What sex is your ferret? Warning Graphic Pictures Corrections made 12/29/11

 

Many people not familiar with ferrets find it difficult to determine the sex of a ferret. Unfortunately this includes those working in humane societies and other rescue groups that don’t often deal with ferrets.

Do you know which one is which?

A female’s belly is smooth and the vulva is just under anus. Female ferrets should be spayed(called a Sprite) this is because a female ferret that goes into heat (Known as a Jill) will not come out until she has mated or is brought out by a vet. A ferret that remains in heat for an extended period of time can die from estrogen toxicity. Prolonged estrogen production will cause bone marrow suppression.

“The estrogen stops the bone marrow from making red blood cells (which carry oxygen around the body); white blood cells (which fight disease, cancer and infection) and platelets (which help the blood to clot).” (1)

They are also more prone to mammary cancer.

 

The male ferret has what appears to be a belly button this is actually his penis. Males should be neutered(called a Gib) this helps with temperament and lessens the musky odor ferrets have. Unneutered males(called Hob) can be overly aggressive with other males and females sometimes resulting in death. Unneutered males can be prone to prostate problems and testicular cancer.

In Pennsylvania ferrets sold in pet stores are both fixed and de-scented. To be a breeder of ferrets you must have a license. I do not know the regulations regarding the policies of selling ferrets in other states.

 

1.Pet Informed Veterinary

Disclosure: The pictures are from the Pet Informed website.

I can only hope this helps those unfamilar with ferrets determine the sex of the ferret in his or her care.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Corrections include the correct useage of Gib and Hob.

Featured Ferret: Forrest

Life iz like a box of soxz you never can take just one. That iz mez philosophy and Iz try to live by it everyday.

 

Mez name iz Forrest and mez first hooman couldn’t be trained to play wif mez all da time so wez parted wayz. Iz hanging out here at da Heartland Animal Rescue Team club house in Brainerd, MN.

Wez have lotz of fun here but these hoomanz have been trained to take care of otherz like mez so Iz can’t have dem all to mez self.

Iz brought mez house wif mez and it will go wif mez when Iz da right hooman comez here looking for itz new owner.

Iz give good cuddlez and can entertain mez pet hooman fer hourz if dey want. Know any stray hoomanz wif lotz of soxz needing an owner? Plz send em my way. Fankz.

Disclosure: I receive no compensation for making these posts. I browse the pet finder site and chose a ferret to feature on Enlightened Ferret. The information contained in the bios each ferret gives is taken from the site and put into his/her own words.

Have a Chittering Good Day!

Wordless Wednesday

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Featured Ferret: Gizmo

Hi Iz Gizmo and Iz not a gremlin so youz can get mez wet and feed me after midnight if youz want. Iz came into The Ferret Awareness Club of the Tri-Cities shelter in Bristol, TN wif my friendz

Badger,
Chaos, and
Jetta.

Iz looking for a great forever home and would love it if one if not all my friendz could come wif mez. Iz haz my own cage set up so will feel right at home.

Dez hoomanz say I need to have some vaccinationz cause der don’t seem to be any record of mez having any.

Note: Gizmo is a blaze and while it is not stated on pet finder’s he may have some hearing issues. This does not make him unadoptable it just means that he will need some training with hand signs so he will know what you want him to do. Gizmo may be getting cues from his friends.

Disclosure: I receive no compensation for making these posts. I browse the pet finder site and chose a ferret to feature on Enlightened Ferret. The information contained in the bios each ferret gives is taken from the site and put into his/her own words.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Marcuz Gotcha Day Pawty

While I am not really sure when Marcuz came to live with James, Manny, and me I do remember that it was in November and before James crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. November is also very full of parties and it has been hard trying to decide when to have Marcuz’ twitter pawty.

So we are going to celebrate Marcuz’ gotcha day November 18^th at 8pm-10pm eastern standard time.

Marcuz will be one year old. The theme is holidayz please come dressed in your finest or as part of the holidayz. Also this will be potluck style please bring your favorite dish to share with everyone.

We will be supporting the seniors at Hearts of Ohio Ferret Rescue and Association.

#ferretolidayz will be the hashtag for Marcuz’s twitter pawty.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Featured Ferret: Humphrey

Of all of the joints Iz could be stuck in Iz here at the Hazleton Animal Shelter in Hazleton, PA. Iz ended up here after an uncaring hooman left mez behind in an apartment. Mez name iz Humphrey.

Iz like being held and Iz full of love to give. Iz know how to use a litter box and Iz a little fussy bout my food needing to be softened but other than that Iz an all around great guy.

So how about it sweethooman got room fer a fuzzy little gentleman that can make youz laugh and give youz all da kisses youz could want?

