Plus-Hex CLINICAL
Conclusions
It is difficult to assess pain in ferrets . There is a scarcity of information and studies to guide in the recognition of a ferret in pain . If , as veterinary staff , we are not sure whether our patient is in pain , it is a welfare requirement that the patient is given the benefit of the doubt and analgesia is provided . ‘ Response to analgesia ’ is suggested to be the gold standard of pain assessment in animals [ 43 ] .
Despite the lack of information on recognising and treating pain in ferrets , we can draw on the expertise of veterinary staff who are experienced in the treatment and care of ferrets , as well as ferret owners , and use a ‘ whole-patient ’ approach .
It can be beneficial to implement an assessment form detailing a ferret ' s normal behaviours and routines . Owners , who are most familiar with their pets ' typical behaviour , can provide a valuable baseline for carrying out accurate pain assessments . This personalised approach may help in the early identification of changes that indicate discomfort or pain .
This article has provided a brief review of the information currently available to help assess and recognise pain in ferrets . Future considerations may include a composite pain scale for ferrets , and further behavioural and emotional forms of pain assessment .
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Cathy Johnson- Delaney , Anna Mercer ( Anna the Ferret Nurse ) and Pam Weaver ( Fluffy Retreat Ferret Rescue ) for their help and advice with this article , and the owners of the ferrets photographed for educational purposes .
Assessment of learning
1 . Pet ferrets are prone to which of the following medical conditions ?
a ) Diabetes mellitus b ) Atopic dermatitis c ) Diabetes insipidus d ) Lymphosarcoma
2 . Which of the following statements is TRUE ? a ) The domestic ferret is a nocturnal and solitary animal b ) Polecats are crepuscular animals and bolder than ferrets c ) It is easy to assess pain in ferrets d ) The ferret grimace scale can help assess pain
3 . A ferret with otitis media may show which of the following signs of pain ?
a ) Head pressing , nystagmus , yawning b ) Polydipsia and ear scratching
c ) Ear scratching , head shaking , dysphagia , a reluctance to open its mouth
d ) Behavioural changes such as vocalising
4 . Which of the following statements is TRUE of chronic pain in ferrets ?
a ) A ferret in chronic pain will suddenly start sleeping around 70 % of the time
b ) A ferret ' s reluctance to climb or play cannot be used as an indicator of chronic pain
c ) Dental disease is a common cause of chronic pain d ) Chronic pain is seen only in geriatric ferrets
1 . d ) Lymphosarcoma 2 . d ) The ferret grimace scale can help assess pain 3 . c ) Ear scratching , head shaking , dysphagia , a reluctance to open its mouth 4 . c ) Dental disease is a common cause of chronic pain
REFERENCES
Answers
1 UK Pet Food . Historical Pet Data . Available from : https :// www . ukpetfood . org / information-centre / statistics / historical-pet-data . html [ Accessed 30 September 2024 ].
2 Huynh M , Chassang L , Zoller G . Evidence-based advances in ferret medicine . Veterinary Clinics of North America : Exotic Animal Practice . 2017 ; 20 ( 3 ): 773 – 803 . Available from : https :// doi . org / 10.1016 / j . cvex . 2017.04.009 .
3 Home Office . Statistics of scientific procedures on living animals , Great Britain : 2023 . Available from : https :// www . gov . uk / government / statistics / statistics-of-scientific-procedures-on-livinganimals-great-britain-2023 [ Accessed 30 September 2024 ].
4 Lloyd M . Veterinary care of ferrets . 2 . Common clinical conditions . In Practice . 2002 ; 24 ( 3 ): 136 – 146 . Available from : https :// doi . org / 10.1136 / inpract . 24.3.136 .
5 Lertpiriyapong K . Top five diseases of domestic ferrets . Clinician ' s Brief . 2017 ; February : 119 – 122 . Available from : https :// www . cliniciansbrief . com / article / top-5-diseases-domestic-ferrets # [ Accessed 30 September 2024 ].
6 Cooper JE . Should we be doing more for working ferrets ? InFocus . 2019 . Available from : https :// veterinary-practice . com / article / should-we-be-doing-more-for-working-ferrets [ Accessed 30 September 2024 ].
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