Ferrets and Biting

 

Like most animals ferrets have teeth. They are similar to that of a cat and can do a lot of damage if the ferret isn’t trained correctly to prevent bites.

Owning a ferret means you are the one responsible for how a ferret will react in certain situations.

Most sites tell you different ways of dealing with a bitey ferret. The one thing that I agree with is Never flick the end of a ferret’s nose to get them to stop biting. They will only see this as playing and will continue to bite.

Rules to prevent bites:

1. Never rough house with your ferret. I am guilty of this but my boys know that it is okay to gently nibble on my fingers only. But I also know how each boy will react. When I had Lance I never rough housed with him because he couldn’t hear me tell him no and when he bit it was hard.

2. Wash your hands after eating. This is common sense for a number of reasons. It keeps nasty germs from the ferret and it washes away the scent of food. Remember ferrets are curious creatures and want to know what everything is. Ferrets also have a great sense of smell and if it smells like food they want a taste.

3. Never startle or scare your ferret. This isn’t always possible. I try hard to make sure Marcuz feels me coming by stomping on the floor but sometimes he is just to intent on what he is doing and I surprise him.

4. Use a bitter tasting agent if your ferret is prone to biting for whatever reason. I had to make a red pepper spray for James as he loved the taste of bitter apple. I also keep hand sanitizer for those that want to pet the boys while we are out in public.

To get a ferret to release its hold you can scruff the ferret and wait for the yawn to happen. This works with most ferrets. Lance never let go when he got a hold of something he wanted. It would always take two people. Me scruffing since I was usually the one with his teeth sunk in and one to gently pry his jaws apart.

Yes I have scars from Lance’s bites but I learned a lot from each episode and the causes. Him being deaf had a great impact on how hard he bit. If you get a young ferret you can train them not to bite by doing like their momma would have done.

You scruff them by the back of the neck and drag them across the floor a short distance while saying NO in a loud firm voice. If I did it you would hear me hissing like a ferret. I’ve been around them to long to change that habit…not that I would want to.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

It’s the End of the Year

     Wow what a wild ride this last year has been for Enlightened Ferret and me. I joined twitter in late 2009 but 2010 really showed me how much it could help promote my blog. Thanks to twitter I found new friends that were as dedicated to their animals as I am to ferrets.

     March/April saw Manny join my little band of ferrets.

     April also saw me go to the first ever pet conference Called Blog Paws East. What a great adventure that turned out to be. I was able to help a rescue because of winning a door prize. If you haven’t read what amazing work these two ladies do you should hop over to I Love Rescue Animals  and check them out.

     April also brought sadness as I had to make the heart wrenching decision for Lance.

     May saw James turn ten years old. A true senior when it comes to ferrets.’

     June: I supported a ferret rescue: Heart of Ohio Ferret Rescue and Association by doing a walk with James and Manny on the Allegheny trail even if I did get lost the ferrets had fun. We also raised money for them through a twitter party called the Outlaw Pawparty what fun that turned out to be.

     July saw James diagnosed with Insulinoma and he was put on Prednisone and because of his age surgery was ruled out. I had to learn how to do paw sticks on such a tiny paw to monitor his condition.

     August brought us to Atlanta, Ga for Bark World. We got to ride down in style thanks to GMC and BZTAT. James and Manny got a lot of attention and I got to talk a lot about ferret ownership with a lot of people.

     The boys and I weren’t able to make it to Blog Paws West in September but we did get to meet a new ferret friend because of trying to get there. We made plans with Snot Face Critter  to have a ferret invasion at Blog Paws 2011.

     The middle of November brought me Marcuz a splattered marked ferret who is deaf and is Manny’s new playmate.

     The end of November was hard as my beloved James passed away in my arms from his insulinoma. I had hoped he would have made it though the year and past Manny’s first birthday but it wasn’t to be. I miss him but I know that he did live a full life by living to be ten years old and filled with love.

     December we were Santa to Gibbs and sent a goodie loaded box to him along with a couple of presents for his hooman.  It was great to see all the Ferret Giving Tree ferrets opening their gifts.

     What will 2011 bring to us is mostly unknown but we will be attending Bark World again and Blog Paws 2011. There is also a goal in place to reach a 100 followers in 2011. What would you like to see or learn about from us in 2011? What are your plans for 2011?

Have a Chittering good day and we will see you in 2011!

Jo

Marcuz

 

     Hi evfurybody Iz took over diz bloggy today. Fur doz dat don’t know me Iz ManChester better known az Manny. Hooman sayz Iz a sable wif a love of miciez. I have a big brofur named James he went on a big trip wifout mez. He told mez dat I had to stay here wif hooman and our new brofur Marcuz.

