I've been trying to make the newsletter a bit more readable. So I've made it wider. I hope that helps a bit. I've also moved all the ads to the right, so it's easier for you to actually locate the information in the newsletter. Next I'm hoping to mess with the color scheme a bit to make it more attractive.

  In this newsletter we list a bunch of signs and symptoms of ferret illness that will help you recognize health problems and get them checked out by your veterinarian before they become health disasters. You'll definitely want to bookmark this page.

  Also in this newsletter are some important dates for you to remember. These are deadlines for ordering holiday items to be received before Christmas. I know it seems way too early to be thinking about when you have to finish your holiday shopping -- with Thanksgiving not even arrived yet -- but such is the nature of shopping online and receiving packages through the mail or through other carriers. So you'll want to keep these dates in mind if you've been planning on getting something from one of our affiliated stores.

  This newsletter's "Did You Know That..." column features a discussion about using the right ferret litter.

--Mary

In this newsletter:

• Could Your Ferret Be Sick?
   
• Important Deadline Dates for Online Holiday Shopping
   
• Did You Know That... (Appropriate Ferret Litter)

Could Your Ferret Be Sick?

By Mary R. Shefferman

  Knowing the warning signs of illness can help you help your ferret sooner, which may help pull him through whatever illness he gets.

  To recognize the signs of illness in your ferret, you must know what to look for. Sure, there are plenty of ferret behaviors that are just idiosyncrasies of the individual ferret. But there are also tell-tale signs of illness that should be red flags to you to get your ferret to the vet.

Physical Changes

• Weight loss (except at coat change)

• Hair loss, especially on the base of the tail by the rump, at the shoulders, on the tops of the feet, and on the top of the head

• Lumps or bumps

• Distended belly (large belly out of proportion to the rest of the body)

• Difficulty breathing or labored breathing

• Rear-end or generalized weakness

• Injury, scabs

• Red, bleeding, or sensitive gums

• Unusually smelly ears

• Black debris in the ears or around the ears

• Winking or squinting with one eye

Behavioral Changes

• Staring off into space

• Lying down every few steps

• Sleeping more than usual

• Playing less than usual

• Aggression towards other ferrets when the ferret usually gets along with others

• Sexual behavior (mounting) in neutered males
  Vomiting

• Pawing at the mouth

• Coughing

• Grinding teeth

• Excessive scratching; itchiness

Appetite Changes

• Eating less than usual

• Drinking more than usual

• Being finicky about foods he/she usually likes

• Not taking treats he/she loves

Litter Box Content or Habit Changes

• Straining to poop or urinate

• Hopping in and out of the litter box without producing any waste

• Runny, green, or “seedy” poop that occurs several times in a row

• Going outside the litter box when the ferret “never” does

• Pooping in food dishes or on beds/blankets

Resources:

  You can find a lot of ferret medical information by looking through the FerretNews.com Topical Index. For even more ferret medical and health information, get the Super Monster Pack (see the ad in this newsletter).

  FerretNews.com newsletters with ferret medical articles featuring the more common ferret illnesses:

Adrenal disease: #59, #60, #79
Dehydration: #68
Depression: #42
Ear mites: #64
Gastrointestinal ulcers: #62
Heatstroke: 6/30/02 article
Hypoglycemia: #61
Insulinoma: #50
Intestinal blockage: #65,  #75
Skin tumors: #27
 

Important Deadline Dates for
Online Holiday Shopping

  If you're planning on ordering something for the holidays and you want to be sure to receive it before Christmas, make sure you place your orders by the dates below. Ordering by these dates does not guarantee delivery by December 24, but it gives you the best chance to receive your merchandise by Christmas. The earlier you order, the better your odds of receiving your purchases on time.

FerretDesigns and Amy's Designs stores:

Others:

  As soon as we have other cut-off dates, we'll let you know.

Did You Know That...

  Not all litter is appropriate for ferrets. The best type of litter for ferrets is pelleted litter. Pellets are low in dust, which is very important for ferrets because their short legs put them in close contact with litter material. There are several variations of pelleted litter, including recycled newspaper pellets, compressed plant fiber pellets, and even wood stove pellets. Some people have used alfalfa pellets (that is, rabbit food) as ferret litter.

  Another appropriate type of ferret litter is wheat litter (Swheat Scoop). However, if your ferret is used to pelleted litters, he might need to get used to using wheat litter.

 Clumping and clay litters are not recommended for ferrets because of their dust content. Some ferrets like to "snorkel" through clean litter, which makes clumping litter a hazard, because the ferret can get it stuck in his nose or eyes. The dust can also irritate the ferret's lungs, eyes, and nose over time.

  Some ferret owners use old newspapers to line litter boxes or to cover corners that their ferrets just won't stop using as bathrooms. If you decide to use old newspaper, just make sure your ferrets don't end up covered in newspaper ink (you'd probably notice on white ferrets).

Get Ferret Litter Online
Marshall Ferret Litter 10 lb	Marshall Ferret Litter 50 lb
Purina Yesterday's News Paper-Based Cat Litter (13.2 lbs.; Unscented)	Swheat Scoop Natural Wheat Litter (25 lbs.)

  Thank you for reading the FerretNews newsletter. Make sure you check out our Topical Index to find the answers to your ferret questions. Let all your ferret friends know about the newsletter. When you sign up, you will get special sale notices and coupon codes for ferrety items in your e-mail!

  We'll be back with more in a few days.

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