Acute ibuprofen toxicosis in a ferret

A 20-month-old 1.44-kg (3.2-lb) castrated male ferret was examined because of vomiting, defecating in an abnormal location, dyspnea, and signs of depr ession. Within 5 minutes of initial evaluation, the ferret became nonrespon sive to all stimuli except deep pain. Despite intensive supportive treatmen t, the ferret died. Toxicologic analyses for ibuprofen were performed on se rum, urine, and liver, using gas chromatography and mass spectrophotometry. Serum ibuprofen concentrations were 245 mu g/g before and 269 mu g/g after death. Acute ibuprofen toxicosis may cause severe lethargy progressing to coma, ap nea, and death in ferrets. Ibuprofen toxicosis should be considered in diff erential diagnoses for ferrets with signs of depression, with or without cl inical signs of gastrointestinal tract dysfunction..