What are prognostic indicators of death in ferrets?

25 March 2024

Despite the importance of prognostic indicators in medical decision-making, there have been no published studies identifying prognostic indicators of death in client-owned ferrets to date. A new study¹ published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research has explored whether rectal temperature, Hct, or blood glucose (parameters commonly measured during physical examination) are associated with an increased risk of mortality in ferrets.

The study used data from 571 individual examinations from 321 ferrets presented to a veterinary teaching hospital between January 2012 and September 2022. For each examination, rectal temperature, Hct, and/or blood glucose at presentation, and survival status 7 days post-presentation were extracted from the medical record.

What did the study find?

Ferrets that were hypothermic (< 37.8 °C) had a significantly higher likelihood of mortality compared to ferrets that were normothermic (37.8 to 40 °C), with the odds of death increasing 1.49 times for every 0.56 °C decrease below normal rectal temperature. Ferrets that were anemic (Hct < 33%) had a significantly higher likelihood of mortality compared to ferrets with a normal Hct. Ferrets that were hyperglycemic (> 152 mg/dL) had a significantly higher likelihood of mortality compared to ferrets that were normoglycemic (74 to 152 mg/dL).

Although there was no significant difference in the likelihood of mortality for ferrets that were hypoglycemic (< 74 mg/dL) compared to those that were normoglycemic, ferrets that were severely hypoglycemic (< 40 mg/dL) had a significantly higher likelihood of mortality compared to those that were normoglycemic.

The overall mortality rate at 7 days post-presentation was 25.6%. Ferrets that presented with illness or injury were at risk of mortality within 7 days of presentation, whereas healthy ferrets were unlikely to die within this time. There were no differences in age or sex between ferrets that survived and died.

The study was limited in that less than half of the medical records evaluated had a rectal temperature, Hct or blood glucose measurement documented. Furthermore, because the ferrets included in the study were presented to a tertiary referral hospital and apparently healthy or minimally ill ferrets were potentially excluded, it’s likely that this population isn’t representative of the wider general ferret population.

Take home message

Hypothermia, anemia, hyperglycemia, and severe hypoglycemia were identified as significant prognostic indicators of death in ferrets. The authors recommend that at a minimum, a rectal temperature should always be measured during physical examinations of ill or injured ferrets, due to its association with mortality and ease of measurement.

Future research should explore the causes of and treatment options for hypothermia, anemia, hyperglycemia, and severe hypoglycemia in ferrets.

Further resources

The BSAVA Manual of Rodents and Ferrets. https://www.bsavalibrary.com/content/book/10.22233/9781905319565#overview

Reference

¹Stratton HS et al. (2024) Hypothermia, anemia, hyperglycemia, and severe hypoglycemia are significant prognostic indicators of death in client-owned ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). American Journal of Veterinary Research. https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.23.10.0244