Is something wrong with my ferret?

Is there something wrong with my Ferret if she is a bit thin, but otherwise healthy?

• My ferret is almost 4 years old now, she has never had any health issues before. About a year ago we notices her coughing a bit, so we gave her more hairball remedy and that was fine, but for about half a year now she has been a little thin. She is very energetic, happy, sociable, she eats and drinks frequently, her urine is the same as usual, no constipation and no diarrea. she has nice fur good teeth, she is well looked after, but she is quite thin.She has always been a very small ferret, alot smaller then most, she never had her last growth spurt, but i dont think she is a bit underweight. I can feel some of her bones but she does not have any other issues she is a very healthy ferret, but I am not sure if maybe we should just change her food or maybe it could be something worse? her weight hasnt changed for about half a year now so does anybody have any idea if it is an issue or not?

• Answer:

  If your ferret is eating and drinking properly, she is most likely just thin. During the summer ferrets can lose a lot of weight and fur. However, there can always be underlying problems, so I recommend taking her to the vet, getting a stool culture (to check for bacteria) and maybe some blood work. You can always add more fat to her diet - fat should compromise 25-30% of the entire diet. I usually feed olive oil to my ferrets daily to prevent ulcers and hairballs. My ferret Pixie is extremely thin, but she eats like a monster. After a vet visit and a stool culture, the vet said she was perfectly healthy. I did however switch the diet from kibble to raw, and have definitely noticed a weight gain (though I can still feel her bones when I hold her). If you are considering changing her diet, I highly recommend feeding raw. An easy option is freeze-dried and/or frozen foods like Stella & Chewy and Nature's Variety. They are quick and easy and very nutritious.