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My
Quick FAQ
(Quick
answers to Frequently Asked Questions)
I reserve
the right to change my mind about any of these things at any time because
after all this is MY web site and these are just My Opinions!
Why
is my ferret going bald?
The
most likely causes (though there are others) are:
- Nutrition:
Many foods labeled as "ferret foods" are not healthy for ferrets
at all. Try switching to Iams Dry Kitten food which has better nutrition
for ferrets than most ferret foods and is easy to find at any local
pet store (not grocery store). It's in a purple bag.
- Adrenal
Tumor:
With an adrenal tumor, hair loss usually, but not always, starts at
the base of the tail and moves up the back. In females a swollen vulva
is often present as well. Adrenal tumors are best treated by surgery.
They are usually benign and removal of the affected gland is usually
curative. Check out the information on Adrenal Disease at http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc
for more info.
- Incomplete
Spay:
An incomplete spay can cause symptoms similar to adrenal symptoms. If
your female ferret is young and experiencing hair loss and a swollen
vulva, consider this possibility. Female ferrets must be spayed. A female
ferret that is not spayed will probably die from aplastic
anemia.
- Blackheads:
If the hair loss is only on the tail and you notice small black dots,
it's possible your ferret has blackheads. If this is really the cause,
then clearing up the blackheads will usually solve the problem. Check
with your vet to find an appropriate cleanser. I think I heard that
some people used "Stridex Pads" but do check with your vet
on this first.
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Are
ferrets legal in California?
No.
For more information check out my California
Links.
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Are
ferrets legal in NYC?
Ferrets are illegal to sell and own in New
York City's five boroughs as of 6/29/99.
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What
kinds of shots (if any) does my ferret need?
Ferrets need yearly vaccinations against Distemper
and Rabies.
The
only approved Distemper vaccine for ferrets is FERVAC D (although
some vets still use Galaxy D as well). If a ferret has never been vaccinated
against Distemper, it will need a series of booster shots first, and yearly
shots thereafter. It is very important to have your ferret vaccinated
against Distemper. Distemper is a highly contagious and fatal disease.
You could bring it in on your clothes and not even know it.
The
approved Rabies vaccine for ferrets is Imrab 3. Rabies shots should
be given once a year. Generally these shots are given to protect your
ferret in case it is ever accused (falsely or truthfully) of biting someone.
If your ferret is accused of biting someone and you can prove that it
has been vaccinated against Rabies, you may be able to keep your
ferret from being euthanized to test for Rabies.
Ferrets
can have serious vaccine reactions, particularly to Fervac D. To minimize
the risk to you ferret:
- Separate
Distemper and Rabies vaccines by at least 2 weeks instead of giving
them in the same day.
- Schedule
your appointment for shots early in the week when you know your vet
will be around, and schedule it first thing in the morning so you can
be sure their office will still be open in the event of an emergency.
- Plan
to stick around the vet's office for about an hour after the vaccines
"just in case." Bring a book!
- Vaccine
reactions can happen within 24 hours after the injection, and sometimes
even longer, so keep an eye out and take your ferret back to your vet
if it suddenly appears ill, vomits, breaks out in hives, or has difficulty
breathing.
- If your
ferret ever has a vaccine reaction, make sure your vet pre-treats your
ferret with Benadryl before every subsequent vaccine and make sure your
vet sends some home with you.
* There
is some thought that pets (including ferrets) may be getting over-vaccinated and that yearly vaccinations may not be necessary for ferrets because the vaccinations protect them for longer than one year. You may want to research this and discuss it with your vet. Additionally, a ferret with a compromised immune system or illness is
at a higher risk of having a serious vaccine reaction. If you have an
elderly or ill ferret, or a ferret who's had previous vaccine reactions, you should discuss your ferret's vaccination schedule
with your vet. For what it's worth, I never vaccinated my ferrets against Distemper after they had a vaccine reaction (almost all of them had reactions at 4 years old.) I continued to vaccinate them against Rabies unless they had other health problems.
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How
can I get my ferret to stop biting?
That depends on the cause.
- Teething
Young ferrets need to be taught not to bite just like puppies and
kittens need to be trained not to nip. Never hit or "thump"
your ferret. One of the most effective ways to nip train your ferret
is to scruff it like its mother would and hiss at it. Be persistent,
be calm, and if your ferret doesn't get the hint, give it a 5-10 minute
time out in a carrier with no toys. You can also spray Bitter Apple
(available at pet stores) on one hand and when your ferret seems tempted
to bite, offer it that hand. If it tries to bite that hand, let it get
a good taste of the bitter apple spray on that hand. On the other hand,
put some Linatone and let your ferret lick it. Help your ferret to learn
that biting "tastes" bad and licking "tastes" good.
The important thing to remember is not to get angry and never to use
force in disciplining.
- Pain
If your previously friendly ferret suddenly becomes a biter, it's possible
it's in pain. Take your ferret to a ferret knowledgeable vet ASAP to
rule out a possible injury, blockage, or tumor.
