Brushing Ferret Teeth

Manny getting his teeth brushed while I filmed how to do it.

 

 

Have a Chittering good Day,

 

Jo

Fur is in the Air

Silly title I know but Spring began on March 20^th this year and it is time for the ferrets to blow their coats for the first time this year. For those that don’t know ferrets shed their coats twice a year. This is known as blowing the coat.

The boys have blown their coats enough times to know that it will be daily grooming until they aren’t leaving a lot of hair on me and in the air, more likely up my nose.

Marylin on the other hand isn’t too sure of what is going on but she loves the daily grooming like the true princess she believes herself to be.

Disclaimer in accordance with FCC rules: This is my opinion about a product I received in 2010 and the replacement in 2012. There is no other compensation for this post.

The one tool I absolutely love is the FURminator®. I was lucky enough to score one at the first Blog Paws and have never looked back.

Although I had to get a replacement one since Trixie the Blood Hound decided, it would make a great chew toy and broke several of the teeth.

FURminator® was at the Salt Lake City Blog Paws and when I told them about needing to get a replacement they laughed at the fact Trixie broke the teeth on the tool and not her own. My only complaint it’s pink not one of my favorite colors but hey it is a great tool for the amount of grooming I am doing now days.

I wanted to see just how much fur came off each fur kid in one sitting. So I put a plastic baggie next to the grooming area and as the FURminator® got full, I would put the fur into the plastic bag. 

Imagine my surprise when my chubby Marylin nearly filled the bag from her 30 minutes of grooming. Most of that chub was from the amount of fur she had surrounding her little body.

 

Second place went to Marcuz with him filling his bag almost to half. What surprised me was Manny he had hardly any fur to put in the baggie. But I found out why when I went to change their bedding. He has been using one side of the blanket as his personal scratcher so now it looks like a furry blanket instead of soft baby blanket. Yes, my kids are spoiled.

I went to do groom time only to find that the FURminator® had grown legs and walked off the table. I was pretty sure it was Marcuz who had taken it as he had been trying to take it all day. The handle of the FURminator® is made from a soft rubber and I guess to him it smells good.

Looking into Marcuz’s hidey-hole I was surprised not to find it there but he was curled around his favorite mouse sound asleep. Off to the next hidey-hole that belongs to Marylin who decided it was time to play sneak attack as I looked into the basket.

Good thing I was expecting it…sort of as it is still unsettling to have just less than two pounds of fur leap up at you with paws outstretched from under the pile of toys but no FURminator®. That left Manny’s hidey-hole and looky what I found in there.

Guess I am gonna have to lock that tool up when it isn’t in use.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Pet teeth

All pets should have their teeth brushed to prevent many periodontal diseases that can cause other health issues such as Heart disease, Kidney problems, and digestive issues.

With preventative dental care given by both the pet owner and the pet’s vet these issues may be lessened or eliminated. The data about dental issues for ferrets is that 95% of them show some signs of periodontal disease.

Brushing your pet’s teeth may seem like an unnecessary chore because you are under the impression that the hard kibble you feed is cleaning your pet’s teeth. Think about all the things you eat throughout the day would you want to go a day without brushing your teeth at least once?

We as pet parents need to get past the outdated notion that we only have to worry about their teeth only when a problem shows up that can lead to unseen expense or issues that could have been prevented or have a better outcome.

Think about it this way we schedule yearly dental exams for our children and ourselves and some of us do the six-month check up. We brush our teeth anywhere from two to 3 times a day. If our teeth start to hurt, we make a dentist appointment immediately to get rid of the pain. So why should our pets be any different?

Our pets depend on us to know what to do for them beyond the scope of monitoring their bathroom, eating habits, and their medical needs.

One of the more serious dental issues for our pets is Stomotitis, which is the medical jargon for inflammation of the oral cavity and can lead to the removal of some teeth and in extreme cases all the teeth like our friend Mario da Cat

We as pet owners need to be aware of our pet’s mouth and by brushing their teeth weekly if not daily allows us to see any changes that we might miss if we only rely on the annual vet check up.

