Species
Ferret: adverse event reports
371 reports, 0% of FDA's animal drug adverse event database
371 adverse event reports in FDA's database concern ferrets: 0% of all reports received from January 1993 to March 2026. 13 arrived in the 12 months to March 2026, down 24% from 17 in the 12 months before. That is 0% of all reports received in those 12 months and about 11 reports a year over the whole record.
By active ingredient, the drugs named most often are deslorelin acetate (24% of ferret reports), selamectin (9.7% of ferret reports), imidacloprid + moxidectin (5.1% of ferret reports) and meloxicam (1.9% of ferret reports). Drugs given to the most animals lead the list for that reason; brands are masked in the public data.
The terms listed most often are lack of efficacy - NOS (37.7%), death (9.7%) and anorexia (5.9%). 42.3% of reports stating seriousness were classed as serious (38.6% across all species), and 14.3% record a death or euthanasia (6.4% overall).
FDA posts reports quarterly with a delay of three to six months, so the newest months are incomplete and usually grow in later releases.
Drugs named most often, by active ingredient
| Active ingredients recorded for the drug | Reports | Share of ferret reports | Share of the drug's reports that concern ferrets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deslorelin Acetate | 89 | 24% | 22.8% |
| Selamectin | 36 | 9.7% | 0.1% |
| Imidacloprid + Moxidectin | 19 | 5.1% | 0.1% |
| Meloxicam | 7 | 1.9% | 0% |
| Sevoflurane | 7 | 1.9% | 0.5% |
| Amoxicillin | 6 | 1.6% | 0.1% |
| Ivermectin | 6 | 1.6% | 0% |
| Nitenpyram | 5 | 1.3% | 0% |
| Prednisolone | 5 | 1.3% | 0.2% |
| Amoxicillin Trihydrate + Clavulanate Potassium | 3 | 0.8% | 0.1% |
| Cefovecin sodium | 3 | 0.8% | 0% |
| Dexamethasone + Neomycin Sulfate + Thiabendazole | 3 | 0.8% | 0.3% |
| Diphenhydramine | 3 | 0.8% | 0.1% |
| Enrofloxacin | 3 | 0.8% | 0% |
| Isoflurane | 3 | 0.8% | 0.1% |
| Lufenuron | 3 | 0.8% | 0.1% |
| Milbemycin Oxime | 3 | 0.8% | 0% |
| Alfaxalone | 2 | 0.5% | 0.2% |
| Buprenorphine | 2 | 0.5% | 0% |
| Cephalexin | 2 | 0.5% | 0.1% |
| Dexamethasone + Thiabendazole | 2 | 0.5% | 0.2% |
| Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate | 2 | 0.5% | 0.2% |
| Fenbendazole | 2 | 0.5% | 0% |
| Gabapentin | 2 | 0.5% | 0% |
| Imidacloprid | 2 | 0.5% | 0% |
| Ketamine Hydrochloride | 2 | 0.5% | 0% |
| Metronidazole | 2 | 0.5% | 0.1% |
| Midazolam | 2 | 0.5% | 0.1% |
| Ponazuril | 2 | 0.5% | 0.4% |
| Prednisone | 2 | 0.5% | 0% |
Ordered by report count, which follows how widely a drug is used. FDA states that these data "cannot be used to estimate the risk associated with the product or compare one drug or device product with another". openFDA masks brand and manufacturer names in adverse event records, so the reports counted here cannot be attributed to a particular brand.
