Ferret News
Pet Ferret Care Tips
and Information
By Mary R. Shefferman & Eric Shefferman - along with Gabby, the ferret
www.ferretnews.com

Ferret News #73: Ferret Poop - Ferret Security
July 28, 2004

by Mary R. Shefferman and Eric Shefferman
along with Gabrielle (the lone ferret)

contact: marymodernferret.com

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Did You Know That

Ferrets don't see their cages as safe places. Although you and I look at a cage and see a place where our ferrets are out of harm's way when we can't supervise them, our ferrets have a different idea of what feels safe and secure.   Ferrets feel safe in dark, enclosed places. It's important to give your ferrets some kind of spot like this in their cage. Blankets for burrowing are not enough (though your ferrets do appreciate them!). Your ferret needs more of a nesting box type of area. You might give them a tent or just cover part of the cage with a blanket, towel, or denim (we use a piece of denim).   Giving your ferrets a place where they can feel safe inside their cage helps reduce stress. Less stress means healthier ferrets.

Get A Ferret Tent Online! Marshall Ferret Fleece Tent The Marshall Fleece Tent is back, and it’s better!! Any ferret owner will appreciate the soft fleece fabric and the easy of assembly, and so will your ferret! Assorted colors.

The Poop On Ferret Poop

By Mary R. Shefferman

  Early on in my ferret-keeping history I discovered a strange tendency among ferret owners to discuss their ferrets' poop. I thought this only occurred with parents of new human babies. But no, ferret parents are just as concerned (and elated) about their little fuzzies' poop as a new mom and dad are about the poop in junior's diaper.

  Why? And why have I become one of those "weird" ferret people who openly discusses the shape, texture, and color of my ferrets' poop as if I were discussing the latest John Grisham novel?

  There's a simple explanation. Ferrets have a quick metabolism; food passes through a ferret in 3 to 4 hours. It makes sense that the first place you'd notice that something is amiss is in the poop. A ferret's poop can tell us if the ferret is feeling all right or if he's feeling under the weather. With the short digestion time, we can easily narrow down a timeframe during which the ferret took ill -- or swallowed something she shouldn't have.

  It's become routine, I scan all the poop in the litter box when I scoop it out every day. I find myself glancing at the litter boxes every time I pass them "just to check." It's a good habit to pick up if you're a ferret parent.

Off-Color Poop

  OK, so you'll reluctantly begin looking at the poop in the litter box a bit more closely, but what should you look for? How do you know if something's wrong? Any off color poop (green, yellow, black) or poop that's runny or seedy should be investigated. A little soft greenish poop from time to time is no big deal. Like people, sometimes a ferret eats something that doesn't quite agree with him (like a piece of people food or food for another pet, for example).

  If you have more than one ferret, you need to try to figure out which one made the "bad" poop. Often, just watching them will give you an idea of which one isn't feeling well. The ill ferret might not be playing as usual or may just seem sick (you know your fuzzies best). It also helps to have an isolation cage. You can separate out the ferret you suspect is ill and monitor his eating, drinking, and pooping. If there are two or three very loose poops (diarrhea) in a row, your ferret needs to see the vet.

  Black, tarry poop is a sign of digested blood. You usually see this if a ferret has an ulcer. This, too, requires an immediate trip to the vet. If your ferret has an ulcer, you may notice him not eating well and you may notice him grinding his teeth (which is a sign of stomach or intestinal pain).

Foreign Objects

  Ferrets are ferrets, so no matter how well you think you've ferret-proofed your home, they'll find something they shouldn't. It's their nature. When you look through the contents of your ferret's litter box, look for any kind of foreign objects in the poop. Although a foreign object in the poop might mean your ferret passed whatever he shouldn't have eaten, you always need to make sure. Try to figure out what the foreign object is (foam insole, latex toy, fabric) and check if the part missing is what was in the poop.

  If you think your ferret might still have some of the foreign object inside him, give him some Ferret Lax (about a 1 -2 inch ribbon) and watch him closely. If you see any vomit in the ferret area, take the ferret with the suspected blockage to the vet immediately. If your ferret is eating and drinking normally, continue to monitor his poop.

Fur

  One thing that might seem like a foreign object but technically isn't is fur. We noticed it much more often when we had a bunch of ferrets who would groom each other. But a single ferret can still swallow a lot of fur during shedding season. Always give your ferret(s) a hairball remedy (Ferret Lax or other brand) when he is shedding. If one ferret in the group is shedding, assume all your ferrets need hairball remedy.

  Something to be aware of whenever you give hairball remedy: your ferret will have some loose poops when he passes the hairball remedy. This is normal.

Other Oddities

  What about other poop problems? Consistently passing skinny poops or tiny poops may indicate a partial intestinal blockage. In such a case, you should have your ferret evaluated by a veterinarian. Seedy poop (it looks almost like your ferret ate birdseed) is a sign of incomplete digestion. It can happen from time to time, but, again, if it occurs consistently, take your ferret to the vet.

  Pooping in unusual places can also be a sign of a problem. Some ferrets choose to communicate with us by leaving little "presents." In some cases, it's just an annoyed ferret; in other cases, your ferret could be trying to tell you she's not feeling well.

****

  Whether you like it or not, being a ferret parent means having to inspect the litter box. The good about checking out your ferrets' poop is that you'll be able to spot problems quickly, before they become ferret health disasters. Remember that our little fur-friends are small and the sooner they get help when they need it, the better.

Get Your Ferret Hairball Remedy Online!

Marshall Ferret Lax Remedy for Ferrets 4 oz Marshall Ferret Lax is specially formulated to treat and prevent the formation of hairballs in the intestines and stomach of ferrets. A specialized lubricant works safely and quickly to help remove hair and other unintentionally ingested items that may not pass through a ferret’s system. Ferret Lax is all natural, with a great taste ferrets love! 4 oz.

  We hope you enjoyed this newsletter. Be sure to take advantage of the sale on the Super Monster Pack and the sales at FerretDesigns.com and AmysDesigns.com.

  --Mary, Eric, & Gabby (the lone Modern Ferret)

  Stay tuned for more. You can always get updates by reading my blog (a blog is an online journal). I keep it sporadically and it usually runs to the more personal stuff. But you might like it. It's at

http://www.modernferretblog.com/mary

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