     Marcuz came to livez wif uz before Thankgiving hooman sayz hiz color iz Splatter cuz it look like paint got dropped and hez waz in da way. Hooman said dat Marcuz iz stone cold deaf. Hooman wrong hiz not stone or cold. Iz wazn’t sure what deaf waz. Hooman told mez dat Marcuz can’t hear anything.

     Hooman been using her hands a lot more she told mez datz she iz doing sign language. I members her doing dat before wif my other brofur, Lance, before he take big trip to place called da Rainbow Bridge datz where James went too.

     Hooman try to get lotz of picciz of Marcuz and mez but wez like playing hide n sneak. *chitters*. Only time Marcuz not moving much iz when hez sleeping .

      Hooman tried to put Christmaz clothez on uz but wez moved too much fur da piccis. Iz also try to hide da hat cuz it looked like a big mousie.

     Marcuz and I like each other which iz good cuz wez share da same cage when wez not playing who da bozz in da big room. Hooman got a blinky light it waz to get Marcuz’ attention but he ignore it. Mez try to take it all da timez to hide. Iz hopz youz like da picciz Hooman took.

 

Hooman sayz have a Chittering good day,

Manny 

P.S. Be sure to enter into our give away. Iz really lovez dat duck! *chitters*

Lance’s Legacy

      It’s strange what will trigger the pangs of grief. I finally got up the nerve to clean the ferret’s playroom. It has been something I’ve been avoiding doing cause I knew I would find all of Lance’s hidey-holes although I haven’t because I couldn’t keep cleaning because in just one corner of the room I found 4 stashes. 

     Now most ferrets will collect a variety of things but not my Lance his passion was socks. It didn’t matter if they were clean or dirty, rolled up, in singles or paired. If it looked like a sock it was his.

     So far I have found a total of 16 socks hidden away and piled neatly in each spot. I thought I would be ready for the pain that has followed but I was wrong. I had to stop cleaning because of the tears that were blinding me from seeing what was in front of me.

      I miss him so much now don’t get me wrong I love my other boys but Lance managed to wrap those tiny little paws snuggly around my heart like no other pet has ever done. I am sure he would be proud of me for donating to our chosen charity in his name but it still doesn’t lessen the pain.

Jo

Depression and Ferrets

     Sorry for being MIA for a bit. I needed to process losing Lance and the fact that James is ten years old this month. The television ads say depression hurts but those same ads don’t tell you what causes the depression. They just want to sell you on the newest get happy pill.

     Yes depression hurts  for me it is caused by the grief of loosing my fur babies. First Gweny in February and then Lance in April. The emotional roller coaster of grief isn’t limited to just humans.

 

     About two years ago I lost Blizzard , an albino ferret, to an infection and his buddy Mouse mourned his death hard. What I didn’t realize what that he had stopped eating and drinking. He would mimic that he was all right by putting his nose in his food bowl and made chewing noises.

     Ferrets are quick to loose weight if they don’t eat and Mouse went from being a 4 lb boy to being a pound within a week. It wasn’t obvious because of his heavy coat. When I noticed I put him in with Gweny who wouldn’t let him leave the food bowl until he really ate.

     Gweny played the role of mother well but it wasn’t enough for Mouse. He had an underlying problem that I didn’t know about until he did stop eating and that was insulinoma. These two things combined ended Mouse’s life three weeks to the day after his bud Blizzy death.

     Because of Mouse’s downward spiral I was aware that James could have a similar reaction to Lance’s death. I was hyper vigilant to how he was acting and I made sure I spent a lot of time with him and Manny.

     James had a couple of down days where he didn’t want to eat but would nibble at a treat or two. He allowed me to give him some duck soup when he didn’t want the treats.

     They say a change in environment is helpful for some people with depression so I figured I do the same for James now that the weather was getting nicer.

     So I put James’ harness on him and we went outside. At first all he would do was lay down and look like he was crying. The third day of this found James walking a few feet and sniffing the grass. Now we go to the end of the driveway and walk back up with James pulling me to where he wants to go.

     He is back to eating and drinking. He does sleep more than he used to but then he is ten and an old man. But the moment he hears me getting out his and Manny’s harnesses he is at the cage door waiting for me to put it on him for his walk outside.

     This got me to thinking, sometimes a bad thing, about how I could combine their walk with helping the ferret rescue I am sponsoring on my blog and came up with the idea of walking a part of the Allegany Trail here in PA with James and Manny in June.

     The part of the trail we are going to walk is 21 miles long. Well I’ll be walking the whole 21 miles the boys will walking until they are tired and then riding until they are ready to get out and play some more. More to come about this project later.

     This blog will be a year old in June and to celebrate we are going to have a twitter pawty. The theme will be outlaws and gangsters.

     The date hasn’t been set yet but it will be soon. Anyone willing to donate a prize please email me at enlightenedferret@hotmail.com

Jo

Farewell Lance

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of Heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in out dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

The all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together…

Author unknown

     On Friday I made the hardest decision a pet owner could ever have to make. I have never had to make that decision before and hope I won’t have to make it any time soon.

