Jill Losing Weight

[Stretch177 39]

I have a spayed Jill that has always been skinny and lean, but over the last few days she has started losing weight, losing her hair and has red/orange scabby patches over her body. She is in with 4 other ferrets and none of them are losing weight or showing any of the other things that she is. She is still eating, drinking, shitting and as active as ever which is why I am confused as too what is wrong. Could it be something internal, parasite? Any ideas?? They are all fed Meat only.

Cheers Stretch

[youcanthide...BANG 1,051]

check for ticks mine came up with orange patches everytime a tick fell off. keep an eye on the other ferrets and check through them especially if there polecat coloured as the ticks dont show up aswell

[Stretch177 39]

Yeah I thought that but having checked her, she's an albino, I've found nothing. They have all had a drop of ivomec(sp) put on them so that should stop the ticks, fleas etc or that's what I would hope anyway. Thanks for your comment mate and will defo have another check to be sure

[youcanthide...BANG 1,051]

where abouts is the rash bud. i think canine distemper could be ruled out as you havent said anything about conjunctivitis, is the anus, eyes and lips crusty? although your other ferrets would have it but albinos are usually the first to show symptoms due to the colour

[Stretch177 39]

Its not so much as a rash mate, more like spots dotted about her back, maybe around 8-10 of them. No crustiness around the eyes or nose, no discharge from any orifice. Two of the males have brown circular marks near their eyes but they have had them for about a year or more, so confident its not that. Its just weird and worrying that she is still how she has always been, eating, drinking, being active etc but she is losing weight. Thinking of separating her and my other jill from the 3 boys and see if that makes her fatten up abit. I will take a few pictures of her face and back etc and upload them tomorrow night to show you

[youcanthide...BANG 1,051]

has the males been shagging her? even if shes spade they will still try it on. the dots could be teeth marks where the males are biting her to get her pinned down. the weight loss could be through stress of being harrased. it is that time of year when the lads will be after a bit, unless they are castrated

[The one 8,512]

Whats her age and as well as the rash you checked her teeth ?.

[Stretch177 39]

That's a good point about the males trying it on, although they have been castrated within the last two weeks so hopefully it is that. I'm going to separate the 2 Jills until the hormones have settled down in the males and hopefully that works.

 

She is about 3/4 as I got her from the RSPCA 2 year ago and she was fully matured then. Haven't checked her teeth no, what would I be looking for?

[youcanthide...BANG 1,051]

i imagine it will take longer than 2 weeks for hormone levels to drop after a castration but saying that im not an expert on things like that so your guess is as good as mine.

[youcanthide...BANG 1,051]

probably unlikely buy it has happened, are the ferrets deffinetly castrated or vasectomised i trust you know the difference. i know it is probably a stupid question but it has happened endless times were vets have performed a vasectomy and not a castration and vica versa. check with the vet your not 100% positive. there loads of these cases on other forums

[Stretch177 39]

Yeah definately castrated mate, they have their meat but no veg lol. Like you i don't know how long it will take for their hormones to settle down, so maybe it is just them trying it on and her being stressed. Ive seperated them now and will see if she puts the weight back on and the scabs disappear and then i will put them back together. Thanks for your help mate and will keep this updated

[The one 8,512]

Bad tooth sore tooth or discoloured tooth if its bothering her she will stop eating and drop weight faster than any rash will every cause her too

[Stretch177 39]

That's the thing though mate, she is still eating. It's not just mince and soft meats, she's eating from full carcasses etc. I have checked her teeth and they are fine. I have just been out to have a look over her and take a few pictures and she started doing a panting/coughing sort of thing. Now I'm starting to think its something respiratory, any ideas? Like I said she is eating, drinking, being active, her teeth are fine, she has no discharge or crustiness around her eyes/mouth/nose, but she has started losing hair and has these marks on her. I'm going to upload a few pictures to show you what I mean

[Stretch177 39]

Here is a few pictures:

 

 

 

[The one 8,512]

Putting my neck on the line i reckon she's older than you think , and its just down to old age she appears too look like my jills go when old age hits them .They dont come into season just look rough then go bald from April Till October as yours has been spayed though the season's shouldnt affect her ?.