This is a contagious disease between dogs and ferrets. Clinical signs include skin lesions to the feet, generalized hair loss, scaling and severe itching. Treatment includes a thorough cleansing of the house and treatment with ivermectin. The cause is unknown. It is suspected to be due to hormonal fluctuations, because the disease responds to changes in the photoperiod.
Hair loss occurs in the fall and then regrows.
Mast cell tumors are the most common skin tumors in ferrets and usually are benign. These appear as individual tumors that are slightly raised, flat, button-like masses. Treatment involves surgical removal and biopsy. This in an enlargement of the heart and most frequently affects ferrets over two years old. There are two forms of cardiomyopathy hypertrophic and dilated.