Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of gastrointestinal disorders characterised by inflammatory cellular infiltrates in the lamina propria of small or large intestine with associated clinical signs. The inflammatory pattern is usually lymphocytic, lymphoplasmacytic, or eosinophilic.

Lymphocytic infiltration of the intestinal lamina propria is a common inflammatory response to many infectious agents or environmental factors.

Plasmacytic infiltration suggests chronic or more severe inflammation. The cause of tissue eosinophilia is unclear; parasitic infestation or allergic reaction may be suspected.

No strong sex or age predisposition.

Clinical signs

Weight loss, muscle wasting, diarrhoea (sometimes with blood or mucus), melena, vomiting, hypersalivation.

Physical examination

  • cachexia;
  • thickened, doughy intestine;
  • enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes;
  • splenomegaly.

Causes and risk factors

Pathogenesis is likely multifactorial.

Lymphocytic or lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates may be associated with Helicobacter mustelae, epizootic catarrhal enteritis, ADV, giardiasis, salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis, cryptosporidiosis, or other infectious agents.

Differential diagnoses

  • intestinal lymphosarcoma may mimic IBD clinically and on examination;
  • gastrointestinal foreign bodies;
  • infectious diseases (H. mustelae, influenza, giardiasis, salmonellosis, campylobacter enteritis, cryptosporidiosis, mycobacteriosis).

Laboratory tests

Biochemistry may show panhypoproteinaemia or hypoalbuminaemia with protein-losing enteropathy.

Faecal parasite exam and faecal cytology may show erythrocytes or leukocytes consistent with IBD or invasive bacterial strains.

Faecal PCR for salmonella may be added.

Diagnosis is by histology of intestinal wall (usually biopsy at exploratory laparotomy).

Treatment of IBD in ferrets

Treatment includes fluid therapy for dehydration, hypoallergenic diets for 8–13 weeks up to lifelong (though evidence that IBD is a true allergic reaction is limited).

Treat underlying causes (Helicobacter, salmonella, giardia, etc.). Empirical Helicobacter treatment is indicated if gastric lesions are present.

Prednisolone (1.25–2.5 mg/kg once every 24 h) until signs resolve, then gradual taper.

Metronidazole (15–20 mg/kg PO every 12 h).

Vitamin B12 for chronic diarrhoea: 250 µg/kg SC weekly for 6 weeks.

Avoid drugs contraindicated with concurrent conditions.

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