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Care of Ferrets
Ferrets were first tamed by the Ancient Egyptians for food and clothing. Today, they are playful weasel-like companions that depend on us for love! This category contains questions about ferret health, history, and needs.
1,047 Questions
What are symptoms when a ferret has Insulinoma?
Ferret Insulinomas (islet cell tumors) are tumors of cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Excess levels of insulin drives blood sugar out of the blood and into body cells, making it unavailable to the brain. Ferrets with very high insulin levels appear to "faint" when blood sugar is very low. As the tumor grows, the attacks become more frequent. Coma and death can be caused by very low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Clinical signs - weight loss is the most common, a state of being legarthic or in a stupor, salivation, high end weakness, vocalizations, and seizures
Refer to links below for more details
I am not a vet. I have had two ferrets with insulinoma and here is what I have learned. My first ferret Zeus, developed insulinoma and it scared the heck out me. I came in to find him comatose. I rushed him to the vet at midnite and after some fluids and karo syrup he was back on his paws. We went back for a follow up and my vet put him on Prednisone. Not long after my other ferret Spike developed the same symptoms. I put him on Pred as well. Zeus did not last too long after his initial diagnosis and I really feel the Pred had alot to do with it. So, when Zeus passed on I took Spike off the Pred and simply monitored his diet (high proteins and supplements (Ferravite for when he had a crash). Also, I made him take extra water (by syringe) and made sure he stayed well hydrated. He lived an additional 2 yrs and passed at the ripe old age of 10! He had to be euthanized as he was just to worn out to keep going and it didnt seem fair. The vet was amazed at his life considering his disease. If you cannot afford surgery or maybe you ferret is just too old to be a candidate then consider this management plan. It takes extra time so if you have a busy schedule it may not work for you. You really need to be able to give them attention about 4 or 5 times a day for this type of management. I am not a fan of Prednisone for extended periods of time. Again, I am not a vet but this is from my experience. I have another ferret who is exhibiting signs of this disorder. I am going to take the same approach with him as I have with my other ferret.
Do you have to be responsible to have a ferret?
Yes you have to be very responsible to care for a ferret as they have a lot of needs to ensure their emotional health and welfare.
yes ferrets will try to get in to every hole they can find and make a mess of thingsif you do not watch them
How do you stop your ferret putting on weight?
Leaving a ferret in it's cage to much, out of boredom will eat more, and it's not able to get exercise.
Due to seasonal changes in ferrets is the loss or gain of about 30-40 percent body weight, especially males. In the winter causes the fur grows thick, they gain weight and in spring these changes reverse, not all ferrets gain and lose so much, and more subtle changes may go unnoticed.
Intestinal obstruction or blockage in the stomach is a common cause of premature death in ferrets. Many ferrets like to chew on soft rubber, foam rubber, sponges, rubber bands, pencil erasers and other small items and can become lodged in the intestines. Also grain-based foods (breads, cakes, cookies, cereals, noodles, etc.), nuts, or fibrous fruits and vegetables are indigestible to ferrets (lack a cecum) and can result in digestive problems, including blockages. Unless surgery is performed immediately to remove the obstruction or blockage, it will cause an agonizing, slow death.
If your ferret appears bloated, loss of appetite, abnormal bowel movements, or exhibiting any abnormal behavoirs, it could be an intestinal blockage and be a medical emergency and need immediate veterinarian care.
What happens if you get caught with a ferret in California?
