Ferret Husbandry, Medicine and Surgery

Description

Ferret Husbandry, Medicine and Surgery is a must-have for the small animal practitioner and those interested in ferrets in general. It aims to inform on all aspects and conditions relating to the domestic ferret. Edited and authored by one of the eminent authorities on ferrets in the world, John Lewington, for this new edition is joined by contributions – including both new text and illustrations – from ferret experts based in 8 different countries, including the UK, US, Australia, Japan and Russia, thus ensuring the most current and complete information is available on this increasingly popular animal.

Fully updated and with full colour throughout, this second edition now has 5 new chapters: gastroenteric/liver diseases; ferret-polecat domestication and genetics; ferret dentistry and pathology; ferret toxicosis; and ferret ultrasonography, covering new radiology and ultrasound techniques.

Reviews

"John Lewington is a practitioner who wishes to share his knowledge and love of ferrets. In doing so he keeps the 'chatty' style of the first edition. This is important - in accomplishing his aims he has written a unique book. While he has 'imported' some new authors covering specific sections and whole chapters this is essentially a single author volume.

This is the best ferret book on the market. The price represents excellent value (it is well illustrated) and, with ferrets becoming increasingly common pets, it will justify its position on the shelf of anyone seeing more than the occasional ferret. For those seeing ferrets regularly or specialising in exotic species, it is required reading.

There have been major advacnes in ferret medicine since the first edition in 2000 and these have been covered in great depth.

Recycle yur old edition and replace it with the second, settle back and enjoy learning!" - Reviewed by John Chitty, The Veterinary Record, August 11, 2007

“I was certainly impressed with this book, with its broad range of content, colour pictures and it probably contains virtually anything that you could wish to know about ferrets. It is easy to read, as it is written in a fairly chatty style with boxes containing information on relevant clinical cases, but it still contains the sort of detailed information necessary for any veterinary surgeon treating ferrets.

I would whole-heartedly recommend this book to any veterinary surgeon with more than a passing interest in ferrets, as well as recommending it to owners who want to be better informed on the care of their animals.”

Reviewed by Owen Davies BVSc MRCVS (UK), for EJCAP, vol 17, October 2007

**Description**
This book covers the husbandry, medicine, surgery, and special anatomy of ferrets. Updated from the first edition in 2000, this is largely the work of the author, but it does contain contributions from several notable experts in the field of ferret medicine. Interspersed throughout the chapters are sidebars titled "Author's clinical example" or "clinical case," which help to underscore points in the text and give the material a conversational feel.

**Purpose**
The author's stated purpose is to give veterinary practitioners a tool for providing care to ferrets and communicating with ferret owners. Additionally, the author hopes to increase the quality of care given to ferrets. These are noble ideals and the non-U.S. based viewpoint that permeates the book distinguishes this from other similar resources currently available.

**Audience**
Practitioners who are working with ferrets in a small animal practice setting are the intended audience. Specifically, the author indicates that small animal veterinarians working with pet dogs and cats will find the book useful while caring for ferrets, "one of the three carnivores sharing the home of man." The author's credentials indicate that he has extensive experience with ferrets and a good understanding of associated husbandry, medicine, and surgery. It is obvious from the book, largely written by the author, that he has a passion for these creatures and is interested in advancing the field of ferret medicine.

**Features**
Approximately one-third of the book is dedicated to husbandry issues. One notable addition to this section is an excellent discussion of ferret genetics which is largely omitted by most books. Although the book makes good use of images, the quality of some of the images is less than ideal. The many tables, schematics, and diagrams are excellent additions. Medicine and surgery are split into two sections, which is a little inefficient when covering a topic that fits in both, but the author cross-references these well. Some may feel that the unconventional conversational tone of the book diminishes it, but it does not distract from the content. The most notable problem with the book is the small font size.

**Assessment**
This book was a pleasure to read and it offers refreshing exposure to a field of exotic animal practice dominated by a U.S. perspective. It is well written with an informal feel that may appeal to pet practitioners. The second edition has incorporated current information and would be a good addition to the clinic library.

Weighted Numerical Score: 78 - 3 Stars

- reviewed by Julia K. Whittington, DVM(University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine), Doody Enterprises, Inc.

Key Features

• Bridges the gap between ferret owner and the veterinarian
• Tables and boxes highlighted for easy reference
• Many clinical cases are given throughout, ensuring vital points in the text are illustrated to the maximum
• Includes section on Husbandry, offering basic information on how to keep ferrets
• Sections on Medicine and Surgery give more in depth content needed to treat ferrets

New to this Edition

• 5 new chapters written by 4 new contributing authors
• New research on ferret genetics in breeding and examination, with discussion on genetic causes of diseases
• Further research given on Disseminated Idiopathic Myosititis (DIM), a new mystery disease affecting ferrets in the US; and fungal infections in ferrets, especially Cryptococcosis foramens spp
• Full colour throughout with many new illustrations
• Expanded sections on anatomy, nutrition, adrenal disease complex and insulinoma

Table of Contents

Husbandry

• Classification, History and Current Status of Ferrets
• External Features and Anatomy Profile
• Accommodation
• Nutrition
• Reproduction
• Handling and Medication

Medicine

• Viral, Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases
• Parasitic Diseases of Ferrets
• Diseases of the Internal Organs
• Diseases of the Ferret Ear, Eye and Nose
• General Neoplasia
• Endocrine Diseases

Surgery

• Anaesthesia and Radiology
• General Surgery
• Ferret Vasectomy and Orthopedic Surgery
• Ferret Emergency Techniques

Author Information

Edited by John Henry Lewington, BVetMed, MRCVS, Member Australian Veterinary Association (AVA); Member American Ferret Association (AFA); Member World Ferret Union (WFU); Member Ferrets Southern District Perth (FSDP); Member South Australian Ferret Association (SAFA); Member New South Wales Ferret Welfare Society (NSWFWS)