Hello Everyone!
 
Thanks to Bob C. for posting his comments regarding Ed.  I am relived to
know the prankster is a good ferret dad.
 
Dancer my little monster biter has been two days bite free!  We are in
shock here at the Powers Residence and rejoicing in the knowledge that
maybe my hands and fingers will heal.  It has been a long 8 weeks.  The
poor darling continues to have diarrhea off and on.  I have lost count
of the times we have been to the vet about this problem.  They find
absolutely no reason.  She is happy, dooks, digs and plays.  Eats like a
small horse and drinks water!
 
I have posted about my Shy and Timid Chewbacca before.  As he has gotten
older he has become more timid.  We had an electrical storm last week.  I
raced up the stairs and into the room to get Chewie.  Storms terrify him.
But he was already awake and scared to death.  He is now running and hiding
at every little noise.  My heart breaks that he gets so scared.  We give
him lots of love and cuddles.  He has never been mistreated in any way.
He is not blind.  Has anyone else had a shy and timid ferret such as my
"Chewy." Is there anything we can do?
 
Millie, I have not gotten over my paranoia after losing my Kitzi-Ki.  We
lost her to a terrible accident after she found a low place in the carpet.
She got her head caught between the floor and radiator cover we had bought
to protect them from getting caught in the radiator.  I never go into their
room without thinking "what if"
 
I don't know how to tell you to overcome the fear.  It is a terrible thing
to lose one of our fur children.  I think it stays with us for a long time.
My arms are around you in thought.
 
I am leaving Tuesday afternoon to be with my dear friend who has cancer.  I
will be gone about two weeks.  I am already missing and worrying about my
little sweeties.  My husband Steve is staying behind to look after them so
they will have great care at least.
 
Christine, Please please don't file Powder's teeth.  After having some
experience with a vicious biter I think the only thing that works is
unending patience and lots of love.  Troy Lynn gave me some great advice
that has worked with Dancer when everything else failed.  Troy is one of
several heroes I have on this board.  She has years of experience.  I hope
she doesn't mind that I post this.
 
From Troy Lynn:
>Once I gain their trust by giving them treats every time I pick them, and
>I pick them up lots (sometimes at first we use a towel because they are so
>afraid of hands from the abuse), when they go to bite I will gently grab
>the outside of their mouths, one finger on each side by the fangs, and
>cheerily tell them "give me those teeth, you obviously want me to have
>them".  They don't like their mouths held but this type of training is
>more of a game because of the tone of my voice and the gentleness and
>short time of the mouth hold.  Once they accept this treatment when they
>bite too hard I insert my finger through their mouth behind the canines
>and my thumb on the bottom of the jaw and gently hold and in a bit more
>firm voice tell them "no bite".  This one is a bit more painful for us as
>the first couple times they may bite down on your finger so be prepared if
>you use this one.  Part of the training method with severe biters is not
>being afraid to get bitten and knowing when to start actual training.  I
>give them two weeks before I start training.  That period gives them time
>to adjust to the new situation and to figure out that I'm not going to
>harm them.  Lots of good treats and picking them up and putting them down
>and trying to avoid the biting situations (boy, do I get fast when working
>with biters).
 
I wish you the best of luck !  Hugs to all fuzzies and their humans too!
 
--
Warm Regards, Victoria
Have a Moment? Take a Peek! Ferrets, Guinea Pigs, Cats and Rabbits, Oh
My!!!<http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Farm/2610/>
 
"Compassion...can only attain its full breadth and depth if it embraces
all living creatures and does not limit itself to mankind." Dr. Albert
Schweitzer
[Posted in FML issue 2725]