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

Ferret News #80: Living Longer: Get To Know Your Ferret
September 19, 2004

contact: marymodernferret.com

  Helping your ferret to live the longest and healthiest life he can takes dedication and attention. Although you can’t prevent every illness or injury, quickly recognizing symptoms and getting treatment for your ferret can help him to overcome problems before they debilitate him and rob him of his overall health. To effectively recognize symptoms in your ferret, you must first know your particular ferret’s “normal” behaviors and habits.

  Some ferrets are naturally more or less active than others. Knowing each one of your ferrets and their habits can help you to quickly recognize when something is not right. For example, our Trixie was typically more reserved than most, always taking the opportunity to curl up and sleep in a warm lap. Koosh, on the other hand, was an extremely active ferret. Recognizing illness in each of these ferrets was different. Inactivity in Koosh would be alarming; whereas inactivity in Trixie was not quite as disconcerting (it might be that she found a cozy sleep spot that she doesn’t want to leave). The degree of divergence from the ferret’s normal activity level dictates the need for veterinary attention -- and how soon that attention is needed. For most ferrets, adopting a wait-and-see attitude can be dangerous. Even the largest ferrets are still small animals, and their little bodies can take only so much before they cross the point of no return. That is not to say you need to run to the veterinarian with every sniffle or unusual specimen in the litter box. But developing good judgment for your ferrets is essential.

  Getting to know your ferrets is easy (and enjoyable). You can learn a great deal about your ferrets just by playing with them, training them, or observing them from a distance. Having a strongly interactive relationship with your ferrets is good for them -- and for you -- in many ways. You will want to take note of several things about each of your ferrets.

  How much (approximately) does your ferret eat? Getting an idea of how often you re-fill the food bowl will help you to determine this. How much does your ferret drink? Excessive thirst is a sign of illness; refusal to drink can signal other problems. What treats does your ferret love? If he seems to become indifferent towards his favorite treat, then something could be wrong (he could be ill, or there could be something wrong with that batch of treats). How much does your ferret sleep? Play? Does he normally play with other ferrets or is he more of a loner? What does his stool normally look like? Many illnesses can be caught early by a routine inspection of the litter box.

  Some problems, like intestinal blockage, can quickly cause death in an animal as small as a ferret. Being aware that your ferret is not eating, drinking, or defecating normally can help you get help sooner. In many cases of adrenal disease, the first (and in some cases, the only) symptom is a change in behavior -- lethargy or aggression. Lethargy can be hard to recognize as a problem in an older ferret that is no longer very active. This is where knowing that particular ferret’s quirks will help you to see a problem early on.

  Once you suspect something is wrong with a ferret, you should isolate him or her and begin measuring food intake (count pieces of food), water intake, and stool output (volume, size, color, consistency). When you take your ferret to the veterinarian, give him or her as much information as you can (write down your observations). Even the best veterinarian needs your input to diagnose and treat your ferret. Make sure you provide the most complete description of symptoms or out-of-the-ordinary behavior that you can.

  When we keep a close eye on our ferrets’ health, we can help them to live longer by getting treatment as soon as possible.

Did You Know That ...

  Ferrets can fit into (and through) very tiny spaces. If your ferret can get his head through it, he can probably get the rest of his body through it. Same goes for under: If your ferret can get her head through the gap under a door, she can probably get the rest of her through there.

  When ferret-proofing (or re-ferret-proofing), make sure you check for and block any space you think is "iffy." We've had ferrets wriggle their way into the baseboard heating units. Couple your ferret's lithe, wriggly shape with his over-abundant curiosity and you could have an escape on your hands -- or, just as bad, a stuck ferret.

  Some sources state that a ferret can get through a 1-inch by 1-inch hole. Obviously, some ferrets' skulls are too large to fit through such a small hole, but there are plenty of ferrets -- females particularly -- who can make their way through tiny holes. If your ferret is determined enough (and what ferret isn't, really?), she can get herself through a tight fit.

  The best way to prevent ferrets from finding small holes in our homes is for us humans to find them first. Get on your belly on the floor to get a ferret's-eye-view of the room. Then block off any hole that's 1-inch by 1-inch or larger.

  Thank you for reading the Ferret News newsletter! Watch for the next newsletter coming soon!

--Mary, Eric & Gabby (the lone 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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