When was the last time you brushed your pet’s teeth?

How often do you look into your pet’s mouth?

Who was is considered the father of microbiology?

 

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Wordless Wednesday: Video

 

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

National Pet Dental and Heart Month

February highlights two very important health issues for both humans and their pets. We humans know that we need to take care of our teeth and hearts for various reasons but we don’t often think that we need to do the same for our beloved pets. There is research that shows there is a direct link between dental care and heart issues.

Dental care has been pushed in the last few years and now we can’t go a day without seeing an ad on television for products that help keep the tarter off our dog/cat’s teeth but they are not the only pets that need good dental care.

Heart health is just now starting to get some publicity but not though the traditional media. We are learning more about it from those we follow on twitter, Google +, Facebook, and many blogs and in some instances conferences, such as Blog Paws.

Again, the most focus is on dogs and cats but ferrets are also among those that get heart disease and what is surprising is that there seems to be a link between the lack of a specific supplement and heart disease that both cats and ferrets need. This link has been established in dogs as well but they produce the supplement naturally.

For the month of February, I will be writing about these things.

Without googling what supplement do you think cats and ferrets need?

What dental problems can pets have?

Do you brush your pet’s teeth?

Or do you have yearly dental cleanings performed at the vet’s office?

Brushing Manny’s Teeth: Video

 

 

I have to get better at placing the camera.

 

 

 

 

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Brushing Your Ferret’s Teeth

The top dental issues for ferrets are periodontal disease and fractured canine teeth. Periodontal disease is easily preventable with daily brushing. While I don’t brush my boy’s teeth daily I do brush them weekly.

Brushing is easier to do when you start doing it when your ferret is still very young. It can be done when you have an older ferret but you will have to offer a lot of praise and good for their teeth treats for letting you mess with their mouths.

You will need:
Pet toothpaste I am using and the tube will last me a long time.

A toothbrush that you and your ferret are comfortable with; I use a Colgate® Wisp that I have pried the mouthwash bead out of.

You will also need a container of water and some dental treats for a reward afterwards. I use Greenies® Feline Dental Treats.

I recommend that you let your ferret out for playtime and let they run out of energy. It will make the experience more pleasant for the both of you.

Set up the area where you will be brushing their teeth. Having a table that is the ideal height and a comfortable chair for you will beneficial while you are brushing your ferret’s teeth. Put a small amount of pet toothpaste on the brush and have it next to the container of water.

Once they have run most of their excess energy off you can pick your ferret and get ready to brush. First you should run your hand along their jaw to feel for any bumps or unusual feeling areas. By doing this often you will know what your ferret’s mouth should feel like.

Now it is time to brush their teeth.

Scruffing your ferret will let you see inside their mouth without hurting them or you getting bit. Scruffing does not hurt your ferret.

Pick up the prepared toothbrush dipping it into the water and then gently start brushing the back teeth with the same motions you use on your own teeth. Look to see if there are any discolored teeth that may need looked at by your vet.

Move to the canine teeth and check to see if they are chipped or have any evidence of fractures. Such as cracks, missing enamel, or even pieces missing. Don’t forget the tiny teeth in between the canines.

This picture isn’t the best but Marcuz was a jewel to let me brush his teeth that day.

By brushing your ferret’s teeth you help to eliminate bad breath and are more aware of what their mouth looks like and will notice if a problem arises sooner than if you didn’t. You will also surprise your vet as most ferret owners don’t brush their ferret’s teeth thinking that it isn’t needed.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

National Pet Dental Month

February is National Pet Dental Month. Until a couple of years ago I didn’t realize just how important it was to regularly have our pet’s teeth checked and to learn how to brush our pet’s teeth.    

Just like humans our pets are variable to the same types of mouth issues. Such as gingivitis, cavities, and some oral cancers.

The American Veterinary Dental College  (AVDC) recommends that we have annual dental check ups for our pets and do a minimum of brushing of once a week although daily is preferred.

