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Modern Ferret News Mailing List Issue #21
http://www.ferretnews.com
June 30, 2002
by Mary R. Shefferman and Eric Shefferman
contact: mary modernferret.com ====================================================== Hi Here comes the summer heat! Be sure to read this issue's article on heatstroke and remember the warning signs. --------------------------------
Signs of Heatstroke in a Ferret:
= Open-mouth breathing
= Panting
= Lethargy (inactivity)
= Disorientation
= Vomiting
= Collapse
= Elevated temperature
-------------------------------- And for yourself: Dress for the heat while being stylish - be sure to check out our nifty ferret t-shirts at: http://www.ferretdesigns.com We hope that you and your ferrets have a happy, safe, and patriotic Fourth of July this week. Please remember that some ferrets are frightened by loud noises and some are not. Do your best to isolate the frightened ones from the sounds of fireworks so that they can have a Happy Fourth too. It's hot out and we'd like to keep busy during this holiday week so we came up with this Hot Summer Sale - save 50% on a Take 25 Pack of Modern Ferret back issues. You'll get a lot great ferret information and we'll keep busy packing your orders all this week! See the coupon code in this issue. - Eric >>> In this issue: <<< ==> Keeping it Cool: How to prevent, recognize, and treat heatstroke
by Mary R. Shefferman ==> Hot Summer Savings on a Take 25 Pack - Coupon ==> Ferret News Update This newsletter has a new website with new features! ------ Subscriptions ------
Join/Quit instructions are at the end of this message. This ezine is by request only. You are receiving this ezine because you requested it (or someone signed you up without your knowledge). This process is completely automated. ====================================================== ---------------------------------------------------
Hot enough for you? It's T-Shirt season! Keep cool! Get your very own ferret T-shirt! http://www.FerretDesigns.com
--------------------------------------------------- ====================================================== ==> Keeping it Cool: How to prevent, recognize, and treat heatstroke
by Mary R. Shefferman This article originally appeared in: Modern Ferret Magazine Issue #23, page 19 Ferrets can adapt to many circumstances, but heat and high humidity are not among them. As the temperatures rise, ferret owners must take precautions to ensure their pets are safe and comfortable. Ferrets should NOT be kept in temperatures over 85-90 degrees Fahrenheit; lower temperatures (60's and 70's) are much better. Keeping your home at a ferret-safe temperature is easy if you have air conditioning. Remember that you need to maintain that safe temperature in the ferret room even when you are not at home. Make sure the air conditioner is not blowing cold air directly on the ferret cage and that the ferrets have blankets in case they feel too cold. Always give your ferrets plenty of fresh water and shade. Keep your ferret cage out of direct sunlight from windows or skylights. Window or ceiling fans can help keep cooler air circulating into your home, but may not be sufficient in areas where humidity is high and/or temperatures routinely reach over 90 degrees. Again, be sure the ferrets are not in the direct line of the breeze. Also make sure your ferrets cannot access the fan and that any device you put in your window is secure (to prevent escapes). Another way to keep ferrets cool is to make small blocks of ice, wrap them in absorbent towels (avoid plastic bags, especially if any of your ferrets like to chew on plastic), and place them in the ferrets' cage, or carrier if you are traveling. Make sure the ferrets have plenty of room to move away from the ice block if they get too cool. If your ferrets like to get wet (many don't), you can let them splash around in a plastic tub or bathtub filled with a small amount of cool (not cold) water. Always supervise your ferrets in the water. Don't leave your ferret in a car in hot weather. Inside a car can reach deadly temperatures in a matter of minutes - even with the windows open. If you can't bring ferrets inside (store, office, friend's home, restaurant), leave them at home. | | Signs of Heatstroke in a Ferret | | | - Open-mouth breathing
- Panting
- Lethargy (inactivity)
- Disorientation
- Vomiting
- Collapse
- Elevated Temperature
|
If you suspect your ferret is suffering from heatstroke, get him out of the heat immediately. Put cool (not cold) water on the ferret's paws to help cool him off. You can also place a cool wet cloth on the ferret's head. Do not dip the ferret in cold water, as this will cool him too quickly and cause him to go into shock. Give him water or electrolyte replacer (e.g., Pedialyte, Kao-Lectrolyte) if he is conscious. Do not try to give water to an unconscious ferret. You may have to hand-feed him the water or use a feeding syringe. Heatstroke may also deplete sugar levels, so a sugar source such as Nutrical, Karo Syrup (corn syrup), or maple syrup can be given to help restore sugar levels. Even if your ferret responds to this treatment, you should still have your veterinarian check him to make sure he is not dehydrated. He might still need to have subcutaneous fluids (injected under the skin) to regain hydration. If your ferret is unconscious do not try to force water or electrolyte replacer into him; instead, wet his paws with cool water while on the way to the veterinarian. Thanks to Dr. Ned Horowitz for his input on this article. ------ Bibliography ------
Fox. Biology and Diseases of the Ferret (Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia).
