FERRET-SEARCH@LISTSERV.FERRETMAILINGLIST.ORG
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Fri, 25 Nov 1994 20:25:49 -0500 |
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To FerretFan:
>Someone recently asked me about ferrets and Christmas trees. I'm
>getting a table top tree this year because I have 9 ferrets and I
>don't want to temp them. I'm sure they would think a tree with shiny
>ornaments would be a great toy. The question is: would the pine
>pitch from a real tree be harmful to ferrets? Or the needles for
>that matter? Does anyone out there know about this?
Ferrets and Christmas trees go well togethr, with supervision and
some common sense. Colleen and I will have our fifth Christmas tree
this year, and have no problems. Here's what to watch out for:
1. Pitch. Pitch will not hurt the ferrets, but will make them
sticky. The ferrets will want to drink the water out of the bottom of
the tree stand. This will not hurt them, as long as you don't put any
"tree preservative" in it. Tree preservatives contain a wide variety
of chemicals including aspirin. This will most likely make your feret
very sick and can kill it. So NO tree preservatives, only water.
2. Keep all electric lights, tinsel, and any non-chewable
ornaments off of the lower two feet of the tree. The ferrets will get
as high as they can to pull these off and chew them, sometimes with
disastrous results. Most ferrets will not climb, so 24 inches is a
good height. We always put some large metal jingle bells and hard
rubber ornaments within their reach, so they have something to play
with.
3. Wire your tree up. You wouln't want it to fall over on them.
4. Sweep up pine needles daily. Pine needles can be swallowed and
the hard kind can even perforate the stomach or intestine. My ferrets
don't chew the needles, but they will play with them.
5. Don't leave ferrets unattended around the tree. No mater how
remote trouble is, ferrets will find it.
We have some great photos and videotape of our ferrets in and
around the tree over the last couple of years. I wouldn't have them
miss Christmas and the tree for the world.
Bruce Williams, DVM [log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 1025]
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