Hello everyone,
I am a new subscriber to the FML.  I have been a closet reader on and off
for the past six months or so.  I am a second year vet student at Michigan
State, and I have worked with ferrets for years, including having an active
role in their legalization in Michigan last winter (very cool).  I have two
fuzzies, Tayla, about a year and four months, and Kyrie, 19 weeks.
 
I'm having a bit of a problem breaking Kyrie of biting.  It is not a playful
nibble.  She has become known to be jaws by my roommates.  It is getting to
the point where even I am afraid for my hands and feet.  I have tried firm
flicking and "NO".  Didn't work.  I have tried to sweet talk her and give
her extra treats when she will let me hold her and cuddle.  She still comes
charging, open mouth, ready for blood when I put her down.  I was advised by
a friend, (vet student) to try a squirt gun with vinegar and water.  It
stings their eyes, of course, no damage is done.  I will use the whole darn
gun on her as she is totally attacking myself or somebody else, and she just
gets very angry and bites harder!  I am gone all day in school, so perhaps
she would be broken of it by now if I spent more time with her.  But I play
and work with them every evening and let them run the house for a few hours.
I will let them out more when Kyrie isn't a health hazard.  To those of you
non-Michigan people, if a ferret bites a person and causes the person to
have to go in to the doctor's, the ferret is immediately destroyed and
checked for rabies.  Of course, preventing this from happening has been my
primary concern.  I don't like them in the cage as much as they are, but
until I feel she is safer, I don't want to risk her being destroyed (ps..I
have a kitten cage for the ferrets..its three stories, with PCV piping
everywhere, a tent, hammock, swing, toys etc.  They have a ferret mansion,
so not being neglected by being in cage from midnight until 5pm!) If it were
just me it would be one thing, but my two roommates are terrified/hate her,
adn this poses some problems.  I know I need to work with her more and the
only way she stops is throught affection and attention, but how can I do
this when every night I have to make my friends lock themselves in their
bedrooms so I can let my ferrets out?  Any ideas of breaking the biting that
I am not aware of.  This is not playful biting, its dangerous.  I probably
should have already had a stich in my finger.  HELP!!!!
 
Debbie Allen, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State
University..class of "98".
"Nothing lasts forever but the certainty of change"
[Posted in FML issue 1362]