Dogs and cats are mention on the site but other pets are not listed. When I found out about the recommendations I started brushing my ferrets: James and Lance at the time, teeth.

At first it was a real chore as they were older and there isn’t a toothbrush on the market for ferrets. But with continual trial and error we found what worked and while we couldn’t reverse some of the problems we did slow down others. 

Manny and Marcuz get their teeth brushed twice a week unless they have had something really sticky then they get their teeth brushed more often.

I surprised my vet because I do brush my boys teeth and am the only ferret owner he knows that does.

Because I do brush Manny and Marcuz’ teeth I know what their mouths look like and will know if something isn’t right before it becomes too big of an issue.

Disclosure: Picture of the ferret teeth is from a blog called teeth pictures.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Ferret Tooth Care

Question	Yes	No	Maybe	Ew/ didn’t know
Do you brush your pet’s teeth
Is kibble enough to keep your pet’s teeth healthy
Does periodontal disease exist in animals
Should you have your pet’s teeth cleaned regularly?

 

     Last year I learned about National Pet Dental Care Month and was surprised by the fact that our pet’s teeth need a lot of the same dental care we do. I learned a lot at the Veterinarian Oral Health Council (VOHC). The VOHC site had a lot of nice information for cat and dog owners but no information on ferrets. While I was able to find several articles online written by veterinarian dentists they were full of medical jargon that a pet owner would find hard to understand.

Some facts that should be reviewed:

At the time of posting last year, there were only 75 board certified veterinarian dentists in the United States.

Most pet owners believe that specially designed chew toys and hard food is enough to keep his/her pet’s teeth healthy.

Ferret teeth grow from the tip up.

Kits will have 30 teeth at 3 months of age and will have replaced them by age 9 months.

Adult ferrets have 34 teeth.

     According to VOHC, we should be brushing our pet’s teeth weekly if not daily to help prevent tooth loss, decay, gingivitis (1), and periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease has been linked to other health conditions besides tooth loss. These are a few:

Tooth root abscesses

Heart disease (endocarditis (2) or periocaditis (3))

Infections that can cause weight loss, and lethargy.

     Ferrets older than six years of age periodontal disease is a common condition that can be reduced with twice a year cleanings known as dental prophylaxis (4) where the tartar build up is scrapped from the teeth and under the gum line. In most cases, periodontal disease in older ferrets could have been reduced or prevented with daily tooth brushing.

     I have two new ferrets, Manny and Marcuz, who unlike my previous ferrets get their teeth brushed regularly. This in its self is a chore as there are no well designed toothbrushes for ferrets. Most are too big for their tiny mouths.

     Ferrets love to chew, bite, and drag things that could be detrimental to their long canines also known as eyeteeth. Breaking one of those could have an impact on their health so I inspect their teeth everyday for any obvious wear that might need a visit to the vet.

     Brushing a ferret’s teeth needs to be done in a way that it is a pleasant experience for both the ferret and the owner. If you have never brushed your ferret’s teeth before you need to get him/her used to you playing with his/her mouth without needing to scruff him/her so he/she will open his/her mouth.

     I do this by playing bad hair day with Manny and Marcuz. I gently wrap my hand around the back of their neck and pulling it forward lifting the hair up so that it looks like someone has pulled them out of a hole backwards. This gives me a chance to feel their jaw and the rest of their head and I would be able to tell if something had changed. I do this everyday and it allows me to open their mouth without the need of scruffing.

     For some scruffing is the technique they prefer. This is done by grabbing the loose flap of skin just behind the neck very much like a cat and lifting the ferret up. Doing this makes them yawn and will give you a clear view of the inside of their mouth.

     Look for a buildup of plaque or tarter, inflamed or bleeding gums, loose, missing, or broken teeth and make sure there is nothing stuck between the teeth like a piece of food or any other foreign object.

