QUESTION:
My boyfriend and I recently got a ferret from an animal shelter. He is very old (nine) and we think he's completely blind. We are concerned about the amount that he sleeps. We know that it is common for ferrets to sleep a lot but how much is too much? All of the websites that I have visited on senior ferrets all say to observe changes in behavior. I don't have anything to compare his behavior to. Can you suggest some tell tale signs on if he is healthy, happy, and just generally doing okay.

Also what type of diet would you suggest for a senior ferret?

ANSWER:
He is very old and I would venture to say he most likely has some health problems by now! He will sleep most of the time, ferrets in general sleep between 18-22 hours a day, as they age they sleep more.

The first thing I would do is find out what his diet is or was and keep him on it. You could then gradually add a little of a new food at the side of his existing food, in the same bowl, to see if he will like it, or not. At his age changing his diet could be devastating to his digestive system and could just push him over the edge. The foods I recommend are on my site, however at his age I would only add anything new in small portions (do not mix food in same dish as he may not eat at all).

You could buy him some CHICKEN/TURKEY BABY FOOD and start to give him 3-4 teaspoonful at least twice a day, this is high in meat protein and easy to digest, plus it will also help level off the blood glucose and he may become more active. The most common ailment in ferrets is 'hypoglycemia', low blood sugar and if you see any of the following signs then you will need to take him to a 'ferret knowledgeable vet' for A 'FASTING BLOOD GLUCOSE TEST', this will determine if he needs to be put on medication, however the baby food will always be given twice a day along with the meds, so why not start now!

SIGNS OF INSULINOMA (HYPOGLYCEMIA): DROOLING, WEAKNESS IN HIND END, SHAKING, STARING, PAWING AT MOUTH, SLEEPING TOO MUCH, DIARRHEA, SEIZURES, COMA, these are the most common. For more details go to: www.miamferret.org - HEALTH SECTION.

Thank you for taking care of and trying to help one of our senior ferrets. BTW, often ferrets are blind from cataracts, just make sure he is familiar with his surroundings by not moving things around.