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Ferret Faces Merchandise!
Perfect for Ferrety Holiday Gift-Giving |
How To Find A Ferret VetBy Mary R. Shefferman Finding a veterinarian to care for our ferrets can be a challenge. Not all vets know about ferrets. Some vets know only a little about ferrets. Although veterinary schools are beginning to teach basic ferret medicine in their core curricula, that information may not be enough to deal with some of the trickier illnesses in ferrets. So how do you find a vet who will help you take care of your ferrets? 1. Your Current Vet
One of the first places to ask is your current vet, if you have one. Even if he doesn't see ferrets, he may know a vet in your area who does. If he does see ferrets, then it's a bonus that you already have a relationship with him. In some areas there are so few vets that you may have to ask your current vet to learn about ferrets. Either way, it doesn't hurt to find out whether or not your current vet can handle some more routine ferret medical needs in case you have a ferret emergency. 2. Your Local Ferret Group/Shelter
An ideal way to find a good ferret vet is to get involved with a local ferret club or shelter. The people involved with ferret groups have usually done all the research and they know which vets are good and which should be avoided. You may be able to find out about a local ferret group online, at a reputable pet shop, at a local animal shelter, or at your local humane association. 3. A Reputable Pet Shop
Another source of ferret vet recommendations is a reputable pet shop. If they sell animals, they should have a vet they routinely use for the animals in the shop. Even if the pet shop doesn't sell animals, they may still know which vets in the area see which types of pets. Or they may be able to put you in touch with one of their customers who has ferrets. 4. Your Local Animal Shelter
Local animal shelters or humane associations can also put you in touch with good ferret vets or ferret groups (which can, in turn, recommend a ferret vet). Even if they don't take in or adopt out ferrets, they probably have a connection to someone who does that type of rescue/shelter work. You may have to do some legwork in finding the best vet you can for your ferrets. But your ferrets depend on you to do that research ... and besides, they're worth the effort! Further Reading: Communicating With Your Veterinarian ("Did You Know That..." column) -- FerretNews #77
Homemade Ferret Ornaments Here's a fun holiday craft project! You can make your own ferret-shaped cookie ornaments for your Christmas tree! Yum! Start by getting a ferret-shaped cookie-cutter. You can get one here: Ferret-Shaped Cookie-Cutter 
(Cookie cutter from Kitchen Collectibles) (Item may no longer be available.) Or you can try to cut out the shape by hand (much more difficult). Then make the recipe for "Trim-the-Tree Butter Cookies" from the Land O Lakes website: Trim-the-Tree Butter Cookies 
(cookie ornament recipe on
www.landolakes.com)
Once the cookies are cooled and ready for decorating, you can write each of your ferrets' names on a cookie ornament. Instead of using the frosting recipe on the Land O Lakes website, you can use cake/cookie decorating icing, but make sure you get the kind that hardens (the stuff in the Cheez-Whiz-type can doesn't harden -- we discovered the hard way). When Christmas is over (or even before then), you can gobble up all of your yummy ferret-shaped cookie Christmas tree ornaments. Didn't I hear you say you thought your ferrets were sweet enough to eat?!
That's all for this newsletter. We hope you get your holiday shopping done on time and that your ferrets help you wrap the presents (er... unwrap them!). Don't forget that your ferrets may need special considerations during the busy holidays, so make sure you take some time to stop and smell the ferrets! --Mary, Eric & Gabby (the lone Modern Ferret) | 
modernferret.com
