Ferret Has Bump On Tail And Runny Poop

Q: I found a baby ferret in my yard. I believe she is less than a year old. She has a big bump at the end of her tail. Is that normal? It’s kinda big and might be split in two. Is it harmful to her? She keeps having the runs. Today I got her different food. Is there anything I can do to help her get over the runny poop?

Ä: The best thing you can do for this ferret that you found is to visit a veterinarian who knows about ferrets. Because you found this ferret, you have no knowledge of her previous history. It is likely she needs both a rabies vaccination and a canine distemper vaccine.

The diarrhea can be due to many possible reasons. Since she was found outside, the most likely causes include parasites and inappropriate food choices. She may have also ingested toxins. This is another reason to get her to a veterinarian as soon as you can.

The bump on the end of her tail does not sound normal. Ferrets do not have “bumps” on the end of their tails. It is impossible for you to know what this is just by looking at the bump, but likely causes of the bump include an infection, a fracture or even a tumor. Once your veterinarian gives this ferret a physical examination, it will be clearer what this mass is and how best to treat it.