     Being able to brush a ferret’s teeth takes some ingenuity and a lot of patience. You need a toothbrush. As I said the ones designed for pets are too big for ferrets and I don’t use the fingertip brush. Pet toothpaste, never use human toothpaste, poultry flavor is recommended for ferrets but any flavor of pet toothpaste will work and a few dental treats for cats.

     It has taken me many different tries to find something that works well as a toothbrush for ferrets. I pried the breath fresher out of Colgate® wisps but even those were a little big then I came across Plackers by Placontrol® these are designed to get into hard reach places and they are perfect for brushing ferret teeth.

     I put a little of the pet toothpaste on one and brush my ferret’s teeth. I start with the large back teeth and work forward to the teeth in between the canines. Afterwards I give each of them some loving and praise for being so good about letting me brush their teeth then I give them a feline Greenies® dental treat for cats.

     I have noticed the difference in Manny and Marcuz’s teeth compared to what James’ teeth looked like. I don’t brush every day but I do weekly brushing at the same time I clip nails, clean ears, and brush their coats. To them it is a mini spa day and they both know they will get their beloved greenies at the end of it.

(1) Gingivitis: An inflammation of the gums

(2) Endocarditis: An inflammation of the inner layer of the heart usually involves the heart valves.

(3) Periocarditis: An inflammation of the two layer membrane that surrounds the heart.

(4) Dental prophylaxis: Cleaning, scaling, and polishing of teeth done under aesthetics by a veterinarian or veterinary dentist.

     So, do you brush your pet’s teeth? Are you going to start? Why or Why not? Leave me a comment.

Have a Chittering good day,

Jo

The FURminator® and the Ferret

     Okay first the disclaimer: I was only compensated with a free item to keep. I have reviewed the item here and the opinions are solely my own and may differ from other opinions presented elsewhere.

     I was given the opportunity to review a grooming tool called the FURminator®. The day it arrived I had followed the FedEx truck into the driveway. I am not sure what the driver thought was happening but he left a lot quicker than he normally does.

     Inside I found the FURminator® as it is presented in the stores. The first thing that I liked before I had ever touched the tool was the package design.

     The triangular design allowed one to see every side of the tool and didn’t have a lot of excess plastic that you would normally see. It was also easy to open no hacksaw was required that many items need to even getting into the contents.

     The FURminator® is a deShedding tool that helps to reduce the amount of loose hair an animal sheds and leaves behind on the furniture, the floor, and your clothes.

     The FURminator® comes in two models and four sizes. The one I received was the deluxe model for small pets.

     I have looked at other types of grooming tools to use on my ferrets but just picking up the package was enough of a deterrent to leave the store empty handed.

     Unlike those tools the FURminator® is a joy to hold and the handle fits well into my small hands. A child can easily use this tool.

     Now it was time for the real test. I got James out of his cage and holding him I managed to get one stroke of the tool down his back before James twisted and in an instant decided he was in love with the tool.

     In love by a ferret is that it belongs in his/her hidey-hole right this second. James has never insisted that something was his by use of vocal communication. He would just wait until I wasn’t looking and take it.

     Not this time. He hissed his demand that I let go of his new love this second and when I didn’t he gave me a couple of nips in an attempt to get me to let go it. After a few minutes of this discussion he allowed me to use the FURminator® on him again.

 

James and the FURMinator(r)

 

     Of course when I shot the video James decided he was more interested in his treat than the tool.

     After using the FURminator® on James’ coat I could feel the difference. It was softer and gave James’ a sleeker look. Although James’ has basically finished his shedding I am going to love having this grooming tool for when he starts shedding again this fall.

     The other feature I love about this tool is how easy it is to clean. A simple push of a button called the FURejector and the hair is ejected out. It makes grooming a squirming ferret easy in that you can hold your ferret with one hand and groom and clean the tool with the other hand.

     While there may cheaper grooming tools on the market the FURminator® is well worth the money. Be sure to check out their site at http://www.FURminator.com

     Also I didn’t realize that today April 30 was National Hairball Awareness Day please take a moment to read my post about ferrets and hairballs http://www.enlightenedferret.com/2009/10/bezoars-and-ferret.html as they aren’t just for cats.

