Intestinal Parasite Eggs in Ferrets

Ferrets are known for being playful and sometimes affectionate pets that require little maintenance. While ferret care is relatively simple compared to other more exotic pets, there are some things owners should be aware of concerning their ferret's health. Ferrets can suffer from four different types of internal parasites, all of which can cause significant health problems if left untreated.

  1. Giardia

    • According to Pet Education.com, ferrets pick up giardia by drinking contaminated water, eating contaminated feed, or by way of dogs and cats carrying giardia. Water that contains giardia is typically uncleaned aquarium water, according to the Cypress Keep website. When infected, ferrets rarely show signs of the parasites. If eggs (cysts) are found in a ferret's feces, it's advised that it be taken into the veterinarian for treatment. Giardia is rarely passed from ferrets to people.

    Coccidia

    • Unlike giardia, ferrets infected with the parasite coccidia typically show symptoms, including poor appetite, lethargy or lack of energy, weight loss, and diarrhea. Coccidia is passed as its eggs are shed in feces. It is the most common parasite found in ferrets, as it can be transferred from ferret to ferret. Treatment includes the use of sulfa drugs over a period of 10 days. Severely dehydrated, coccidia-infected ferrets could require hospitalization and electrolyte injections, according to the website Pet Education.com. Recovering ferrets benefit from premium cat food.

    Cryptosporidium Parvum

    • Cryptosporidiosis is a parasite the can be picked up by ferrets when they come into contact with cattle, different kinds of feces, or consume poorly filtered water and raw meat, according to the Cypress Keep website. The eggs created by the cryptosporidiosis parasite can survive a long time in stool and outside of the body and are resistant to disinfectants. These eggs stay infectious for long periods of time. The parasite is found in kit ferrets and is eventually eliminated by its immune system. There is no known treatment for cryptosporidiosis, and already-ill animals can succumb to the infection. People with immunodeficiency, or on drugs for cancer, arthritis and organ transplants, should not handle kit ferrets, according to the website Pet Education.com.

    Tapeworms

    • Tapeworms (roundworms) are extremely rare in ferrets, but they can be tested for at an early age and identified in stool samples. They are typically not harmful, though they can be treated by a veterinarian, according to the Miami Ferret website. Tapeworm eggs come out in mammal feces and are then consumed by fleas. Mammals contract tapeworms by eating or being bitten by fleas, according to the Mar Vista Animal Medical Center.