Handling and Transportation
Ferrets are fun and loving animals. They are naturally curious animals and are sometime fearless. Ferrets can and will get into anything that catches their interest so be sure to never let your ferret run loose around the house unsupervised. Ferret proof your house by blocking entrances to places where they can get stuck, and be careful of where you step or sit when they are out. Ferrets enjoy playing, but can sometimes play rough. Young ferrets may bite hard when they are seeking food. Be careful when you first approach a baby ferret. Older ferrets might nip like a cat, or bite hard and hang on to your finger. Sometimes they may bite hard enough to puncture the skin and go deep into the muscle. As you play with a ferret, determine it's emotional state and how likely it is to play rough. Do not allow young children to play with ferrets unattended. Spray bottles containing water maybe used to deter biting and fighting when necessary. Ferrets can be trained to walk on a harness, but a carrier box is the best way to transport them to and from veterinary visits.

Medications
Drugs and medications have not really best tested for ferrets. Dosage and reactions are largely unknown. Be careful when giving medications to ferrets, and always check with your veterinarian first. Ferrets can take medication in the form of injections, liquid syrups or pastes.

Vaccination
Ferrets should receive rabies vaccine and canine distemper vaccine once a year. During their first year, they are first vaccinated at age 8 weeks, 10 to 12 weeks and 13 to 14 weeks for distemper and given rabies at 12 weeks.

Heartworm Disease
Heartworm is a parasite that is known to affect dogs, cats, and ferrets. The parasite is transmitted through the bite of an mosquito. Since most ferrets in the US are kept indoors, the risk of infection is lower. However, ferrets that live in endemic areas should be kept on a preventive even though they are kept totally indoors. The American Heartworm society recommends ivermectin for use in ferrets as a preventive. Contact a veterinarian for dosage and product information.

Routine Testing

• Juvenile Ferrets
  Juvenile ferrets require an exam to check for any congenital deformities, to test for Aleutian disease, check for parasites, receive proper vaccinations at the recommended vaccination schedule, and to make sure they are on the right diet.
• Middle age to older Ferrets
  Middle age ferrets require an annual exam, blood work (check for inslonoma, adrenal tumor, and lymphoma), x-ray (check heart, abdomen lymph nods for tumor), fecal worm check (check for parasites), and canine distemper and rabies vaccine.