When a Fish & Game warden or a police officer knocks on your door, you do not have to allow them entry without aproperly signed search warrant. This search warrant must show "probable cause" (for example, if your neighbor reported you, his name must appear on the search warrant). If they have a search warrant that meets the above criteria, and they find domestic ferrets on your property or in your home, you have the right to make decisions regarding your pets transport out of state: # At your expense, you may choose to have them shipped to a permanent adoptive home of your choice, in one of the 48 other states that permits ownership. # You may choose, at your expense, to have them sent to one of the adoptive centersin a 'legal state', setup by us. Please be advised that your pet(s) will be placed in a carefully selected permanentadoptive home(s). # You may relinquish your ferret(s)to a DFG permit holder or you may seek to obtain a DFG permit if you intend to assist with rescues in your region. # You may elect to have the confiscating officer handle the situation at his or her discretion. There is, however, no guarantee that your pet(s) will not be destroyed. Source: http://www.cdfa.org/
* California Codes ** California Fish and Game Code *** FISH AND GAME CODE SECTION 2116-2127 2125. (a) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any person who violates this chapter or any regulations implementing this chapter, is subject to a civil penalty of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation. Except as otherwise provided, any violation of this chapter or of any regulations implementing this chapter is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than six months, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). (b) The Attorney General, or the city attorney of the city or the district attorney or county counsel of the county in which a violation of this article occurs, may bring a civil action to recover the civil penalty in subdivision (a) and the costs of seizing and holding the animal listed in Section 2118, except to the extent that those costs have already been collected as provided by subdivision (d). The civil action shall be brought in the county in which the violation occurs and any penalty imposed shall be transferred to the Controller for deposit in the Fish and Game Preservation Fund in accordance with Section 13001. (c) In an action brought under this section, in addition to the penalty specified in subdivision (a), the reasonable costs of investigation, reasonable attorney's fees, and reasonable expert witness' fees may also be recovered and those amounts shall be
credited to the same operating funds as those from which the expenditures for those purposes were derived. (d) (1) If an animal is confiscated because the animal was kept in contravention of this chapter or any implementing regulations, the person claiming the animal shall pay to the department or the new custodian of the animal an amount sufficient to cover all reasonable expenses expected to be incurred in caring for and providing for the animal for at least 30 days, including, but not limited to, the estimated cost of food, medical care, and housing. (2) If the person claiming the animal fails to comply with the terms of his or her permit and to regain possession of the animal by the expiration of the first 30-day period, the department may euthanize the animal or place the animal with an appropriate wild animal facility at the end of the 30 days, unless the person claiming the animal pays all reasonable costs of caring for the animal for a second 30-day period before the expiration of the first 30-day period. If the permittee is still not in compliance with the terms of the permit at the end of the second 30-day period, the department may euthanize the animal or place the animal in an appropriate wild animal facility. (3) The amount of the payments described in paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be determined by the department, and shall be based on the current reasonable costs to feed, provide medical care for, and house the animal. If the person claiming the animal complies with the terms of his or her permit and regains possession of the animal, any unused portion of the payments required pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be returned to the person claiming the animal no later than 90 days after the date on which the person regains possession of the animal.
Source: http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cacodes/fgc/2116-2127.html
How do you you finger a female ferrets anus?
Gently slip all your fingers up the anus to the wrist (make sure you're not wearing a watch) and then pull its intestines out to reach the g-spot.
What is the best way to break a biting ferret's grip?
press your thumb on his throat will choke him slightly but he will let go..
Your ferret has a medium size bump on his head?
Could be an abscessed tooth
Could be cancer. Go to a vet ASAP
Ferrets are carnivores so in the wild they eat meat but they have been bred to eat specially made ferret food. added : domestic ferrets, the ones you keep as pets, cannot and do not survive in the wild. They are 100% dependant on humans for food and shelter. There has never been, in recorded history, a case of a domestic ferret becoming feral. When a domestic ferret is "released" into the wild, it soon dies by predation, or starvation. The "wild" ferret is properly called the North American Blackfooted Ferret, and is highly endangered and protected. They were once thought to have become extinct, but have been reintroduced through a captive breeding and release program. It is illegal to own or bother a blackfooted ferret. In the wild, the blackfooted ferret eats mainly prairie dogs, (and then lives in their burrows)or any other animal it can overpower. Domestic ferrets, the ones kept as pets, should be fed a high protien diet of high quality meat-based cat food. They should NOT be fed dog food, as it does not contain enough nutrient for ferrets. Raw uncooked meats, such as beef, and chicken are also appreciated by domestic pet ferrets.
You find your ferret dead this morning and he has a blood full of blood so why did he die?
Oh, I am so sorry, I know it's painful.
