Signs of moderate pain
Signs of moderate pain in ferrets typically include more obvious behavioural changes , such as sleeping more , personality changes or a lack of interest in things they usually enjoy . Occasional teeth grinding , grimacing , jaw clenching , postural or locomotory changes and abdominal discomfort can also be signs of moderate pain in ferrets . Ferrets with dental pain may grind their teeth and have a reduced food and water intake [ 17 ] . Ferrets with otitis media may show ear scratching , head shaking , dysphagia and a reluctance to open their mouth [ 17 ] .
Case 5
A female ferret , 2 hours post ovariohysterectomy . When alone , the patient showed facial grimacing and chose to keep the surgical site ( caudal abdomen ) straight , rather than lying in a curled up position ( Figure 14 ). However , when her kennel was entered , the patient walked around and appeared bright and normal .
According to Fisher [ 11 ] , ferrets with abdominal or visceral pain due to problems such as gastric ulceration , enteritis or the presence of a foreign body may walk with a stiff , stilted gait and have a hunched posture with an arched back . They may also elevate their head and extend their neck forward , and exhibit bruxism when presented with food . Many ferrets in pain are lethargic or anorexic [ 11 ] . These patients need urgent veterinary attention .
Sladky et al . [ 25 ] describe a comparison between epidural saline and epidural morphine in two groups of ferrets that underwent surgery . In the ferrets that received saline , ‘ teeth baring ’ was identified as an indicator of pain ( during defaecation ), as well as restricted / laboured breathing patterns , trembling and altered movement to avoid the painful area being touched . The ferrets that received saline were also less likely to interact with a novel toy , compared with the group that received morphine .
Figure 14 . The Case 5 ferret with facial grimacing , resting in a straight , rather than curled up , position .
Case studies with signs of moderate pain
Case 4
A female ferret with a suspected gastric ulcer , due to the stress of repeated veterinary interventions and hospitalisation for an unrelated issue . The patient intermittently walked with a tucked-up abdomen and stilted gait . In Figure 13 she shows a bristled tail and an abnormally elevated neck / head carriage , facial grimacing and raised fur . The patient had a reduced appetite and propensity to explore her surroundings or play with toys . Gastric ulcer patients may have black , tarry faeces [ 26 ] . Acid-reducing gastroprotectant medication is important in these cases .
Case 6
A female ferret that showed a reaction to palpation , due to inadequate analgesia after an exploratory laparotomy . This patient was hiding at the back of the kennel , was minimally interactive and , when the abdomen was palpated , she was reactive and moved away ( Figure 15 ). See Figure 16 ( page 23 ) for the full pain assessment of this patient .
Figure 13 . The Case 4 ferret with suspected gastric ulceration showing a bristled tail , elevated neck and facial grimacing .
Figure 15 . The Case 6 ferret moving away from being palpated .
22 Veterinary Nursing Journal