Stacey - Re: Trying to poop alot...Not normal behavior, are you sure she
isn't trying to urinate as opposed to poop?  Similar fashion for both
especially for females.  Definitely ask the vet when you take them in for
their vacs.  Could be urinary infection, partial blockage (since straining
but nothing coming out).
 
Linda - Hair growing back after surgery - Depending on seasonal cycling of
the hair coat growth, in the last 8 years, following many, various surgical
procedures here at the shelter, it usually just comes back in due time
varying from ferret to ferret.  Some coats return very quickly (a few
weeks), others a 3-5 months.  I don't feel there is any cause for concern.
 
Emily - By all means, give your ferret a stuffed toy with no plastic eyes or
pieces of anything.  Terry cloth baby toys with squeakers/rattles inside
work best.  Ferrets love to carry them around & hide them.  And they
machine-wash wonderfully!
 
Andrea - Unfortunately all ferrets do not get along.  As a shelter, you deal
with ferrets of all ages & from all walks of life.  I find it most difficult
for ferrets who have been alone for years in the 3+ year age group to begin
anew with a "buddy".  They are used to being alone & many do not take to
other ferrets at all.  Some folks say all ferrets get along, I will not
agree with this no matter what anyone says.  I will not tolerate a shelter
ferret coming to live with me being completely miserable & possibly dying
(yes, it can come to this) because he/she is so traumatized/stressed at
being forced to live with another ferret that they lose their will to live,
don't eat/drink, become shy, scared recluses that hide from the world.  It
can happen, it does happen.  I try everything I know (as well as lots of
suggestions from others), to intermix ferrets here at the shelter, (believe
me, if they all got along, wouldn't my life be alot simpler), but I know
when enough is enough.  I will not have ferrets with bite wounds/lashes,
listen to screaming fits/fights till night is through, all for the sake that
I need to set up another cage & run another "playtime shift" so they can
have their daily free-time.  I run an average of "20" play shifts per day
(currently I have 5 play areas including free roam of my basement).  Call me
crazy, flame if you want.  I love these guys way too much to force them to
live in hel_.  In your particular instance, it would probably just take more
time for your Oliver to accept the presence of another...from several days
to several weeks.  How ever long it would take.  You would absolutely go
through the motions of jealousy, spatting, etc., but I have seen very few
one-year olds that don't learn to get along with others (lest they be
intact, unaltered males).  But you would need tolerance for separating them
when it becomes too rough & not feeling so guilty about the jealousy trip
Oliver puts on you.  Everybody has to make their own decisions regarding
introducing another ferret to their household, but given a choice between
introducing one now or a year from now, I'd choose now.  The older Oliver
gets, probably the worse it will be to try again.
 
Just thoughts/experiences from the shelter -
Best to all - Love from Fran & the Fuzzies in PA
[Posted in FML issue 1715]