H. mustelae appears to be able to cause two distinct syndromes in the stomach of affected ferrets - chronic atrophic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. Chronic atrophic gastritis is a common finding in ferrets over four years of age. It is suggested that treatment of gastric ulcers in ferrets should be combined with concomitant antimicrobial therapy for Helicobacter mustelae. Immediate treatment is necessary for a ferret with vague gastrointestinal signs including grinding the teeth, inappetence, loose stools, intermittent vomiting, weight loss, and periodic loose stools. Not all ferrets will show all these symptoms.
Ferrets can develop ulcers on their own in times of stress.
You must take your pet to a knowledgeable ferret veterinarian. Because Helicobacter is shed in the feces of infected animals, it is very easy for cleared animals to become reinfected. Therefore, all ferrets in a household need to be treated. Rumor has it that a company on the east coast is developing a blood test for Helicobacter mustelae, i.e. your vet could diagnose this infection from a blood sample rather than an invasive biopsy of the stomach. The Center is on the left - a small white building next to a baseball field.