Signs listed in reports
share of ferret reports listing the termall species
- Lack of efficacy - NOS[the product did not have the expected effect]37.7%140
- Death9.7%36
- Anorexia[not eating]5.9%22
- Lethargy[unusually tired or inactive]5.9%22
- Diarrhoea[diarrhea]5.7%21
- Depression[dull, quiet or withdrawn]5.1%19
- Lack of efficacy[the product did not have the expected effect]4.3%16
- Vomiting3.8%14
- Ataxia[unsteady, uncoordinated movement]3.5%13
- Weight loss3.2%12
- Death by euthanasia[the animal was euthanized]2.7%10
- Implant site reaction NOS[NOS: not otherwise specified]2.7%10
- Hypoglycaemia[low blood sugar]2.4%9
- Lack of hair regrowth2.2%8
- Seizure NOS[seizure, type not specified]2.2%8
- Aggression1.9%7
- Weakness1.9%7
- Hair loss NOS[NOS: not otherwise specified]1.6%6
- Implant site swelling1.6%6
- Pale mucous membrane[pale gums]1.6%6
- Pruritus[itching]1.6%6
- Accidental exposure[exposure that was not intended]1.3%5
- Anaemia NOS[low red blood cell count]1.3%5
- Behavioural disorder NOS[behaviour change, type not specified]1.3%5
- Generalised itching1.3%5
- Hyperactivity1.3%5
- Hypersalivation[drooling]1.3%5
- Hypothermia[low body temperature]1.3%5
- Implant site abscess1.3%5
- Implant site bruising1.3%5
Single ingredients, pooled across combinations
- Deslorelin Acetate89 reports · 24%
- Selamectin36 reports · 9.7%
- Imidacloprid21 reports · 5.7%
- Moxidectin20 reports · 5.4%
- Ivermectin7 reports · 1.9%
- Meloxicam7 reports · 1.9%
- Sevoflurane7 reports · 1.9%
- Amoxicillin6 reports · 1.6%
- Dexamethasone6 reports · 1.6%
- Nitenpyram5 reports · 1.3%
- Prednisolone5 reports · 1.3%
- Thiabendazole5 reports · 1.3%
- Amoxicillin Trihydrate3 reports · 0.8%
- Cefovecin sodium3 reports · 0.8%
- Clavulanate Potassium3 reports · 0.8%
- Diphenhydramine3 reports · 0.8%
Age and weight
Age of the animal
Weight of the animal
Outcomes and report types
Outcome recorded in the report
What kind of report it was
Coloured bar: ferret reports. Grey bar: all 1,357,245 reports. Outcomes are as stated by the reporter.
Trend
Reports by month FDA received them. The newest months are incomplete because FDA posts reports with a delay of three to six months.
| Measure | Ferret | All reports |
|---|---|---|
| Reports | 371 | 1,357,245 |
| Classed serious, of reports stating it | 42.3% | 38.6% |
| Death or euthanasia recorded, per 1,000 reports | 142.9 | 63.8 |
| Filed as lack of expected effectiveness (wholly or partly) | 43.4% | 23% |
Breeds with their own page
- Domestic ferret (Pet ferret)152 reports · 41% of ferret reports
Single-breed labels with at least 100 reports. Crossbred animals count in the species total only.
Questions about ferret reports
How many adverse event reports involve ferrets?
371 reports through March 2026, 0% of the database; 13 in the latest 12 months.
Which drugs are reported most often for ferrets?
By active ingredient: deslorelin acetate (89), selamectin (36), imidacloprid + moxidectin (19), meloxicam (7) and sevoflurane (7). The order tracks how widely each is used; brands are masked in the public data.
What signs are reported most in ferrets?
lack of efficacy - NOS (37.7%), death (9.7%), anorexia (5.9%), lethargy (5.9%) and diarrhoea (5.7%).
What ages are the ferrets in these reports?
4 to 7 years (50.7%), 1 to 3 years (19.9%) and under 1 year (7.8%); age is not given in 19.7% of reports.
Do more reports mean more risk for this species?
No. Counts follow how many animals are treated and how readily their owners and veterinarians report. FDA states that "there is no certainty that the reported drug or device caused the adverse event" and that the event "may have been related to an underlying disease, other drugs used at the same time or other non-drug related sources."
How do I report a problem?
Call the drug company using the number on the label, or send Form FDA 1932a to FDA. See the guide on how to report.
Where this comes from. Counts are built from the openFDA Animal & Veterinary adverse event bulk files released 28 Sep 2026, which hold reports FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine received through 31 Mar 2026. openFDA masks brand and manufacturer names in these files, so drugs are counted by the active ingredients each record discloses and no figure is attributed to a brand, application or company. Ingredient names, and the separate reference lists of approved products, follow the FDA Green Book as of 1 Oct 2026. No report text, lot numbers or reporter details are published. See the methodology and sources; FDA's record is authoritative, and corrections are handled within five working days.