Ferret are susceptible to a lot of illness and disease, and when they get sick, without immediate veterinarian care, can die in a few days. The only way to truly know what happened, it to have an necropsy (autopsy) done by the vet, and this has to be done real soon after death. Possible causes: - Blood can also be lost through the intestinal tract or respiratory tract due to infection, ulcers, cancer, and trauma or poisoning via vomiting, diarrhea or coughing. Consider internal blood loss an emergency If the ferret is suffering from a disease that prevents the blood from clotting such as liver disease, or poisoning, then bleeding can occur from any orifice of the body or small tear in the skin
Vomiting/Diarrhea - Ferrets have a very short digestive tract and digest food in about 3 to 4 hours from the stomach to the large intestine. Ferrets do have the ability to vomit, but don't tend to do so like dogs and cats, if they eat something that disagrees with them. Seek veterinary attention if the ferret is vomiting or passing diarrhea multiple times over two to three hours, passes blood in the vomit or stool or is exhibiting sudden or increasing weakness along with the vomiting or diarrhea. Blood in vomit can appear either bright red or look like coffee grounds. • Causes - Vomiting and diarrhea in the ferret are problems related directly to the intestinal tract such as infections, obstructions, cancer, eosinophilic gastroenteritis, sudden changes in the diet or toxins (plants, insecticides, rodenticides, household cleaners, and overdose of medications). Other causes include kidney or liver disease and any systemic disease that causes metabolic changes. (source: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=669&S=5&SourceID=43) I'm sorry, I cannot tell you what your ferret died from. I had a ferret named "Bobo" that died four days before his fourth birthday, when i found his he was curled up like he was sleeping, and nothing else looked wrong. He just died, and I'll never know what happened.
In Oklahoma can a 16-year-old female be emancipated so she can live with her 22-year-old sister?
There is no emancipation statute in Oklahoma. They do allow for the removal of the disabilities of minority, allowing them to contract, but without parental permission it is difficult.
How do you install a ferret water bottle?
you take the hookey-thing and connect it to the cage!
hope I helped you a ton!
What will happen if you put a inside hamster out side in cold weather?
It will poop itself and die. So why the hell would you do that? -mmb 1O12O9.
Where are ferrets legal to own in the US?
Ferret ownership may be governed by individual states, like in California and Hawaii. but also may be governed by individual cities in each state. You need to contact your local city government office - each one is governed by ordinances set in place by the city council. Since laws are subject to change frequently the question on where ferrets are legal may change in the area that you live in.
It depends on where you live - ferrets may be completely unregulated, require a license to breed but not to own, require a permit to own, or be entirely illegal and this varies by state or province, county, and city.
Pet legality is governed in cities, so they may be legal in certain parts of the states, and banned in other areas. Contact your city and inquire about city ordinances on pets.
Check locally before you buy a ferret, call your local Wildlife Department or Fish and Game Department, the humane society, or veterinarians.
Ferrets are restricted by some individual cities, such as, Washington, DC and New York City. In New York City - June 29th 1999, ferrets were banned in New York City's five boroughs. Ferrets are LEGAL in the rest of New York State. The ban only applies to New York City's five boroughs. Ferrets are legal in Long Island. However, Staten Island is part of New York City.
Ferrets are also prohibited on many military bases.
A permit to own a ferret is needed in Rhode Island.
Illinois and Georgia do not require a permit to merely possess a ferret, but a permit is required to breed ferrets.
It was once illegal to own ferrets in Dallas, Texas, but the current Dallas City Code for Animals includes regulations for the vaccination of ferrets.
Ferrets are legal in Wisconsin, but an import permit from the state department of agriculture is required to bring one into the state.
Ferrets are illegal in California under Fish and Game Code Section 2118 and the California Code of Regulations.
"Ferrets are strictly prohibited as pets under Hawaii lawbecause they are potential carriers of the rabies virus"; the territory of Puerto Rico has a similar law.
What is a neutered male ferret called?
A hoblet. Non-neutered males are hobs, non-spayed females are jills and spayed females are sprites.
The name "gib" or "hobble" is given to a male ferret that has been neutered.
"Hoblet" is the name given to a male ferret that has received a vasectomy.
Can a dog bark cause a ferret to die?
i highly doubt it. It may scare the ferret but there is no possible way it can literally kill it.
What kingdom is the ferret in?
The ferret is part of the animal kingdom, Kingdom Animalia.
More specifically, the Ferret's scientific name is Mustela putorius furo.
Chordata is a member of the classification level phylum (just beneath kingdom) and essentially means "vertebrates," so yes, ferrets do fall under the chordatacategory.
The short version of the classification of ferrets follows:
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Chordata (Vertebrates)
Class Mammalia (Mammals)
Order Carnivora (Carnivores)
Family Mustelidae (Mustelids)*
Genus Mustela (Weasels)**
Species M. putorius (European polecats)
Subspecies M. p. furo (Domestic ferret)
*The mustelid family includes otters, badgers, and weasels, and was once thought to include skunks.
**The weasel genus includes weasels and similar creatures such as polecats, certain minks, stoats, ermines, and ferrets.