For
more information on the next three possibilities check out the following
links:
"Problem"
Ferrets and the People who Love Them
Deaf
Ferrets
- Deafness
Does your ferret have a white stripe on its head? Ferrets with this
color pattern are usually deaf, though ferrets with other color patterns
may be deaf as well. Try squeaking a loud dog toy or crinkling a potato
chip bag behind your ferret when no other animals are around for it
to take its cues from. If it doesn't react at all, it's probably deaf.
Deaf ferrets need extra patience. They can't hear you or the other ferrets
scream so they don't realize that they may be playing too rough.
- Abuse
Ferrets who have been abused have been conditioned to bite out of fear.
These ferrets need extra patience and must not be disciplined with any
kind of violence.
- Brain
Tumor/Brain Damage
Ferrets with brain damage from abuse or tumors may bite unpredictably.
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I want to breed ferrets...
Don't breed
ferrets. It's not easy to do and there's absolutely no profit in it.
You'll be lucky to come even close to breaking even.
Zen Ferrets
Breeding FAQ (Link not working as of June 2006. Try a Google or "Wayback Machine"
search.)
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How
much does a ferret cost?
This is such a loaded question. Here are a couple
of ways I've responded to this question in the past.
Response
1
Response
2
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How
long do ferrets live?
A healthy ferret lives around 8 to 10 years. I've heard
of several living to 13 and 15 years old, but these are rare. Unfortunately, most
ferrets in the USA develop tumors around the ages of 4 to 6 years old, which often decreases
their life spans. This does not seem to be as common a problem for ferrets
outside of the United States.
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What
is ECE/Green Slime Disease?
A highly contagious disease. For more
information on ECE check out the ECE
FAQ.
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How
can I find a good ferret shelter or vet near me?
The following sites have lists of ferret
vets and/or shelters. There are also many shelters listed on my links page
under "Organizations."
Ferret
Central
American
Ferret Association, Inc.
You
can also post your request for help finding a good vet or shelter near
you on one of the Ferret Newsgroups.
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What
should I do if I want to get a ferret?
Learn
as much as you can beforehand. Your ferret could be with you for 10 years.
Can you make that long a commitment? Don't get a ferret until you can.
If you can't make that long a commitment, consider helping out at a shelter
to get your "fix," or consider fostering a ferret in your home.
Many shelters have foster programs where people keep ferrets in their
home for a period of time (rather than at the shelter) until they can
find new owners.
- Read
two ferret books:
If
you really want to get a ferret, I suggest you buy any two ferret care
books and read them cover to cover. One book I highly recommend is Ferrets
For Dummies by Kim Schilling. -Really. That's the name of the book.
And it's a good book! Another good book is The
Ferret: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet by Mary Shefferman.
But
really, any two ferret care books will do. You
can do
a search on Amazon.com for more ferret books. Ferret books may also
be available at your local pet stores and book stores.
- Visit
Ferret Central:
Once
you've read your two books cover to cover, I suggest you visit Ferret
Central and check out their FAQs and some of the many links listed
there.
- Start
A Savings Fund For Emergencies:
Start
a small savings fund for your ferret. -Seriously! You should be prepared
to spend at least $500 at a moment's notice in case of an emergency.
Don't assume this won't happen until the ferret is much older. A younger
ferret could suddenly require life saving surgery for an accident or
an intestinal blockage (young ferrets will eat almost anything!). Keep
adding to this fund as your ferret gets older. You'll be glad you did.
(For more information, see "How much does a ferret
cost?" above).
- Consider
adopting from a shelter:
If
you've done all your homework and you're still determined
to get a ferret, consider adopting one from a shelter. Many ferrets
in shelters are quite young and healthy and were only put there because
their owners got tired of them after a year, or because a college
student had to move etc. The benefits to shelter ferrets (besides knowing
you're doing a good deed) are that ferret shelters are usually privately
owned by ferret lovers. Consequently, shelter ferrets are usually well
cared for and up to date on their shots and vet visits. Additionally, older ferrets
are usually litter box trained and nip trained for you. Because ferret
shelters tend to be small and privately owned, shelter owners usually
know which ferrets have medical problems and will not adopt a
sick or chronically ill ferret to a new ferret owner. They are well
aware of the time and commitment needed for these animals and truly
want to place these ferrets in a home where they will receive proper
care.
Be
aware that ferrets that have been raised together become very attached
to their cagemates and will usually become severely depressed, stop
eating, and will often die if they are separated. For this reason, shelters
almost never split up ferrets that were raised together. This is why
they are often adopted out in pairs and sometimes in groups of three
or more. -They're not just trying to get you to take more ferrets! Chances
are those ferrets were raised together. Believe it or not, I've found
that two ferrets are actually easier to care for than one. Caring
for two ferrets costs about the same as one (unless they both get sick
at the same time) and two ferrets generally keep each other entertained,
whereas a bored ferret is more apt to wander off looking for trouble!
- Find
a good ferret vet:
Find
a ferret knowledgeable vet in your area before you get your ferret.
(See "How Do I Find A Good Ferret Vet Near Me?"
above) You should take your new ferret directly to your vet within the
first few days of bringing it home regardless of how healthy it looks
or what kinds of assurances you got from the sellers. Establish a relationship
with your vet now and don't wait until there's an emergency. Even if
your ferret is in perfect health, this will give your vet a baseline
of information to refer back to during future visits.
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