Hair loss on ferret's tail

[Gimlet]

Can anyone suggest why one of my Jills might be losing the hair from her tail?

I don't think it can be diet related. They rarely eat eggs though they do have a small amount of milk each morning. They get free access to complete ferret biscuits and they have rabbit red offal and fresh rabbit meat regularly.

I do wash the latrine areas each day with a very weak water and bleach solution; but it is weak, a couple of caps to a full bucket of water.

Only one ferret is suffering this though they all have fairly thin coats which I assumed was just normal summer coat.

Could it just be a consequence of a run with a concrete floor?

[fergie]

its called rats tail and aslong as it is that it grows back when her new coat comes in my hobs get it some times and it doesn't have to be on the tail.

 

 

 

 

Ferrets often lose hair on their tails, it is a seasonal thing, nothing contagious, so no need to separate. You can scrub or clean tail but all it will do is clean the little blackheads from the skin. Your ferret will grow new hair on his tail when he changes his coat in the Fall. However, the hair loss can be preliminary to ,Adrenal Disease so you need to watch, that next year he doesn't lose more fur on the rest of his body

Edited July 29, 2011 by fergie

[Scully]

Probably late summer seasonal moult if your ferret looks otherwise healthy.All ferrets do it and can seem odd that they don't necessarily all do it at the same time.Sometimes the fitch is merely 'see-through',sometimes almost non-existant.

If in doubt see your vet,but if she's running around and eating ok I wouldn't be too concerned.

[Gimlet]

Thanks for the info. I'll keep a eye on her. in the mean time a good excuse to have a thorough clean of the court.

Cheers.

[craftycarper]

yep same here, hob gets it every summer, never in winter......looks really rank at the mo