     After I returned from my exciting trip to Columbus, Ohio Lance started going down hill. At first I thought it was just his normal reaction to me being gone. Ignoring me and not eating much then he started having trouble walking.

     I made an appointment with a new vet as the one I had before wasn’t very friendly or supportive of Lance’s care, but that is another post. Lance’s new vet was extremely knowledgeable about ferrets and did a through exam of Lance.

     It was determined that he had a bacterial infection that was either Helicobacter or Giardia both could cause his symptoms and because of his age it made treating it even harder. Lance would have been 9 years old in May. She put him on Amoxicillin and Flagyl.

     Lance was good about letting me give him his medicine and only once did I have pretty pink polka dots on my face. The medicine made him sleep more and while he drank he wasn’t eating so I had to hand feed him a mixture that some could call duck soup. He didn’t care for it but he never spit it out.

     Early Friday morning he fell out of his hammock with a loud thump and when I looked over to his cage I saw him flopping around like a landed fish. He no longer had control of his legs.

     We spent the rest of the night with me cuddling him in my arms and rocking him until he would fall asleep for a while. I knew then I couldn’t put Lance through anymore and if it were the Helicobacter that was causing the problem he would have a very painful death.

     I made the call to the vet around noon, as I couldn’t stop crying long enough to talk to anyone. I still broke down when I told the vet’s receptionist why I was calling. She was patient with me until I could talk though the tears and heartbreak I was going though. The appointment was made.

     I wrapped my little fur baby up in my blue “conference shirt” and placed him in the carrier. We made a stop and I got him a soft blanket to wrap him in and a new sock to take with him to the rainbow bridge. Silly I know but a pet parent would understand.

     A different vet came in and talked to me about how the process was done. With cats and dogs it is easier, not that this decision is ever easy, because they have bigger veins. With ferrets they give a sedative so they go to sleep like they are going to have surgery and then they take them into another room and give them the final shot in the heart. He recommends to owners that they don’t see that last part.

     So Lance was given his sleepy shot and he and I looked out the window at the sunbeams and the soft wind blowing the grass he had just laid in before this appointment. He went to sleep and seemed to be breathing better for the first time in a week. The vet came in and took him to the back room for that last shot. He brought Lance back and told me I could take as much time as I need before I left.

     Not once was I given a look that said, “How could you?” like I would have gotten from the old veterinarian before I had changed to this practice. The people at the new vet office were compassionate and never made me feel hurried.

     Lance was wrapped in his new green soft blanket with a tiny balled up sock between his paws and laid to rest next to his brothers and sister that had passed before him. His final resting place is marked with a blue cross under an apple tree.

     I miss him a lot but I know he is free of pain and is frolicking on the other side of the rainbow waiting for me to come and play with him and his siblings again.

Sad Jo

Wordless Wednesday

 

All comments and remarks appreciated.

 

Jo

National Ferret Day

      National Ferret Day is April 2 and falls on Friday. No one is sure who started National Ferret Day and it has been in the National Special Events Registry since 1995.

     Ferret owners spoil their fur children by buying them new toys, clothing, and/or cages. Some ferret owners make this the day to take their ferrets to the vet for yearly check ups and vaccinations. 

     Having a day just for ferrets allows their owners an opportunity to take them out into public and showing their ferrets off.

     Toys are a ferret owner’s greatest pleasure. Finding one that appeals to their ferret is satisfying. Many toys are made for infants and can hold up to a ferret’s no holds style of play.

     Other toys are made for dogs and cats and on occasion, a toy specially made for ferrets is found at a price a pet parent is willing to pay.

     There is a variety of clothing options for the fashionable ferret. These can range from a cool tee shirt to formal wear.

     Collars are in this category and can be anything from the simple band of color to one that has many shiny stones on it. Clothing can range from a couple of dollars to a hundred or more.

     Housing for a ferret depends on the owner and the number of ferrets he/she has. Some cages are a single level and are generally best for one or two ferrets. 

     There are homes called mansions that can be six levels or higher and can house several ferrets. Most of these larger cages are mounted on wheels and are easy to move about.

     Seeing the vet for yearly check ups and vaccinations helps to catch diseases before they are life-threatening Having an annual blood chemistry test done also helps to spot changes that could be easily over looked as some conditions have no outward signs.

     I celebrate ferret day with new toys and collars. This year I have a new addition to the ferret clan thanks to my roommate, Judy.

     She brought home this little scrappy guy who thinks he is the boss of his new brothers. Both have put him in his place with well placed nips to his ears and scruff.

              

     I did have to break it up between him and Lance as he can’t hear him squealing when he bit a little too hard.

     New addition is named ManChester and has several nicknames now. Those are Manny, Chester, Chestnut, and squirm. He is a dark sable and will be three months old on 10 April.

                        

     Jo