Hi All,
First some words of wisdom to all ferret owners; NO matter how much you may
be tempted NEVER allow your fuzzies access to the inside of the couch!!!!!!
This is not a sad story on the ferrets side but it is on my side.  When I
1st got my precious critters I had totally ferret-proofed my couch only to
have them show me a short time later that they could still get past my
efforts.  They LOVED being in the couch sooooo much and slept there almost
all the time so I just didn't have the heart to referret-proof it.  I kept
checking the area where they slept for signs of them having done their
"business" but there was NEVER anything there.  I figured they wouldn't do
that where they slept so thought I was safe.  Wellllll, last nite I heard
the usual scratching noises in the couch but this time it was coming from in
the arm of it where I lay my head.  I pulled out the material I had
originally stuffed in the crack there to keep them out only to find it
TOTALLY soaked with pee!!!!!!!  ARGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!  TEARS!!!!!!!  I didn't
even bother to investigate further knowing I would most certainly find even
worse!  So now I have had to ask my Mom if she will pay for me another used
couch.  This time it WILL be ABSOLUTELY ferret-proofed because I don't have
the money to keep replacing my couch!  I hate that they will now lose their
favorite sleeping hole but what's a girl to do??????
 
To Jamie Ryan :  How much per month do I spend to feed my critters?????
Well let's see, 1st I have big bags of at least 6 different high quality
dry foods @ an average of perhaps $18 per bag (lasts more than 1 mo. of
course). Then you have to consider all the cantaloupe, watermelon, rice
cakes, goat's milk,ferretone, brewer's yeast w/garlic etc...... Add it
all up, figure approx. amount gone thru per month......... OH LORD I
DON'T EVEN WANT TO KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!  Thanks for wondering anyway!!!!!  Oh
yeah I can't forget the popsicles,,, FANG has become a popsicle fiend!
Anyone else out there got one of these?????
 
To Juliana Paulauskas : You will most probably have to do the handyman bit
and alter the litterboxes you have.  Try calling around to price some sheet
metal and get some pieces you can bend in half to form a corner wedge and
then fasten them to your litterboxes.  This way you can make the corners as
tall as you need and it will be easy to clean and keep disinfected....  My
biggest baby is a whole 2 lbs.  so fortunately I don't have this problem
but I hope this helps......
 
To Carl Hamilton : NO ONE can tell you your baby is severly malnourished
without actually seeing him.  You didn't say if these people had.  It is
totally dependant upon his bone structure and size.  I have 2 males that are
at perfect weight and they are a whole 1 3/4 lbs.  and 2 lbs.!!!  You have
to just use your own common sense and see if you can feel their ribs too
easily and if they just plain look too thin...  Or take him in to the vet
for a quick looksee.  If you speak to him beforehand he might not even
charge you to just see if he is underweight or not or at the least a very
small charge....  I have asked in the past if you can tell what a ferret
should weigh by it's bone structure, length, heighth etc...  but never got
an answer.  My little girl Racy was malnourished when I got her and it was
really quite obvious that she was much too thin...  I put her on Nutri-cal
each nite along w/her normal food and within 3 weeks she gained an entire
1/4 lb.  plus and she is only 1 1/2 lbs.  total now....  She leveled out and
tho I still give it to her because she loves it she has not gained anymore.
So give the Nutri a try and see if he gains weight quickly and then
stabilizes and that will be a good indicator of whether he was malnourished
or not.  You could also give him some Deliver 2.0 or Duck Soup or other
ideas that have been presented here in the past.....  Good luck!!!!!
 
To Alyssa Umsawasdi :  My Lightstar does the Racoon style grooming with
his paws too, it is the absolutely cutest thing in the world!!!!!
 
To Mark Zmyewski : When I purchased my babies from the local ZAMZOWS I
received a certificate of guarantee for 1 year against any defects that
would have been there when they left the breeder.  The breeder was Marshall
Farms.  When I 1st purchased them they did not give me this but then we
went back to ask for a cardboard pet carrier and the other guy there that
day gave us the Guarantees and a free hammock for each of them.  So call
and ask for the manager and ask if they have a guarantee or anything
because not all the employees may be familiar with it.  I would absolutely
say this falls under the things that WOULD be covered since they did the
surgery and didn't do it properly.  You were told he was descented and that
the price you paid included that so anything to do with the descenting
having been done improperly that then cost you $$$$ to correct should be
reimbursed to you under these conditions...  Sorry but I don't know about
any other breeders policies.
 
SORRY this got sooooooo long......
 
*****************************************************
*          Kelleen & The INSANE Animal House        *
*          [log in to unmask]                           *
*          President & Founder of                   *
 
*F.A.N.G. - Ferret Association of Neverending Glee  *
*Location : Boise, Idaho                            *
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*I'll take a good animal over a good mate anyday,   *
*all THEY want is lots of love and great chow!!!!   *
 
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[Posted in FML issue 1358]