Seemingly Healthy Ferrets Dropped Dead...

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

A good mate of mine has had 3 out of 4 seemingly healthy ferrets drop dead in the last 12 hours. And the fourth isn't looking very good.

 

All looked and felt fine yesterday. Eating and drinking.

 

Today stone dead.

 

Fed same meat as his dogs and dogs are fine.

 

Any suggestions as to what it could be?

[krawnden 1,036]

Can distemper act so quickly? I've no experience of it so don't know if it's a possibility, but I do know it will easily put paid to a ferret.

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

I'm not sure. Will look into it. Cheers

 

He says a couple of houses down have for rat poison down.

 

He thinks a poisoned rat may have made it's way into the ferret court? And they have eaten it between them?

 

Sounds a long shot but possible I suppose?

[jocky 198]

if a rat had got in, the ferrets would of got out

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

if a rat had got in, the ferrets would of got out

Whys that?

[whippet 99 2,613]

 

if a rat had got in, the ferrets would of got out

Whys that?

 

ha ha quality , think about it lol

[WHWT 1,865]

Think what he means by that is if a rat could get into the court the ferrets would have been able to get out and (escape)t if you get what I mean.

 

PUD

[mhopton 807]

Bollocks my ferrets love doing a bit ratting , gaz sounds like poison of some sort not been funny but are they kept clean and I'd not rule out foul play

[whippet 99 2,613]

well sirs , if a rat could get in with my ferrets , I know full well mine would be out

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

 

 

 

if a rat had got in, the ferrets would of got out

Whys that?

ha ha quality , think about it lol

Me think about it? Stop being soft.

 

Plenty of places in a shed that a rat could get into but a ferret can't get out.

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

Bollocks my ferrets love doing a bit ratting , gaz sounds like poison of some sort not been funny but are they kept clean and I'd not rule out foul play

They are kept spotlessly clean mate.

[WHWT 1,865]

My ferrets like and have done lot ratting but all I was saying is if a rat could get in to a ferret hut/court then the ferret/ferrets could more than likely have getting out !

 

PUD

[stealthy1 3,964]

Sounds like poison, 4 down at once?

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

It's a big ferret court. Smooth inside. So ferrets can't climb the sides. A rat could easily climb the sides and find a way in through the roof or open window.

[Anthony Simmons 22]

Right lads the ferrets were fed yday at 1 pm handled give them a mooch around the garden and back into the shed, went to feed them today noticed they were all out in the court appearing to be asleep , normally they'd be tear arsing around wanting dinner and play, my albino hob was stone dead, my pole cat hob was hanging in there but died 5 mins later followed by my albino gill, the only surviving 1 is my polecat gill who upto now seems to be pulling through, I've not changed anything that I do with them feed wise they eat the same minced chicken carcasses that my dogs do so I've ruled that out, they were cleaned out every other day so cleanliness shouldn't of been an issue, the short demise in there health led me to believe poison by a rat or foul play but why kill them when they could have easily stole them?? Which sways me more to the rodent of some sort has eaten poison and decided to visit the ferrets

 

Also I've noticed when giving them a carcass pigeon or rabbit (they had 1 Wednesday before last) the surviving ferret held back and waited for the other 3 to tussle with it and have her fill when they're done, this also sways me to the possibility of a poisoned rodent being the culprit