Editing Ferret (section)

===Health===
[[Image:Jake 0314.jpg|thumb|Male ferret]]
Ferrets are known to suffer from several distinct health problems. Among the most common are cancers affecting the [[adrenal glands]], [[pancreas]] and [[Lymphoma in ferrets|lymphatic system]].

Adrenal disease, a growth of the [[adrenal glands]] that can be either [[hyperplasia]] or cancer, is most often diagnosed by signs like unusual hair loss, increased aggression, and difficulty urinating or defecating. Treatment options include surgery to excise the affected glands, [[melatonin]] or deslorelin implants, and hormone therapy. The causes of adrenal disease speculated to include unnatural light cycles, diets based around processed ferret foods, and prepubescent neutering. It has also been suggested that there may be a hereditary component to adrenal disease.<ref>{{cite web
 |last=Johnson-Delaney |first=Cathy A |title=Proceedings of the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians |publisher=AEMV
 |year=2006 |url=http://www.aemv.org/Documents/2006_AEMV_proceedings_10.pdf |access-date=2007-03-03 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629140225/http://www.aemv.org/Documents/2006_AEMV_proceedings_10.pdf |archive-date=2007-06-29}}</ref>

[[Insulinoma]], a type of cancer of the [[islet cell]]s of the pancreas, is the most common form of cancer in ferrets. It is most common in ferrets between the ages of 4 and 5 years old.<ref name="Bakthavatchalu 2016">{{cite journal|last1=Bakthavatchalu|first1=V|last2=Muthupalani|first2=S|last3=Marini|first3=RP|last4=Fox|first4=JG|title=Endocrinopathy and Aging in Ferrets.|journal=Veterinary Pathology|date=March 2016|volume=53|issue=2|pages=349–65|doi=10.1177/0300985815623621|pmid=26936751|pmc=5397995}}</ref>

[[Lymphoma in animals#Lymphoma in ferrets|Lymphoma]] is the most common [[malignancy]] in ferrets. Ferret lymphosarcoma occurs in two forms—''juvenile lymphosarcoma'', a fast-growing type that affects ferrets younger than two years, and ''adult lymphosarcoma'', a slower-growing form that affects ferrets four to seven years old.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/lymphoma-or-lymphosarcoma-in-ferrets|title=Lymphoma or Lymphosarcoma in Ferrets|website=vca_corporate}}</ref>

[[Viral disease]]s include [[canine distemper]], influenza and ferret systemic coronavirus.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk/ferret-distemper/|title=Ferret Distemper|date=October 21, 2015|website=CVMBS News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.petmd.com/ferret/conditions/respiratory/c_ft_human_influenza_virus|title=Human Influenza Virus in Ferrets|website=Petmd.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Jerry |date=16 April 2014 |title=What's New With Ferret FIP-like Disease? |url=http://www.smallanimalchannel.com/ferrets/ferret-health/whats-new-with-ferret-fiplike-disease.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424203951/http://www.smallanimalchannel.com/ferrets/ferret-health/whats-new-with-ferret-fiplike-disease.aspx |archive-date=24 April 2014 |access-date=12 January 2022 |format=xls}}</ref>

A high proportion of ferrets with white markings which form coat patterns known as a blaze, badger, or panda coat, such as a stripe extending from their face down the back of their head to their shoulder blades, or a fully white head, have a congenital deafness (partial or total) which is similar to [[Waardenburg syndrome]] in humans.<ref name="Strain 2015">{{cite journal|last=Strain|first=GM|title=The genetics of deafness in domestic animals|journal=Frontiers in Veterinary Science|date=2015|volume=2|pages=29|doi=10.3389/fvets.2015.00029|pmid=26664958|pmc=4672198|doi-access=free}}</ref> Ferrets without white markings, but with premature graying of the coat, are also more likely to have some deafness than ferrets with solid coat colors which do not show this trait.<ref name="Piazza 2014">{{cite journal|last1=Piazza|first1=S|last2=Abitbol|first2=M|last3=Gnirs|first3=K|last4=Huynh|first4=M|last5=Cauzinille|first5=L|title=Prevalence of deafness and association with coat variations in client-owned ferrets|journal=Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association|date=1 May 2014|volume=244|issue=9|pages=1047–52|doi=10.2460/javma.244.9.1047|pmid=24739114|doi-access=free}}</ref> Most [[albino]] ferrets are not deaf; if deafness does occur in an albino ferret, this may be due to an underlying white coat pattern which is obscured by the albinism.<ref name="Strain 2015"/>

Health problems can occur in unspayed females when not being used for breeding.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://weaselwords.com/ferret-articles/an-owners-guide-to-ferret-health-care/|title=An Owners Guide to Ferret Health Care|last=Van Dahm|first=Mary|website=WeaselWords.com|date=16 January 2010|access-date=1 September 2013|archive-date=22 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222015914/http://weaselwords.com/ferret-articles/an-owners-guide-to-ferret-health-care/|url-status=live}}</ref> Similar to domestic cats, ferrets can also suffer from [[hairball]]s and dental problems. Ferrets will also often chew on and swallow foreign objects which can lead to [[bowel obstruction]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.petmd.com/ferret/care/evr_ft_how-take-care-of-a-ferret-ferret-care-101 |title=How to Take Care of a Ferret: Ferret care 101 |last=Drake |first=Samantha |website=Petmd.com |access-date=1 February 2019 |archive-date=12 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212011112/https://www.petmd.com/ferret/care/evr_ft_how-take-care-of-a-ferret-ferret-care-101 |url-status=live }}</ref>