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and Information.

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In this newsletter:

• Seasonal Ferret Proofing: Fall and Winter
   
• Modern Ferret Magazine 30 for $30 Package
  (order soon and get a free gift)
   

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Seasonal Ferret Proofing: Fall and Winter

Repeat after me: "Ferret proofing is never done."

If there's danger in your home, your ferret will find it. We know that we need to clear a room of ferret-unfriendly objects (like foam and rubber) before we let our fuzzballs frolic there, but we might not realize that new seasons can bring new dangers for fuzzies to find.

Seasonal Decor

If you're like most people, you probably decorate your house for Thanksgiving and the Holiday Season. Be extra aware of where you place decorations in your home. If you are putting up lights, be sure that ferrets can't get to the wires. If you put out stuffed toys or other fabric decorations, be sure they are out of ferret reach. It's also a good idea to check on your decorations from time to time to make sure none of the ferrets has teleported to a previously un-ferret-reachable place to make mischief.

Wild Critters

As the weather gets colder, the creatures of the field seek warmth and shelter ... in your house! If you notice the pitter-patter of little feet that isn't from your ferrets, find the source ASAP. We've had squirrels come in the attic or down the chimney. We've seen brazen little field mice scurry across the living room. We've heard stories of opossums taking up residence in the drop ceiling of a kitchen.

Aside from the obvious danger these animals pose to your home, they may pose a risk to your ferrets, too. A little extra vigilance at this time of year can be a big help.

Children

OK, so kids in the kitchen aren't exactly the same as squirrels in the chimney, but neighborhood children who aren't used to ferrets can pose a threat to them. As the weather gets too cold for outdoor playtime, your children might have playmates inside to visit. Be sure to go over the ferret rules with your own children and any of their friends. Even if your children and their friends aren't supposed to handle the ferrets, assume that they might handle them and educate them accordingly.

Shoes and Boots and Gloves

Rain and snow during the fall and winter months can mean that all sorts of things get carried into your house on wet shoes, including toxic ice-melt products. Mats outside and inside doorways can help minimize the debris. Removing "outdoor" shoes at the door can also help reduce the risk of brining unwanted material into your home. Take the time to make sure you don't track possible hazards into your ferrets' play area.

Ferrets love chewy stuff, like leather gloves or shoe and boot insoles. But these things don't like ferrets. Many ferrets have required surgery to remove intestinal blockage caused by rubber or foam insoles and even bits of fabric or leather. Make sure these items are kept in a place where your ferrets can't get to them.

Other Dangers

If you can, keep ferrets out of rooms with fireplaces or wood burning stores. The ever-curious fuzzies are likely to poke their noses where they don't belong.

Some people use shrink-wrap style insulation for their windows during the winter. If you use these, make sure the edges are secure and that no tempting plastic is hanging loose. If it's necessary for you to use this type of window insulation in your ferrets' play area, be sure to check the windows every day for any signs of tearing, chewing or other damage.

Other Seasonal Concerns

In addition to ferret proofing issues, there are other important changes you might need to make for the new season. For example, if the air in your home tends to be dry, which can in turn make your ferrets' skin dry, consider getting a humidifier for your ferret room. Proper humidity is good for them and for you.

One of the big stories this season is still the H1N1 (Swine) Flu. Ferrets are susceptible to human flu viruses, so make sure you take proper precautions to prevent illness in your family and your ferrets. This includes vaccinations, frequent hand-washing, avoiding sick people or crowded places and covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then disposing of the tissue.

See the links below for further tips on ferret proofing, the flu and humidifiers.

If you have any tips for ferret proofing, please send an email, with "ferret proofing" in the subject line, to:

mary modernferret.com

Further Reading:

