It's been awhile since I posted and with everything else going on haven't
had time to keep up with the mailing list but have a problem happening.
 
about a month and a half ago I went on a rescue mission to Mauston, WI
(half hour drive from WI Dells) to rescue 3 ferrets from a pet store that
was supposedly going out of business.  From previous visits to this store
and talking to the people running the place I am glad that they no longer
have the 3 that I have.  The conditions these guys were in was terrible.
(I'll try and do another post on this some other day for details).  Took
them to one of the shelters here in Milwaukee.  All three were whole and in
season.  What a smell my car had for 2 1/2 hours.  I kept one of the three
that seemed to be the gentlest.
 
Found out that he recently had a rabies shot from the store owner and set
him up for distemper series.  (All three had no tattooes, so assumed
privately breed as this person did have a breeding female).  Surgery for
descent and neuter went well and waited the two weeks before letting Bo &
Tye with HOSS.  Yes, he is a very big ferret.  2nd biggest ferret that my
vet clinic has seen.  Previous to letting them all together - separate
play times, smelling through the cage, etc.
 
All started playing nice together, smelling butts, running through tubes,
etc.  for short periods of supervised time.  Still separate cages until I
was sure that they all got along.  They decide when it was time to room
together by all going into the main cage and cuddling.
 
Lately Bo has been starting out to play nice with Hoss but after awhile Bo
goes after Hoss's neck and bites, pulls out fur, paws at Hoss's neck to the
point that when I hear Hoss squeal in pain do I finally find where they
are and get them apart.  Bo does not do this to Tye.  I have tried bitter
apple, bitter lime, vaseline and tabassco sauce on Hoss's neck and even
putting his harness on him but to no avail.  Hoss's neck is sore, has some
bite marks and missing fur.  I feel sorry for the new guy.  I pay equal
attention to all of them and show no favoritism.
 
Any suggestions on what to do, need answer by Saturday.  Hoss is going for
another shot and will take Bo to be checked.  Bo shows no signs of being
adrenal (hair loss, apetite loss, etc.) unless I am missing something.
 
I will give you a full story on Hoss at a later post.
 
You can email me at [log in to unmask]
 
Thanks in advance for the help and suggestions.
[Posted in FML issue 2625]