     Now for the paw rating of this grooming tool. In the few products I have reviewed none have ever met the high standards of my ferrets or me that is until now and has received a Paw Rating of Five.

      With that in mind the FURminator® also receives the

  

 

Thank you Beth for allowing me the opportunity to review this pawsome tool.

 

Jo

Bamboo Pet Product Review

     In keeping with the National Pet Dental Month theme I asked Bamboo® pet products if I could review one of their toothbrushes for cats in hopes that it would be an alternative to the fingertip toothbrush. In response I was sent one QuadBrush® and two tins of breath mints for cats and dogs.

  

     I like the unique design of the QuadBrush®. The one side offers three bristle heads for cleaning all sides of the teeth. The other side has a single head of bristles for cleaning those hard to reach places. The textured handle makes it easy to grip and keeps my fingers away from those sharp teeth.

     Unfortunately, the brush is too big for my fur kid’s mouths but the single head does allow me the opportunity to brush their teeth on one side.

     The QuadBrush® comes in three colors: Blue, pink, and yellow-green. It also has a sanitary cover to keep the brush clean but it is temperamental about staying closed sometimes it only takes a slight bump for it to pop open.

     The breath mints were the biggest hit. The CatToids™ and DogToid™ tins are cute in design and easy to open with one hand or one paw as Majic figured out. The mints themselves are just as whimsical as the tins. The mints are in the shapes of fish and bones.

     James insists that he has to pick out his own CatToid™ mint from the tin. Lance prefers the DogToid™ mints. Trixie thinks she needs a handful at a time of either mint.

     Overall, the QuadBrush® is great for keeping my fingers safe and I can use the one side for cleaning Lance and Jame’s teeth. The design is great for animals with larger mouths.

   

The Sanitary cover needs some work as it opens too easily or doesn’t close at all.

     Cat and DogToids™ wonderful tin design in both decoration and easy opening. Smart pets can easily open the tin. The small shapes are easy to grab and chew by ferrets and other animals.

     Thank you Bamboo® pet products for allowing us the chance to review your products. The breath mints have become a new addition to our household.

Bamboo® pet products can be found online at:

Dog n Catz

Doctors Foster and Smith

Evergreen Pet Supply

Jeffers

K9 Sports

Petco

Pet Discounters

Pet Smart

 Suburban Doghouse

 

Jo

Ferret Tooth Care

     I hope you took a moment to answer the poll. If you answered no to the question you might be surprised to find out that the kibble may take away the visible build up of plaque (1) and tarter (2) but does nothing for what might be lurking under the gum line.

     Until recently, I was just as guilty in that belief but an announcement on twitter alerted me to February being National Pet Dental Care Month by the  Veterinarian Oral Health Council (VOHC).

     I checked out the VOHC and found that we should be brushing our pet’s teeth daily for the same reasons we brush ours, to prevent tooth loss or decay, gingivitis(3), and periodontal disease. While the site gave some nice information for cats and dogs, there was no mention of ferrets.

     My search for information about ferret dental care led me to several articles online written by veterinarian dentists but were full of jargon that was hard for a pet owner to understand.

First some facts:

     At the time of this posting, there are only 75 board certified veterinarian dentists in the United States.

     Most pet owners believe that hard food and chew toys are enough to keep a pet’s teeth healthy.

     A ferret’s teeth grow from the tip up.

     A kit will have 30 teeth by 3months and have lost them by 9 months.

     An adult ferret will have 34 teeth.

     My fur kids are now around 7 years old and until this month have never had their teeth brushed. Like many other owners, I was under the impression that their food and toys were enough to keep their teeth healthy.

     I may not have been brushing their teeth but I keep a close eye on their canines also known as eyeteeth. Ferrets love to chew, bite, or drag things that could be detrimental to those long thin teeth.

