Gordon?

Do your digital ferrets dig deeply with their digits as they dook and
dance delightedly deigning to deposit dookey down behind the duvet?

Edward,

Actually it isn't that difficult to determine if a ferret is deaf. You
can gauge their auditory response to a hidden squeaky toy; attempt to
startle them with a shaken penny can (not related to the pelican),
clap your hands in their vicinity, but not so close they could respond
to the air disturbance of your colliding palms. Kissing noises and
whistles or bells rung will help you determine if your ferret can or
cannot hear.

I don't think deaf ferrets dig in the water any more or less than
hearing ferrets. I have cared for two deaf ferrets. Josie, my first
ferret was a Panda and also exhibited several other neural crest
disorder markers besides being deaf. Josie passed away at just over
a year old. Crystal is an adoptee; she too started life as a Panda
ferret, but now is completely white washed.

One thing deaf ferrets will do more than hearing ferrets is apply
harder bite pressure when playing because they cannot hear their
victims cry out. Conversely deaf ferrets tend to be more vocal with
their own complaints and tend to scream more.

I have two hearing ferrets that will dig in the water dish. But they
don't do it on a regular basis. I try to keep a small "pond" in the
bathroom available for them, so they will leave their water dish for
just drinking. Sometimes it works- sometimes they drink from the "pond"
and empty the water dish! The "pond" is merely a shallow plastic tub of
water.

I don't clean my ferrets ears - I don't have to, they clean each
other's ears! And I do believe that their diet of natural raw meaty
bones and whole prey contributes to cleaner ears also. Why? Because
the natural form of foods doesn't have all the artificial foreign
substances in it that the ferret's body cannot digest and then has to
try and get rid of. Cleaning ears shouldn't be anything more than a
gentle wiping of the external ear flap anyway - poking something deep
into the ear canal could easily make a hearing ferret into a deaf
ferret!

Regarding the Peanut Butter tainted with Salmonella: I agree that
people who choose to offer these flavored treats to their ferrets might
want to consider abstaining. Lord knows if the human grades of foods
flavored with peanut paste and peanut butter are causing illness and
death, then it stands to reason that the lesser quality and lesser
regulated animal products would be at high risk also.

Check this link for more info:
http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/salmonellatyph.html

Personally I don't offer my ferrets peanut butter, because peanuts
would not be considered a normal food item for a natural ferret.

Cheers,
Kim

[Posted in FML 6219]