Hillyer & Quesenberry. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery (WB Saunders Co., Philadelphia). ------ NOTE ------
This article originally appeared in: Modern Ferret Magazine Issue #23, page 19 You can learn a lot by reading Modern Ferret back issues! See the coupon later in this issue for Super Hot Savings on Modern Ferret Magazine back issues - these are super special savings for the readers of this newsletter and you must use the provided coupon code to get them! ====================================================== REMEMBER: Your ferrets should always have plenty of fresh water available. We like to make sure they have several water bottles at different heights so they can choose the one they are most comfortable drinking from. Do you need a new set of water bottles or a bottle brush to clean them? We've got them right here: http://www.ferrettradingpost.com/cagsupforfer.html - No longer available Or, check out our special Spring Cleaning Savings Packages. Clean bottles and litter boxes aren't just for spring! http://www.ferrettradingpost.com/superdeals.html#spring - No longer available ====================================================== ==> Hot Summer Savings on a Take 25 Pack - Coupon You can learn a lot by reading Modern Ferret back issues! - Now you can save a lot by buying a Take 25 Pack at: http://ferrettradingpost.com/take25pack.html You can get a Take 25 Pack for Half Off! That's right - save $30 - but only this week! (We want to keep ourselves busy before the 4th!) Just use the coupon code: ferretnews21 This Hot Summer Special is available from now until July 5, so get your orders in now! With the Take 25 Pack, you will get 25 back issues of Modern Ferret magazine delivered right to your door. Over 1000 pages of ferret care information, fun, games, and more! Every issue is filled with great photos, care tips, training tips, funny stories, medical information (with explanations written so you can understand them), and so much more -- all done from a fellow ferret owner's viewpoint (because we're ferret owners too!). This is a lot of great information and fun -- all packed into one box that weighs about ten pounds! Again, this Hot Summer Special is only for this week! Learn more about the Take 25 Pack here:
http://ferrettradingpost.com/take25pack.html Use this coupon code when you check out: ferretnews21 ====================================================== ==> Update on Modern Ferret things We've added a feedback form to the Modern Ferret News web site -- please let us know how we're doing. You can find the feedback form at: http://ferretnews.com/feedback.html We have some other improvements to the web site in the works as well! We're very happy with how this ezine has been growing -- please be sure to tell your friends about it! Remember that shopping at FerretDesigns.com and at FerretTradingPost.com helps support this newsletter and keep it free. Stay tuned! More great stuff is on the way! ====================================================== The _Modern Ferret News_ e-zine This free e-newsletter is by request only. Please let your ferret friends know about this newsletter and encourage them to subscribe. You can provide feedback about this issue at:
http://ferretnews.com/feedback.html You can subscribe or unsubscribe from this newsletter at any time by using the web-based form at: http://www.ferretnews.com Disclaimer:
http://ferretnews.com/disclaimer.html
The short version of the disclaimer is: If your ferret is ill or you think your ferret is ill, bring your ferret to a ferret knowledgeable veterinarian. Archives of this newsletter are available at: http://modernferrets.com/newsletterarchive.html Copyright 2002 Modern Ferret magazine. All rights reserved. http://www.modernferret.com
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