While warfarin may have been ruled out, as well as ethylene glycol -
this many ferrets wth similar issues as well as a dog defintiely sounds
like toxic poisoning for sure. Please read about bromethalin. It is a
new poison (rodenticide) now supposed to replace warfarin for supposed
safety issues to pets and children caused when they ingested warfarin.
Bromethalin has no antidote and is considered undetectable.

An overheated shed is IMO inexcusable. Knowing these small animal's
intolerance of heat - all precautions should be taken to avoid even
coming close to being overheated. By the time you take them to a vet,
it is not surprising their core temperature has reduced - but that does
NOT eliminate any possible brain damage done by overheating. You cannot
rely upon active cooling like an electric fan or air conditioner for
these guys. You HAVE to incorporate a passive type of cooling such as
frozen water bottles, frozen ceramic floor tiles, even buckets of ice.
they will lay close to these as needed to maintain a comfortable body
temp. If you see them sleeping piled on top of each other then you
know it is cool enough. If you see them laying prone, belly flat, legs
akimbo, they are too hot and you need to employ more cooling devices.

Are you using galvanized feed/water pans and hardware cloth?
Galvanizing uses zinc and this can be toxic. You said your shed is
new? Is t made with pressure treated wood? Some pressure treating uses
an arsenic base which is toxic. My gut feeling though leans towards
poison - unless your dog is hanging out inside the ferret shed - for
all the animals to be exhibiting similar symptoms leads me to think
poison - either accidental, environmental or deliberate.

I couldn't imagine losing so many with similar symptoms, you've got
to be extremely upset. But before you bring any more in - turn things
upside down to discover the source. Good luck.

Regards,
Kim

[Posted in FML 7802]