Dear FML - Bill is traveling and still manages to get FML out. Amazing.  When
I travel, I usually cannot even keep track of my car keys and usually drive
the highways and by-ways with a map plastered to my face.
 
For Cyber Scorpion - what a deadly name, what else do you do?  Your comments
on ferrets fighting - i.e. dragging around and all sorts of squealing and
carrying on - sounds quite normal for new  ferrets in the house.  Ferrets
have a pecking order, and it sounds like they are trying to sort all this
out, before they get down to the serious business of being normal devils.
Try not to separate them when one is being dragged - this is normal.  Wait
and see what happens.  If it gets out of hand - like loud screaming and
feathers flying - Then separate for time out.  I bet they will soon settle
down and get to the serious business of playing together. But first - it is
normal for them to establish who is boss.  I notice with my hoard, that I
must give treats "in the pecking order".  Since I can't always remember who
is where in this hierarchy, I often have a ferret chasing after another one
who has gotten his/her treat - instead of waiting for the next treat.  Go
figure.
 
Gail - Your problem sounds a bit further along than normal "getting to know
you".  From your description, it sounds like Mandy is truly fearful of the
other ferrets.  This is not too surprising if she was an only ferret for five
years.  She has never learned the socialization skills ferrets normally fall
into together at younger ages.  I have dealt with a few fearful "incoming"
ferrets, where they just want to hide and pop out now and again somewhat like
a moray eel to snap and hiss at other ferrets.
 
I have a couple of suggestions.  Try integrating yourself into their play.
Since Mandy trusts you, she might not be so fearful if you initiate games
with all three.  Gather all three together and offer nutri-cal to them all at
once.  I call this "licky tongue time" where ferrets are getting treats at
the same time.  You can also do this with linetone or ferretone.  As you
offer these treats, pet and praise and baby talk all three.  Pick all of them
up and cuddle and love - for a minute or two.  - they will usually struggle
to get down.  Get a plastic bag and alternate putting each ferret in the bag,
rumple around and gently toss them out.  If this seems scary to Mandy, use a
towel or clothing item - wrap them up, tickle them, and roll them out on the
bed with a snap.  This usually sends ferrets into wild happy dances. Mandy
may continue to be fearful, even with these games, but continue them until
she gets used to it.  Usually, they will eventually get so excited, they
forget themselves and start some play.
 
Also, since you are now putting them in a cage together and Mandy hides - try
her in a cage with just one of the others, and alternate on nights.  I don't
think she will intimitate Mojo forever - he is still a baby and as he grows,
his natural dominance tendencies should surface.  However, I also have hobs
who are just gentle little babies with no noticible aggression tendencies.
 
I have a large core group that stays out 24 hours a day.  With the exception
of whole hobs.  One hob, not in season, stays out all the time.  Senior hob
in season has to stay up and part of the gang goes into the condo during his
time out.  I also have an "incoming" cage or two where new ferrets, kits, or
rescues stay while they are learning to get along with the "hoard".  (I'm not
sure what a large group of ferrets are called - so I call them a hoard).  I
also have a hospital cage set up and a breeding/birthing cage that stays
pretty much set up.  With the exception of illness/surgery/breeding/birthing
- all stay out.  This includes six whole jills, my wild Canadians, oldtimers,
neutered jills and hobs, plus several kits from early spring & late spring
breeding season. Two of whom have already integrated, and two who still too
young to be out unless I am around to supervise..  This group provides me
constant entertainment and trouble, as well as an on-going study of ferret
relationships.   Keep trying, and let me know how it goes.
 
John R. - Hope all goes well with adrenal surgery on Tuesday.  The vet will
propably give your fuzzie an injection of prednisone post-op, as well as some
pred to give if  you notice un-due weakness, wobbling, difficulty in gettting
around.  I always request my surgery patients to be given extra-hydration
after surgery - vets usually do this anyway, but I am a nag.  I also like to
bring them home as soon as they are stabalized by vet.  Bud will proably be
sleepy, but should show interest in drinking and eating.  He may need some
help in getting in and out of litter box at first.  You may also need to
support by extra feedings for a few days.  I usually give surgery patients a
couple of supplemental "duck soup" feedings after they have just eaten
regular food.  Also give nutri-cal and/or felovite II.  Your vet will give
you post-op instructions - but do watch the incision line, particularly for
redness.  Some splotches of red, bruising, swelling is normal.  However, I
had a ferret develop a cellulitis - soft tissue infection - earlier this
year.  Unless you are told otherwise, use a cotton ball saturated with
peroxide to clean incision line once a day.  Blot dry.  This will remove
accumulated debris and keep clean.  The vet will want to check Bud approx.
7-10 days post-op and remove sutures.  Incision should show full healing
before sutures are removed, and I have noted that this sometimes takes a
little longer with adrenal surgeries.  You can also use a little neosporin on
incision, especially if abdomen is dry.  It is o.k. for ferret to lick this,
as long as you just apply a little - seems to help with dryness, & itchy-ness
as incision heals.  I cannot tell you that it is necessary to do this, but I
usually stay up pretty much of the night following adrenal or other
laporatomy surgeries to keep the ferret stable and head off any problems.  If
you don't stay up, keep cage close and set alarm for a couple of times during
the first few nights to check.  Let us know how Bud does.    meg    Remember,
I am available 24 hours a day for emergency nursing care advice and can be
reached at 703-765-4353.  Meg
[Posted in FML issue 1291]