestinal blockage in your ferret include:
- A persistent cough or choking not accompanied by a runny nose or watery eyes
- Attempts at vomiting without bringing anything up
- A very thin, almost hair-like stool
- Bloating
If you suspect your ferret has an intestinal blockage, contact your veterinarian immediately, as these blockages can be fatal if not treated in time.
Preventing Hairball Intestinal Blockage
While you should be on the lookout for intestinal blockage symptoms all year round, the crucial time for hairball intestinal blockages is during your ferret's shedding period. This takes place twice a year, in the early spring and fall, and lasts for about three weeks. During this time, your ferret may ingest large amounts of hair while self-grooming.
The simplest way to reduce the amount of hair ingested is through daily combing and brushing. This will remove any loose or dead hair that may otherwise end up in your ferret's stomach. Make sure you brush and comb right down to the skin to pick up as much hair as possible.
Many commercial hairball remedies are available in various flavors your ferret will consider a treat.