Ferrets 3 months of age or older should be vaccinated, with annual boosters thereafter. Owners of vaccinated ferrets should know, however, that under certain circumstances, public health authorities may require euthanasia of vaccinated ferrets that have bitten a person. Other Diseases Ferrets are not susceptible to viruses that commonly produce upper respiratory disease in domestic cats, nor are they susceptible to canine hepatitis. Some of these ferrets tested positive for feline leukemia virus, while others tested negative. Though a cause and effect relationship cannot be proven by such a small number of cases, the possibility exists that ferrets may become infected with feline leukemia virus.
Cancer can be one possible result of an infection.
Some researchers believe that leukemia and related diseases among ferrets may be caused by a virus or viruses specific to ferrets. It is interesting to note that ferrets are susceptible to infection with several strains of human influenza virus. Unlike distemper, however, influenza usually passes within 5 days of the onset of illness, and ferrets recover. Such treatment is not recommended if bacterial infection complicates the influenza infection. Periodic fecal examinations should be performed by your veterinarian to check for such parasites.