Winter Newsletter 2025

Winter Newsletter 2025

Veterinary Care for Ferrets

Ferrets are active, curious animals that love playing and investigating. Did you know that they need regular care by a veterinarian?

Routine Care:

You will need to bring your ferret in twice a year for a medical checkup and yearly vaccinations. 

•Rabies vaccine: Yearly vaccine. Should be given first at 16 weeks old. 

•Distemper vaccine: Yearly vaccine. Ferret kits and unvaccinated adults need booster shots.

•Wellness lab work:  Yearly blood work. Urinalysis indicated in some situations.

Dental Care:

Ferret’s teeth and gums checked annually.  Brushing with pet-friendly toothpaste and feeding dry food helps keep teeth clean. Sometimes ferrets will need to have a full dental cleaning under general anesthesia.

Ear Care:

Clean your ferret’s ears once a month to remove wax buildup. Use a commercial ear cleaner and a cotton swab for the outer ear only. Check for ear mites weekly. If you notice gray wax or an odor, contact us.

Hairballs:

Ferrets groom themselves well but may get hairballs during shedding seasons. Brush their fur regularly and change bedding weekly. For excessive shedding, ask us about malt-based laxatives.

Illnesses:

As ferrets tend to deteriorate quickly due to their high metabolic rate if they become ill, it is important to seek proper veterinary care immediately.

•Ferrets can catch human influenza and cold viruses, and they can pass them back. If you have a cold or the flu, be sure to wash your hands before touching your ferret. Keep the ferret away from your face and do your best not to give your cold to your ferret. 

•Ferrets are also susceptible to canine distemper and rabies (see above). 

•Other common diseases are adrenal and pancreatic tumors, Aleutian disease, bronchial pneumonia and other viral infections. Most can be effectively treated given early diagnosis. 

Contact us if you have more questions about routine ferret care!

-Dr. Hailee Cotter

Farewell Friends

After much heartfelt deliberation, I have decided to step down from my role as Practice Manager at Caring Animal Hospital after January 31st. It was not a decision that I came to lightly as I know I will miss everyone terribly.

My goal when I started at Caring Animal Hospital in April of 2017 was to create an environment where all employees, clients, and animals are heard and cared for in a manner above and beyond expectations. My head was full of ideas, and I burst into the scene making changes. At first, I think I ruffled a few feathers, as many clients had been coming here for a long time. Luckily, we have the best clients around, so they were gentle with me when I was overly excited and passionate. I appreciate all your understanding and patience with me then and now.

The biggest factor in my success over the last 7+ years would have to be the guidance and knowledge shared by Dr. Steele and Dr. Cotter. They taught me things I will never forget and will utilize every day moving forward. They encouraged me to come up with “crazy” ideas and implement new policies. Knowing that they trusted me and would back me up made me brave enough to press the limits of what we could achieve together. I’m proud of what we have accomplished.

I also had the best wingman a manager could ask for in Erica. She helped me to understand the owners who had come to trust our doctors over the years. She helped me understand animal behavior in a way I never had before. She supported me when the days were long, and the decisions were hard. She gave me comfort when I wanted to give up or doubted myself. She remembered all the things I forgot and helped buffer questions when I was busy. When we all lost her last year, I felt like I lost half my brain.

I’ve experienced a lot in the 24 years I’ve been in veterinary medicine. This clinic – my coworkers, the clients, the patients – will forever live in my memory as the most rewarding. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your pets’ lives. I wish you and your pets continued good health, joy, and many happy moments together. I’m confident that the exceptional team here will continue to provide the outstanding care you and your pets deserve.

-Maggie Smith, LVT, CVPM

Employee Spotlight:

Angela McDonald (she/her): 

Angela started in July and will be acting as reception and assistant with us at Caring Animal Hospital. She has over three years of experience in veterinary medicine and loves seeing the sick or injured animals improving the most.  

She lives with her significant other and daughter along with their 2 dogs & bunch of chickens. In her free time, she likes being outside hunting, fishing, and exploring new places with her family.