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Is It A Domestic Ferret?
Ferret Tattoos
Marshall Ferrets are always spayed and neutered, and will have tiny tattoos to indicate as much- same will most large mill style breeders. Upon intake, carefully inspect the animal's ears and toes for small "dot" or "line" tattoos. If the animal is tattooed, it is almost certainly a pet and should go on stray hold. BE SURE TO SCAN FOR A CHIP. It is becoming more and more commonplace for pet ferrets to be microchipped. For further information and reading on identifying tattoos and learning about various sources of ferrets, Holistic Ferrets has a comprehensive article linked below.
Coat and Markings
Unless white, domestic ferrets are rarely a solid, uniform color. Most pigmented ferrets are going to have some type of "point" pattern, with a slightly lighter body and much darker legs and tail, with many (though not all) also having a distinct mask across the face. This coloration pattern is a Hallmark of the domestic ferret. You can clearly see in our compassion chart the "classic" coloration pattern differences between domestic ferrets, mink, and native weasel species. In contrast, if the animal you have in front of you is nearly solid chocolate-lab-brown with a crisp white chin mark, it is almost certainly a mink. You can view in-depth ferret color/pattern charts and descriptions on Holistic Ferrets and on the American Ferret Association pages, linked here:
Vital Notes On Care & Adoption
Common Issues To Be Aware Of
• CANINE DISTEMPER RISK: ferrets are highly susceptible to canine distemper, and are unfortunately often under-vaccinated for it by the general public. While Marshall Farms does initiate a series of distemper vaccines before the animals are sold, many owners fail to complete the vaccine series or provide boosters- ferrets can be at elevated risk of vaccination complications, though it's still highly recommended to vaccinate. If CDV has recently been present in your shelter, it is important to take all necessary precautions to isolate the ferret away from the canine area. Likewise, if you intake any small mustelid (wild or domestic) be aware that they are capable of bringing CDV into your shelter, and isolate accordingly if they are displaying any early symptoms.
• Domestic ferrets imprint on food and may refuse brands of food that are unfamiliar to them, even if they are starving. Their metabolism is extremely rapid, and they require constant access to dry food. Marshalls Brand Ferret Diet is highly recommended for stray ferret intakes, because most ferrets in the US have eaten this food at some point in their lives and will likely accept it. Ferrets are often confused as being a "rodent", but their dietary needs closely resemble that of a cat: an obligate carnivore with a need for taurine. They should not be offered veggies, fruit, hay, or grain based mixes.
• Bald ferret: alopecia in ferrets is a common symptom of adrenal gland disease, a cancer of the adrenal glands. It is treated with Lupron injections, a Superlion implant, or surgery (surgery is not always viable due to the location of the vena cava next to one of the adrenal glands). There is no such thing as a ferret bred to be bald (as is the case with some dog & cat breeds). If alopecia is present (especially on the top of the head, across the shoulders, at the base of the tail, or in extreme cases, across the entire body) there is a very high likelihood that a medical condition is present. If the owner is located, this should be brought up.
• Seizures: another common ailment in ferrets is insulinoma, a cancer of the pancreas. This can be a quiet disease, and symptoms may surface for the first time if the ferret goes an extended period without eating (such as in a lost/stray situation). Symptoms can include weakness in the hind limbs, stumbling, staring, confusion, excessive drooling, pawing at the mouth, and mild to severe seizures. These symptoms are due to a blood glucose crash- you can check BG using an Alphatrak animal glucose meter if you have one on hand (see instructions and calibration here: ). To attempt to revive a ferret seizing due to suspected BG issues, administer a small amount of sugar/glucose on the gums (kayro syrup, honey, etc). Moving forward, ensure that the ferret is eating high protein food every 2-4 hours (you may need to blend the food into a paste and syringe feed).
• For ferrets going to the adoption floor after stray hold, I am including a link to the recommended vaccinations & schedules for CDV and rabies vax from the American Ferret Association. Consult your staff veterinarian about pre-medication with Dexamethasone to prevent adverse effects (Benadryl has been historically used for this purpose, but is no longer widely recommended due to incidence of it masking and delaying vaccines reactions in ferrets). Ferrets going to the adoption floor should be microchipped if possible, and most should NOT need to be altered (check close for those tattoos).
Visual Differences
Visual Charts: Mink and Ferrets
Bite protocol caution
Mustelids, whether domestic ferret or wild mink/weasel, can be very nippy. It is important that you and your staff take all reasonable handling precautions to avoid a potential bite protocol situation. No one likes euthanizing an otherwise healthy animal for bite protocol rabies testing, and domestic ferrets are notoriously under-vaccinated; many owners will not be able to produce proof of rabies vaccination.
Intact Ferrets, BYB, Hybridization Myths
Not all ferrets will have tattoos or be spayed/neutered. There are private breeders in some areas, though it is incredibly rare when compared to dogs, cats, and even things like exotic reptiles. It is possible for a ferret intake to be intact, and the presence of testes alone should not be used to determine if the animal is wildlife or domestic, but it is a factor that should be considered alongside other details.
It is important to note that domestic ferrets can NOT interbreed with American mink and produce viable offspring. There is no such thing as a domestic ferret - American mink hybrid. This myth originates from domestic ferrets and European polecats being capable of interbreeding with European mink. European mink are a completely separate species from American mink. These species are from entirely different continents. There is very little concern of a domestic ferret successfully hybridizing with any North American mustelid species.