Dental tartar is exacerbated by feeding moist or semi-moist foods, especially treats such as raisins, or candy. These gums will easily bleed with dental brushing. This is often a result of severe dental tartar or bacterial infections. It can be very uncomfortable for the ferret as well as can lead to more serious problems such as septicemia, abscesses, and tooth loss. Due to the length of the canine teeth, this can cause ulcers and abscesses where the canines hit the gum surface.
Malocclusions are most commonly a result of hereditary or traumatic injuries.
These may show with as little as minor gingivitis to severe painful swellings. It is essential that these teeth be removed and the ferret be placed on appropriate antibiotics. Due to the chewing nature of ferrets, it is common to see the tips of the canines broken off. This is not often a problem unless the tooth dies or the ferret shows difficulty in chewing. In this case, a root canal or extraction should be considered.