You might try another flavor.  The cheap stuff for cats at WalMart is just
as good.  Some of mine prefer the fish flavor to the malt flavor.  Some
ferrets even prefer ordinary petroleum jelly.
 
Keep offering it to them.  Smear a dab on their mouth so they'll have to
taste it.  It sometimes takes a while for a ferret to decide "Hey! That's
ok to eat!"
 
If all else fails:
Hold your ferret by the scruff.  Place the tube at the side of the ferret's
mouth & WAIT.  The ferret will eventually open his mouth, even if it's only
to yawn.  Squirt a dab of hairball rememdy into the ROOF of his mouth (NOT
toward the back of the mouth... you don't want to choak him!)   Put him
down & watch him make faces at you.  Some will manage to spit some of it
out, but most of it will be eaten.  Repeat procedure as necessary several
times during the day until he's eaten aprx. a one inch ribbon.
 
DON'T give up because it's too much trouble or just because your ferret
doesn't like it.  Hairball treatment is a VERY necessary part of ferret
maintenance.  A little stress is immensely preferable to hairball surgery!
 
Debi Christy
Ferrets First Foster Home
[Posted in FML issue 3388]