Some background first.  Our ferrets are bathed monthly, more often if
they need it.  My daughter is a dog groomer so we use some sort of
shampoo designed for conditioning that leaves (most of them) soft and
silky.
 
Everyone's diet is fine; their bedding is also washed monthly.  They're
loose for about ten to twelve hours a day, have toys, go for walks etc.
 
As I said, everyone's fur is nice and silky- except for Sarah's.
 
Sarah is one of our rescues.  We were given almost no info on her
background.  We are thought to be her third owner.  She supposedly had
a brother who died of something When we got her, her (second) owner gave
us a bag of Purina hairball remedy for cats she had been feeding her.
She was almost never let out of her cage or played with.
 
Sarah was the most depressed animal have ever seen.  She would literally
lay in whatever spot we placed her without moving.  She had no appetite,
no interest n toys or playing or, Well, anything.
 
That as almost a year ago.  She' s now quite active and playful, although
reclusive which is fine with us.  Whatever makes her happy.
 
Her fur, when we got her, was dreadful.  It felt like a dried out
paintbrush.  While not as bad now, it is still very dry and harsh and
she hs an odd odor (we have no idea if she was descented, but we assume
she is).  The vet says she is healthy, but I m concerned about her coat
because I think a healthy coat means a healthy ferret.  We thought a
seasonal coat change would make a difference, but it didn't.
 
So. any ideas o suggestions.
 
anne
[Posted in FML issue 4818]