http://www.ferretnews.com/articles/ferret-holiday-safety.html

http://www.ferretnews.com/issues/ferret-news-55.html#The Flu

http://www.ferretnews.com/articles/ferrets-and-the-flu-season.html

http://www.ferretnews.com/issues/ferret-news-86.html

http://www.ferretnews.com/issues/ferret-news-116.html

http://www.ferretnews.com/articles/humidifiers.html

Modern Ferret Magazine 30 For $30 Package

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• Raising your baby ferret (kit): 10 Tips For New Ferret Owners
• Care and keeping of ferrets: How to Prevent, Recognize, and Treat Heatstroke
• Ferret illness and ferret diseases: Dr. Bruce Williams on Adrenal Disease and Splenomegaly
• Ferret health: Ferret With Gastric Ulcer
• Ferret humor: Dumb Albino Jokes
• Albino ferrets and their history: When "White" is Right, or, If Ferrets Are Wild, Then Why Are They Albino?
• Ferret health: Living Longer: Stress Reduction
• Raising your baby ferret: Information for New Ferret Owners: Checklist of Items You'll Want To Have
• Caring for a sick ferret: Feeding Bosco: Tips on Getting a Sick Ferret to Eat
• Ferret medical problems: Diary of an Intestinal Obstruction
• Uplifting ferret story: Sean and Rocky: A Special Needs Boy and His Ferret Take on the World
• Ferret medical problems: Helping a Ferret With a Broken Leg
• Homemade ferret crafts: Homemade Tunnels - Fight Ferret Boredom
• Ferret fun: One Of My Favorite Things About Ferrets
• Ferret disease: Recognizing and Treating Insulinoma
• Craft project: The Rice Box - Fight Ferret Boredom
• Coping with death: Saying Goodbye
• Children and ferrets: Children and Ferrets Can Get Along!
• Ferret grooming: Bath Time Tips
• Ferret breeding: So, You're Expecting Babies...
• Ferret medical advances: New Advances in Ferret Surgery: Cryosurgery
• Ferret breeds: Angora Ferrets: Modern Ferret Reader Feedback
• Ferret foods: Homemade Ferret Treat Recipes
• Ferret fun: Nicknames of the Long and Slinky
• Ferret diseases: Heart Disease in the Ferret
• Ferret dental care: Gabby's Mishap: A Broken Canine Tooth
• Fun with your ferret: Behind the Scenes: Photo Tips
• Ferret ownership for a new ferret owner: Things to Consider Before You Bring Home Your First Ferret
• Ferret illness and treatment: New Advances in the Treatment of Adrenal Tumors
• Caring for your ferrets: Stress in the Older Ferret
• Ferret health: ECE: One Ferret Owner's Story
• Ferret illness and treatment: Caring For a Ferret With Insulinoma
• The death of a ferret: Even Pets Grieve: Mourning the Loss of a Ferret
• Litter box training: Keep It Clean!
• Ferrety fun: Marshmallow's Amazing New Ferret Predictor
• Ferret games: Ride the Towel!
• Litter box training: Sleeping Blankets to the Rescue
• Ferret housekeeping: Solving the Problem of Leaky Water Bottles
• The joy of ferrets: Things I Learned From My Ferrets...
• Ferret care: Does Your Ferret Have Ear Mites?
• Ferret history: Discovering Medieval Ferrets at the Castle of Laarne in Belgium
• Ferret health: Physical Therapy in Ferrets
• Ferret silliness: Odd Sleeping Positions
• Baby ferrets: New Ferret Introduction - Jenny's Story
• Training ferrets: No Such Thing as a Bad Ferret
• Ferret health: Cataracts in Ferrets
• Breeding ferrets: An Experience in Breeding
• Ferret humor: Interview With the Carpet Shark
• Teaching ferrets to understand words: If I Could Talk to the Ferrets...
• Keeping your ferrets happy and healthy: Is Your Ferret Bored?
• Teaching tricks: Pick Me Up, Mommy!
• Ferrets and babies: Babies and Ferrets
• Breeding ferrets: The Steps in Breeding
• Litter box training: The Basics of Litter Training
• Ferret illness: Adrenal Disease: Surgery vs. Medical Treatment
• Breeding ferrets: Ferret Breeding: What's It All About?
• Ferret old age: Becoming Blind: Seymore's Story
• Shoulder training ferrets: Shoulder Ridin' Fuzzies
• Life with ferrets: The Biggest Mess I Have Ever Seen...
• Ferret illness: Your Ferret and the Flu
• Ferret health: Seasonal Weight Gain and Loss
• Wide world of ferrets: Ferrets in Japan
• Grooming your ferret: Bath Time!
• Ferret lifestyle: How To Keep Your Ferrets While Moving
• Ferret breeders: Where Do Baby Ferrets Come From? A Visit to Path Valley Ferret Farm
• Traveling with ferrets: Ferrets in Hotel Rooms
• Ferret medical care: Preventing Hairballs
• Ferret groups: Integrating Ferrets
• Ferret disabilities: Raising a Deaf Ferret
• New ferret owner: Equipping a Cage
• Baby ferrets: Bringing Up Baby: Nip Training
• Ferret safety: Holiday Dangers
• Ferrets and other animals: Ferrets and Dogs
• Ferret medicine: Cystic Kidneys in the Ferret
• Ferrets and other animals: Ferrets and Cats
• Ferret care: Brushing Your Ferret's Teeth
• Ferret tips: Finding a Lost Ferret
• Ferret maintenance: Your Ferret's Ears and How to Clean Them
• Ferrety interview: Best-Selling Author Richard Bach
• Best-selling writer: Ferrets of New York by Tama Janowitz
• Important health information: One Good Reason To Quit Smoking: Your Ferret by Bob Church
• New medical info: Insulinoma to Diabetes: Scoots's Story
• Bruce Williams, DVM: Post-Surgical Diabetes
• For new ferret owners: Is It a Boy or a Girl? How to sex a ferret

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