ABSTRACT
Choosing an analgesic involves consideration of the type of pain being treated, route of administration, formulation, duration of action (frequency of administration), owner compliance, side-effects and contraindications from other medications or medical conditions. Acute pain such as that from trauma or postsurgery can be treated with local anaesthetics, opiates for 1-3 days, coupled with an NSAID for up to 7 days depending on severity of injury or surgical incision. Chronic pain as seen with neoplasia may need long-term pain control that the owner may need to administer based on clinical signs. The clinician needs to educate the owner on signs in their ferret and what the different medications will do, as well as work out dosage and frequency schedules. Most owners are in tune with their ferrets and can become astute in the subtle signs of pain. Because of the ferret having a propensity to develop GI ulcers and acid reux disease, GI protectant and antihistamine/antacid therapy should accompany administration of NSAIDs. The author encourages treatment of all ill, stressed, or postsurgical ferrets
with one of the GI antihistamines for the duration of the medical problem.