Here’s looking at youz hooman.

Note: Humphrey may have a hearing problem because of the marking called a blaze on his head. This does not mean that there is anything wrong with him just that he needs some training that you can design for him and you.

Disclosure: I receive no compensation for making these posts. I browse the pet finder site and chose a ferret to feature on Enlightened Ferret.

The information contained in the bios each ferret gives is taken from the site and put into his/her own words unless there is nothing there then I make up what I think they would want to say.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Blowing One's Coat

Ferrets shed twice a year once in the spring losing their long winter coat to reveal shorter fur and quite often times new coat patterns. In the fall, they shed again this time replacing the summer coat with the longer winter hair. When ferrets blow their coat is when they are more prone to hairballs.

These hairballs can cause problems if they become lodged somewhere in the ferret’s internal tract and if left untreated this obstruction can kill the ferret.

It is then better to lessen the amount of fur a ferret will ingest and to help the ingested fur move along the digestive tract easily.

To do these things is easy and not as costly as surgery would be.

Daily brushing with a deshedding tool such as the FURminator®, my personal favorite, or one used for cats can help remove the loose hair that would otherwise end up inside the ferret as he grooms himself.

This also allows you a chance to bond with your ferret and gets him used to being touched all over his body which will be helpful for when he goes to the vet for his physical and/or vaccinations .

One might be surprised by the amount of fur these small bodies loose as each brushing session may result in a small sandwich bag stuffed full of ferret fur.

While you might just toss the fur out into the garbage, it needs to be said that there are organizations that you can donate your pet’s fur to in an effort to help clean up oil spills. But many of these same programs are filled so be sure to check to see if they are opened.

Since we cannot get every loose hair by brushing there is still need a to keep our ferret’s intestinal tract moving and this is easily done by giving the ferret a strip of Ferret Lax ® or Nutri-cal® every day. By both binding with the loose hair in the system and helping it move until it is out of the system we are keeping our ferret out of the emergency room and keeping both his life and ours less stressful.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Barkonomics Review

Many of us are examining ways to save money due to the economy and while we are cutting costs in nearly every aspect of our spending, we may not be thinking about how to save when it comes to our dogs.

Barkonomics is a fun and easy book to read. The authors Paris Permenter and John Bigley have complied an insightful and helpful nuggets of over 300 money saving tips for dog owners who wish to be financial secure in caring for Fido.
Many of the tips are common sense but overlooked, as they are hidden costs that many of us don’t even realize is there.
Once such tip is the elimination of dematting fees I didn’t realize that groomers could charge up to 30% for doing something that costs you nothing by brushing your dog out every day.
I also like the easy to do recipes for making dry shampoo and flea preventative with stuff that is usually already in the home and isn’t toxic.
These authors know what they are talking about, as they have been one of the top Web’s dog sites as publishers of DogTipper.com and use the same information to care for their own dogs.
I am glad I had the opportunity to read this wonderfully eye-catching book and I say it is time for you to go fetch this book to add to your own library of must haves.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of Barkonomics to review with no other compensation. The opinion is mine alone and may differ from others who review this book.
Have a Chittering Good Day,
Jo

Featured Ferret: Glacier

Hi allz I am Glacier and I am living in the Lewis Clark Animal Shelter in Lewiston, ID.

I came to the shelter as a stray and they think I am about a year old. They keep telling me I am a sweet boy cause I have never tried to bite anyone even when I got a baf.

I like cuddling and scratches on the head. But while they are really nice here at the shelter they really aren’t set up to deal with us woozels so I would love to find a great forever home.

So if you or know some one looking for a active little boy please come adopt me. Thanks.

Disclosure: I get no compensation for featuring ferrets from Pet Finder on my blog. Just my love of these critters and the hope each one gets their own forever home.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Wordless Wednesday

Just James

Hi all Iz James from Boalsburg, PA and at the moment Iz living with foster parentz. My sister Audrey went OTRB recently but Iz dealing with that and have some really great ferret friends that don’t let me get too sad about it.

Wez were found behind a local vet office where a hooman abandoned uz. Luckily wez were found and the vet took good care of uz and wez was good and patient wif the vet while wez waz examined. So while Audrey went OTRB Iz looking for a forever home down here until itz time to meet Audrey again.

Iz like playing wif other ferretz and mez foster parentz have a large doggie dat I like tooz. Iz hope youz will visit Ferret Rescue 

and fill out the adoption application for mez.

Fankz.

Disclosure: I receive no compensation for making these posts. I browse the pet finder site and chose a ferret to feature on Enlightened Ferret. The information contained in the bios each ferret gives is taken from the site and put into his/her own words.

Have a Chittering good day,

Jo