Keeping Ferrets Cool
Ferrets do NOT tolerate heat well at all and that can easily become a problem in South Florida. Even temperatures in the 80s (say, above 27C or so) can cause problems, and older ferrets can be even more sensitive. The first thing to do is to prevent heat exposure in the first place, by providing shade and plenty of cool water. Living in Florida, you must realize that your ferret will need special care in mid-summer. Never leave a ferret or any pet in a car in hot weather. Even with the windows partly open, it just doesn’t do enough good. Temperatures can rise to over 100 degrees in just minutes, especially during our hot Florida summers.
There are a couple of ways to keep your ferrets cooler if you don’t have air conditioning or if it happens to break down for a day or two.
Ferrets do NOT tolerate heat well at all and that can easily become a problem in South Florida. Even temperatures in the 80s (say, above 27C or so) can cause problems, and older ferrets can be even more sensitive. The first thing to do is to prevent heat exposure in the first place, by providing shade and plenty of cool water. Living in Florida, you must realize that your ferret will need special care in mid-summer. Never leave a ferret or any pet in a car in hot weather. Even with the windows partly open, it just doesn’t do enough good. Temperatures can rise to over 100 degrees in just minutes, especially during our hot Florida summers.
There are a couple of ways to keep your ferrets cooler if you don’t have air conditioning or if it happens to break down for a day or two.
- Fans are an obvious idea
- A plastic bottle of ice wrapped in a towel
- You can drape a damp towel over your ferrets’ cage, set a bucket of water on top, and drape another wet rag over the side of the bucket so one end is at the bottom of the bucket and the other is on the cage towel. The rag acts as a wick to keep the towel wet, and the cage stays cooler from evaporation.
Ferrets in distress from heat will first pant, then go limp, then lose touch with their surroundings. The first thing to do is to get the ferret out of the hot place and start cooling him down slowly. Cool water is best, but not too cold, since the ferret’s body temperature will drop way too far and he’ll be unable to stop it. Anything you can get him to drink is good, but never force liquids into an unconscious animal.
After these emergency measures, get your pet to the vet immediately. Even ferrets that seem to have recovered may die within 48 hours due to the massive shock they’ve undergone. Things to watch for include tarry stools and vomiting.
On the other hand (for those in the southern hemisphere 
, ferrets handle cold pretty well. If they have full winter coats, they’ll be perfectly happy living in a chilly room, say 60 F (15 C). They can easily handle going outdoors in cold weather, and many of them love to play in the snow. Use common sense, though. Don’t take your ferrets out in really frigid (much below freezing) or wet weather, and bring them inside if they shiver too much, paw at the door, or try to climb up into your coat.
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