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Cachexia in Ferrets

When a ferret loses more than 10 percent of what is considered normal body weight for an animal its size, it is referred to as weight loss. This can result from a variety of mechanisms, but they often share a common feature: insufficient calorie intake and high-energy demand.

Cachexia, meanwhile, is defined as the state of extreme poor health. It is associated with loss of appetite (anorexia), weight loss, weakness, and mental depression.

Causes

• Malabsorptive disorders
• Bowel disease
• Gastric foreign body
• Ulcers
• Metabolic Disorders
• Organ failure—cardiac failure, hepatic failure, and renal failure
• Cancer
• Virus disease
• Excessive nutrient loss
• Protein-losing diseases
• Anorexia and pseudoanorexia
• Inability to smell or chew food
• Difficulty swallowing
• Vomiting
• Poor quality or insufficient quantity of food
• Neuromuscular disease
• Lower motor neuron disease
• CNS disease
• Increased physical activity
• Pregnancy or lactation
• Fever
• Cancer (very common cause)

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will begin with a variety of diagnostic tests to find the underlying cause for the weight loss. After an initial health assessment, the following tests may be recommended for your pet:

• Fecal studies to identify bacteria or intestinal parasites
• Blood analysis to look for infection, inflammation, leukemia, anemia, and other blood disorders
• Urinalysis to determine kidney function, to look for infections/protein loss from the kidneys, and to determine hydration status
• Chest and abdominal x-rays to observe heart, lungs, and abdominal organs
• Ultrasound of the abdomen
• Bile acids test to evaluate liver function
• Exploratory surgery (laparotomy) to search for cancer