Lifespan of Pet Ferrets

Ferrets make entertaining and interesting pets, especially when they are healthy and taken care of properly. They are social, energeticand full of curiosity and wonder. Believed to have been domesticated since around 3000 B.C., pet ferrets serve as rewarding family pets. Having a pet ferret, however, is a serious responsibility because these small animals require special dietary attention and medical care to assure they live a full life. The lifespan of a pet ferret varies depending on how it is taken care of and other factors.

Lifespan & Breeding

On average, a pet ferret ca n live as long as eight years, with five years being the normal age of death. However; in a few cases pet ferrets have been known to survive as long as a decade with optimal care and environment. Albeit a short life, ferrets are considered to be adult and of breeding age, by six months. Until then, they are referred to as kits .

Diet

Ferrets require a high protein diet and have a hard time digesting vegetable materials. Because of this, they must be fed properly to assure that they reach their optimal lifespan accordingly. A wide range of ferret foods exist on the commercial market, making it easy to care for one; however, certain foods must be avoided. Dairy products such as cheese, milk, ice cream and chocolate may be well-enjoyed by a pet ferret, but these products cause diarrhea and other stomach issues which are not good for the pet ferret's physiology. Treats that are acceptable and healthy for ferrets include meaty baby food, such as Gerber chicken puree, or small pieces of fruit or fruity cereal. Some ferret owners make their own high-protein treats for their ferrets such as duck liver pate.

Sexuality and Gestation

Female ferrets reach sexual maturity at six months of age. More-often-than-not, ferrets are spayed or neutered before they are adopted or purchased as pets from breeders or stores; however, sometimes they are not and require medical attention. When a female ferret goes into heat, or is ready to breed, they become ill. During this time they must either be bred with a male ferret or spayed quickly or their illness becomes fatal.

An unaltered female ferret that is in season will not go out of heat until it has been bred. Otherwise it must be periodically injected with hormones; a procedure known as the Jill Jab. The life-threatening illness that results from a female ferret coming to sexual maturity is referred to as heat-induced anemia. Essentially what occurs when the female goes into heat, is that her vulva swells and she begins to loose blood through her reproductive organs. Eventually, if she is not bred or spayed in time, she will die from the blood-loss. All too many times a young female ferret will die of this condition, when spaying is an affordable option that can extend their lifespan tremendously. Disease

A pet ferret's lifespan can be adversely affected by various diseases. One disease in particular, adrenal disease, is very common in pet ferrets. Adrenal disease affects middle-aged and elderly pet ferrets and occurs most commonly in American regions as opposed to worldly areas. Also known as AEE or Adrenal Associated Endocrinopathy, adrenal disease is a term used to describe a wide range of related ailments. These ailments and conditions include adrenocortical hyperplasia and cancerous adrenal gland cells.

The most common symptom associated with ferret adrenal disease is hair loss. This occurs in patches, sporadically throughout the ferret's body. Increased aggression and lethargy are other notable symptoms. Some male ferrets exhibit difficulty defecating and urinating due to enlargement of the prostate and other glands if adrenal disease is apparent.

Adrenal disease may occur in mid-life in pet ferrets, but middle ages for some pet ferrets varies from three to four years of age. This makes adrenal disease an important factor against the lifespan of a pet ferret. Diagnosing and treating adrenal disease in your pet ferret is of the most absolute importance if you wish to maintain the life of your ferret optimally.