Haematological and serum chemistry profiles of ferrets (Mustela putorius furo).

Female, male and castrated male ferrets were studied. Weight gain plateaued at 28 weeks of age with males about 500 g heavier than females. No statistically significant differences in haematology were observed with age, but alkaline phosphatase and alanine aminotransferase levels fell while glucose increased. Haemolysis led to various changes including marked increases in total protein, albumin, inorganic phosphate and sorbitol dehydrogenase.