Ferrets (courtesy of NJVMA.org)

* Ferrets love to play with and chew on rubber items such as toys. However, they could swallow them and get an intestinal blockage. If you become concerned your pet may have swallowed a foreign object, contact us immediately.

* Ferrets need a high fat and high protein diet. Cat food is commonly fed to ferrets but does not supply enough of the nutrients they need. Kitten food is better but not ideal. We can discuss the best diet for your ferret.

* Ferrets are fairly resistant to cold weather, but do not tolerate heat well. In hot humid weather, make sure your ferret is in a well-ventilated area and always has access to plenty of fresh water.

* Ferrets are one of the only animals that can catch human influenza. If you have a cold, try not to handle your ferret. If you do, remember to wash your hands well. Keep in mind you can also catch the flu from your ferret.

* If your ferret shows signs of increased sleeping, weakness or staring into space it could be a signs of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), most often caused by a tumor in the pancreas, which produces insulin (insulinoma). If your ferret shows any of these signs, please call us immediately.

* It is never a good idea to feed ferrets or any small mammals high sugar snacks. Ferrets, in particular, have a high incidence of pancreatic tumors and high sugar snacks could make the symptoms worse.

* Training a ferret to eliminate in a litter box can be challenging but it is possible. Ferrets often prefer to eliminate in corners.