VNJ Volume 39 (6) December 2024

Plus-Hex CLINICAL

Case 10

A male ferret that had eaten chicken bones and had a faecal impaction . The patient was intermittently straining to defaecate and was vocalising . He was restless , grimacing and intermittently baring his teeth during abdominal spasms ( Figure 21 ).

Table 2 [ 10 – 12 , 15 – 17 , 20 , 21 , 25 – 35 , 36 ] and Table 3 [ 25 , 28 ] ( page 26 ) list some of the physiological and behavioural signs of acute pain in ferrets .

Figure 21 . The Case 10 ferret .

Owner surveys [ 27 ] have revealed findings very similar to the pain behaviours described in Table 2 , but there is less consensus on sleeping position and grooming behaviour .

Table 2 . Signs of acute pain in ferrets [ 10 – 12 , 15 – 17 , 20 , 21 , 25 – 35 , 36 ] .

Physiological Emotional Appearance Postural Locomotion Behaviours

Rapid , shallow laboured breathing Tachycardia , dysrhythmia , if severe Hypertension Pale mucous membranes ( if in shock due to pain ) Facial grimacing / tension		Weight loss Trembling or shivering despite normothermia Hypersalivation if abdominal pain , nausea or dental pain	Depressed , uninterested , ‘ silent ’ demeanour Lack of interest in novel stimulus or environment Distanced , reduced awareness Reduced social interaction Temperament or personality changes Potential changes to cognitive bias ( perceive things more negatively )	Generalised weakness or apathy Dull and vacant appearance to eyes Semi-closed eyes Dull coat Unclean fur Changes to ears Changes to facial expression	Hunched or elevated head or neck , extended forwards Tucked in or hunched abdomen Arched back Hindlimb paresis Altered sleeping posture , reluctance to curl up Hiding At the back of the kennel , in a corner Reaction to palpation : • Subtle : move ears , lick lips , freeze	Reduced spontaneous activity Increased resting , sleeping , lethargy Reduced play Abnormal gait Aversion to handling or restraint Reduced travel distance Stilted or stiff gait with elevated head Difficulty getting up	Vocalisation – crying , screaming , change in pitch Reduced grooming or overgrooming Hypersensitivity Focal muscle fasciculations Ipsilateral tongue protrusion with dental pain Rubbing or traumatising a painful area Bruxism with abdominal pain , which may be evident only as a facial muscle or ear movement
Head pressing Hiding in a corner	• Obvious : move head , flinch , twitch • Reactive : move away , bite , aggression	Jaw clenching Pawing at mouth with abdominal pain and nausea Teeth baring
	Guarding painful area
	Bristled tail , or pulled in and curled up tail
	Favouring one side

Volume 39 ( 6 ) • December 2024

VNJ Volume 39 (6) December 2024 | Page 25