Can I Give My Ferret Amoxicillin?

Amoxicillin

Can you give your ferret Amoxicillin?

Ferrets make wonderful pets because they are very active, fun-loving, affectionate and just full of crazy antics. They never fail to rub off its happy disposition to anyone in the room with them.

Their continuous bouncing and running around are just simply endearing. Even when they get extremely boisterous and display their usual antics of taking and hiding things they see and chewing on stuffs, still they remain charming. A ferret owner will agree that it never fail to chase the blues away. It’s hard not to fall in love with a ferret. You see one and you instantly want to take it home with you.

When you are used to seeing the very agile ferret suddenly looking weak, getting slow and not eating, you get really worried. And this is for a good reason considering how very fragile and delicate they are. Because pets like ferret immediately becomes like family, it is difficult to see it suffer.

Can I Give My Ferret Amoxicillin?

Yes, but under veterinarian supervision.

One of the more important things that a ferret owner should first know when deciding to get a ferret as a pet is to know what possible illness may befall on them.

Proper education is the key so you won’t easily panic and you know what to do when you see some early symptoms of some possible sickness. There will be some diseases that the ferrets may be more susceptible to than others. As a ferret owner, you will need to know these essential details about your ferret, so you can help it when it needs you the most.

Aside from seeing them suddenly weak and not as active, take the temperature of your ferret. It should be between 101 and 102 degrees to be normal. If it’s higher and you can feel them hot to touch, be wary. Take him to a veterinarian as soon as you can.

If there is any reason you cannot take him to see a veterinarian as soon as possible, do not self-medicate with some over-the-counter medicines. For one, you are not yet sure what is wrong with the ferret and giving the right dosage is very important. It might do the ferret more bad than good if you insist on self-medicating.

Amoxicillin is one drug that is most abused. Maybe because it is widely available and can be found in any first aid kid easily. Since there is no medication made specifically for ferret, amoxicillin formulation for human can be given to ferret but only when prescribed by a veterinarian.

Amoxicillin is an anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory drug used to cure infections most notably respiratory and gastric infections. Extra precaution is needed when taking this medication as it may have some side effects like upset stomach, nausea, hypoglycemia and convulsion.

There can be a lot of reason why I ferret will not feel well. You should be aware of what the ferret has been taking and eating and what it has been exposed to for the veterinarian to easily find out what is wrong with it.

Ferrets are very sensitive pets. They are susceptible to common cold and flu. They are touted to be one of the few animals that can catch a common cold and flu just like the humans do. Like human beings they will exhibit same symptoms of common cold like sneezing, running nose, fatigue and loss of appetite. And like human’s common cold, a ferret’s common cold will also go away with its own with proper hydration and lots of rest. And if you go to the veterinarian, he may also prescribe antibiotics like amoxicillin to your ferret for this.

Because they are usually chewing on things, sometime swallowing anything in sight and improperly fed, they are easily prone to indigestion and diarrhea. Some cases it’s coupled with vomiting and fever. More serious disease like gastric ulcer may get to your ferret as well. This can sometimes lead to fatality as it shows very few symptoms even during blood tests. That is why it is very important to be very careful what to feed a ferret. Gastric ulcers are caused by some bacteria in the stomach and indications are dark stools, grinding of teeth and loss of appetite.

It is important to see a veterinarian immediately when you see some unusual symptoms from your ferret. Trust only the expert on your ferret’s health and well-being. Sometimes, quick thinking and action can spell a lot of difference in making sure your pet is well and safe and for your peace of mind too.

7 Responses to “Can I Give My Ferret Amoxicillin?”

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  1. Cynthia says:

    Hi i recently got a5 month ferret but had a male from birth and he is 1 years old when i brung the albino 5 month my male adult got sick however the young one is healthy and hyper but my adult has green slimmy mucus stool and very weak us there any way possible i can give him antiobiotic aand if so what kind

    • Ferret Lover says:

      You should not rely on the veterinary advice or information provided on this site (or any site) for diagnosis or treatment of any specific situation. Always consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the medical condition or treatment of your own pet or animal.

      I pray for a speedy recovery of your loved one.

    • Elizabeth says:

      Sounds like ece did you quarantine for two weeks before introducing the new one to the older one often younger ones carry this and show no signs

    • Stephanie says:

      That sounds like what my vet called “green slime disease”. It’s a a form of Coronavirus that my vet said we can’t get or give to our ferrets, but they transmit it to each other. Your little one may have it too. I hope your ferrets are ok, this pandemic really needs to go away 🙁

  2. Robert Adams says:

    More information would be appreciated as virtually no Veterinary clinics deal in Ferrets. Just saying see a vet is useless since they don’t care for them. Yes we have tried. We live in DFW and everyone says call this number and on and on only to find out there is nowhere to go so You gotta find out what to do on your own.

  3. Shelbe Stowe says:

    I got another ferret who’s 4 years old, along with my other 4 year old and she’s had brown diarrhea, that doesn’t seem to be getting better after the vet prescribed amoxicillin and another medication that I don’t remember, along with Pepto bismol that the vet suggested. I’ve gotten to the point of force feeding her, she still drinks water and nothing has changed in her diet and environment. I do smoke cigarettes, I’m wondering if that will affect her. My friend brings her ferrets over and they are all healthy. I don’t know what to do. I can’t afford a vet again. Please help

    • Ferret Lover says:

      I’m sorry but I can’t help you. You should not rely on the veterinary advice or information provided on this site (or any site) for diagnosis or treatment of any specific situation. Always consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the medical condition or treatment of your own pet or animal.

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