Dear fellow FMLer's
 
I need advice.  I 'm at my wits end.  I posted (most) this on the fhl but
only received one response that assured me that hormones shouldn't figure
into this equation.  Thanks, M I did get other responses as to adopting
her out to homes and the whys and wheres of why I want to change her
habits.
 
I am the foster mom of a 3 year old female ferret that had adrenal
surgery on April 4th, 2005.  Before surgery she was very aggressive with
other ferrets other than her one roommate.  She would attack like she
wanted to kill them.  She would poop during the fights.  She bit humans
at will and did draw blood once.
 
Now after surgery she is MUCH nicer with humans.  Rarely bites and never
bites too hard.  Maybe a tooth mark every now and then.  But, with other
ferrets she hasn't mellowed out to much.  She is less aggressive but
still attacks, now without pooping.
 
How long after surgery should her hormones level out?
 
I really need her to get along with others so I can find her and her
roommate a forever home.  I tried bitter apple to protect the innocent
but that didn't stop all the chasing and fighting.  I now have her on
separate play times which doesn't give her more than 4 hours a day and I
am now feeling guilty.
 
It was suggested to me that she is really scared and that is why she is
attacking.  Could that be true?  If so, how do I calm that fear?  After a
fight she is shaking and trembling quite abit.  I seem to be calming and
soothing her more than her chosen victim.  She is a DEW that might be
deaf.  I say she is deaf but the shelter mom says she isn't.  I have had
her with me since March.  She screams alot while fighting.
 
I know that the saying is "no blood, no harm, no foul." On my one ferret
she has bite marks with bruises along his back and inner thighs.  On
another 9 smaller puncture marks on his throat.  I have tried letting
them fight it out but after 48 hours I separated her upon discovery of
the wounds.  Can you help on the behavior?  Hormones?  Am I just trying
to get her to get along too soon before the hormones are back on track?
 
Her attitude is a deal breaker when it comes to finding her a home.
Those that want 2 ferrets and are willing to adopt 2 ferrets decide
against the pair when I tell them that if her roommate dies before her
that she won't accept another ferret.  Therefore, you will only have one
ferret until this little devil dies.  She definitely, with her current
condition, can't go into a home with other ferrets.  She even pulls legs
out from sleeping ferrets in their cages and once got ahold of a sleeping
ferrets nose and tried to pull him thru the bars.  She is an angel with
horns.
 
Please let me know what I can do to make her "politically correct" so she
can find a permanent forever home.  I think I am the 5th place she has
been in.
 
Thank you list, Mary JO
[Posted in FML issue 4930]