     Lance has a habit of grabbing a hold of cage bars and rattling them to let me know he is awake and wants out to play…NOW! In a normal mesh cage, this would be difficult for him to do but James and him live in a medium sized dog crate.

     The bars are thicker and spaced about a half an inch apart giving Lance plenty of room to grab one and give it a good yank or three allowing a chance for him to break one of his teeth in the process. Thankfully, all I have to do is sign that it isn’t playtime and he stops.

     Periodontal disease can lead to other conditions besides tooth loss. Some are but not limited to tooth root abscesses, heart disease (Endocarditis (4) or Periocarditis (5)), susceptibility to infections that can cause weight loss, and lethargy.

     Ferrets older than six years periodontal disease is a common condition and can be lessened by twice-yearly cleanings also known as dental prophylaxis (6) to have the build ups scrapped from the teeth and under the gum line.

     Periodontal disease is common in ferrets older than 6 years old and in most cases easily been prevented with daily tooth brushing. How does one brush a ferret’s teeth? The obvious answer is very carefully for both the owner and the ferret. To make this a pleasant experience for the both of you start slowly.

     If you are just starting to brush your ferret’s teeth you should get him use to you messing with his mouth.

     My fur kids are used to me playing bad hair day with them. I do this by encircling their neck with my forefinger and thumb just so that I am just touching their fur and sliding my hand up over their faces fluffing the hair so it is standing up on end. By doing this I am able to feel what the outside of their mouths are like and notice if anything is different.

     Getting a ferret to open his/her mouth voluntarily is another feat but can be done by grabbing the scruff of the neck and lifting them up. This doesn’t hurt them as it is loose skin very much like on a cat. This will make them yawn giving you a very clear view of the inside of their mouth.

     You want to look for anything that would signal a dentist visit for yourself. This includes the need for teeth cleaning because of buildup of plaque and tarter, inflamed or bleeding gum line, loose, missing, or broken teeth. Make sure there is nothing stuck between the teeth such as a piece of food or other foreign objects.

     Brushing requires few items, a soft bristle toothbrush or a fingertip brush, and pet toothpaste (never use human toothpaste) poultry flavor is the one recommended for ferrets but any flavor will work.

     When I first started brushing my fur kid’s teeth, I started with using a water moistened Q-tip® just to get them used to having something run across their teeth and gums. It allowed them a chance to bite down on it and not get hurt.

     After a few days, I changed to using a toothbrush still with no paste on it so they could get use to the feel of it. I, personally, don’t use the fingertip toothbrush because they are made of latex rubber and all of my ferrets have a taste for rubber.

     For me it is easier to avoid the potential of one of them getting a hold of it and ending up with an obstruction from the chewed material and I like my fingers relatively free of holes.

     Finally, I added a small amount of paste to the toothbrush and have been brushing my kid’s teeth daily. James is receptive to having it done. Lance on the other hand is adept at pushing the brush away from his mouth after couple of passes he has had enough.

     With Gweny, because her mouth is so small I still use the Q-tip® with a small amount of paste. I know it isn’t doing a through job but with her in the end stages of Adrenal it isn’t really high on the list as keeping her comfortable while she is still with us.

     After they get their teeth brushed, each fur kid gets a lot of loving and praise for letting me brush their teeth.

     In just the few days that I have been brushing their teeth I have noticed a difference in how the teeth look. They are starting to regain that nice white shine and they aren’t continually licking their fang teeth.

Jo

(1) Plaque: A clear film that consists of bacteria and salivary proteins that attaches to the teeth.

(2) Tartar: Plaque with a mineral added usually calcium and/or phosphorus.

(3) Gingivitis: An inflammation of the gums.

(4) Endocarditis: An inflammation of the inner layer of the heart usually involves the heart valves.

(5) Periocarditis: An inflammation of the two layers of the thin sac-like membrane that surrounds the heart.

(6) Dental prophylaxis: Cleaning, scaling, and polishing of teeth done under aesthetics by a veterinarian or veterinary dentist.