Since you never know when an accident will happen, keeping a ferret emergency kit at your home is a good idea. You can put a first aid kit together yourself and buy the items separately, or buy one ready-made. If you make one yourself, use a small plastic tub with a tight fitting lid to store the following items:
Phone Numbers and Records
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Veterinary clinic phone number and directions to the clinic
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Emergency clinic phone number and directions
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Poison control center phone numbers
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Vaccination and health records and a list of medications your ferret is receiving – take these with you on every veterinary visit
Equipment and Supplies
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Magnifying glass
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Scissors
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Tweezers
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Nail clippers and metal nail file
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Styptic powder or sticks, Kwik Stop, or cornstarch
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Penlight
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Eye dropper or oral syringe
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Feeding tubes of various sizes if you are trained in how to use them
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Cotton swabs
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Cotton balls
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Clean towels – cloth and paper
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Ear thermometer
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Lubricant such as mineral oil or KY Jelly (without spermicide)
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Disposable gloves
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Syringes of various sizes
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Needle-nose pliers or hemostats
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Grease-cutting dish soap
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Fooey or other product to discourage licking
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Ferret carrier
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Towel or blanket to keep your ferret warm during transport (some pharmacies and camping outlets carry a thermal blanket or bed)
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Cold packs and heat packs (wrap in towel before using)
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Stethoscope
Bandaging Materials
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Square gauze of various sizes – some sterile
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Non-stick pads
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First aid tape – both paper (easily comes off of skin) and adhesive types
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Bandage rolls – gauze and Vetwrap
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Band-Aids (for humans)
Nutritional Support
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Highly palatable food such as Hill’s a/d, Oxbow Carnivore Care, Chicken & Chicken Gravy Baby Food or Eukanuba MaxCal (Feline)
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Rehydrating solution such as Gatorade or Pedialyte
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Nutritional supplement such as Nutri-Cal, FerretVite or Nutristat
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High sugar source: Karo syrup
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Probiotics as advised by your veterinarian; often prescribed for ferrets receiving antibiotics
Medicines*
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Wound disinfectant such as Betadine or Nolvasan
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Triple antibiotic ointment for skin
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Antibiotic ophthalmic ointment for eyes, e.g., Terramycin
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Eye wash solution
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Sterile saline
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Antidiarrheal medicine such as Pet Pectate
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Ferret or cat laxative in paste form (e.g.: Marshall Ferret Lax Hairball Remedy or Tomlyn Ferret Laxatone)
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Pediatric diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for allergic reactions
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Cortisone spray or cream, such as Itch Stop
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Ear cleaning solution
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Hydrogen peroxide (used to make a pet vomit)
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Activated charcoal to absorb ingested poisons (consult your veterinarian before using)
*Watch the expiration dates on any medication, and replace as needed.
