Bill, don't worry -- this IS on topic, though it may not seem to be at
first.  This week Steve and I went to a small, private, area zoo which
the new owners are trying to improve as well as they can bit by bit
since they aren't rich.  At the door was a young man holding a baby
skunk.  Since we properly spoke skunk with it we were allowed to cuddle.
Then we met several of the domestic critters, talked correctly with an
otter (I know, single means lonely; another is due but they want to
improve the pool first.), etc.  Next thing, we passed by a gent building
one of the new areas, and walking on a beam was a binturong!  We got
talking critters and Steve and I got to hug the binturong, too.  Maybe a
half hour later, having been touching a number of healthy, stinking
animals we went home.  Well, the ferrets thought all the smells were
just great!  In fact, our clothing finally had to be shed and turned
over to laughing ferrets happily rolling in it and heh-heh-hehing
non-stop.  (I think I'll volunteer; my scars need companions -- a joke,
okay, though I do have some from fifteen to twenty years ago.)
 
I was just retrieving stuff from ferret hidding places and found that
along with sock-mice and other toys, the characters had 9 of our socks,
some potholders and a large bath towel under our platform bed.  Now, if
I could only find where they've put my sporran this time...
 
BITING: Well, the replies are in, and out of over 1200 sites there were
only 2 folks needing help with ferrets which canine bite.  In both cases
the situations sound like they might involve aspects of jealousy
(insecurity, protect- iveness, etc.) When the bitee wants to be accepted
then it might make most sense to use neutral territory and to make the
ferret the center of attention for both parties, the adored one and the
interloper.  Also, pets really DO need to interact with more than one or
two humans (even if just to keep them well behaved on vet visits and if
they get lost) so get in touch with locals who are used to ferrets or to
critters in general.  Key training behaviors: reassurance, consistency,
gentleness, time out in cage when bad instead of physical punishment which
just increases the insecurity and stubborness, loads of extra attention and
praise for good behaviors.  It also helps to use consistent key words.
Most ferrets learn words very well.  Established animal trainers can also
help as long as the trainer knows that ferrets are very intelligent and
that punishment can increase their stubborness (i.e.  They respond very
differently from dogs, and unfortunately there are still some people who
call themselves trainers who base dog training on punishment.) (Even with
chimps which require a strongly established dominance order to not be
nervous -- the top ones have to be protectors so there's a price -- I
greatly prefered using my brain and scaring them into obeying instead of
hurting).  Be patient.  I know it's hard, but once they do respond,
'problem' animals often become the most wonderfully huggy of all; just give
them the center of your stage for a while.  I recall a study once showed
parents using one praise for every 10 criticisms given to teens; I'm not
sure how well that works for kids, but I know it does NOT work for ferrets.
Humanity, train thyself!  (No, I'm not flaming; I was just oft criticized
and know that I had to retrain myself.)
 
The only times we had to do THERAPY with ferrets were when illness,
medication, and age caused problems, but we found then that range of
motion exercises done in warm water, and massage improved comfort,
though they did not restore any abilities.  Is there an impinged nerve?
Could you look at muscular diagrams and speak with your vet, and say
which muscles are affected?  Watching our's I'd say foreward motion
requires extensors of the paw, flexors of the elbow, deltoids, and maybe
traps.  If you know where the problem lies and if it is safe to treat --
as in not further endangering a damaged nerve or other structure -- then
you are more likely to come up with a viable attack.
 
Sven, you will want to give Bruce Williams WONDERFUL MEDICAL FAQs to
your vet.
 
Fran, whoa!!!  I know that it's just upset talking, but please, use a
thinner brush, okay?  There are some truly great ferret VETS IN N.J.
Our's is Hanan Caine of Basking Ridge Animal Hospital.  Chris Newman
of Harlingen has worked closely with AMC on some cases.  Liz Hillyer
lives in Oldwick and was with a Rutherford practise, but she may have
returned to the AMC.  Pam Grant can tell you of others.  We adore
Hanan; he is able to work with even retarded, handicapped, or abused
ferrets, and can do the most delicate of surgeries.  He also stays up
to date and has never had any ego problem which could interfer with
asking for more information.
 
RABIES incubations: With humans there has been an established case
where an asian strain did not show overt signs for something like 6
years.  Go through back issues of Sci-Am Medicine journal for piece on
rabies in humans within about a year.  Ferrets are hard to give rabies
to -- that's complicated many studies -- but when it was given in
research conditions in some European studies done in France and
Germany (CDC has English language translations -- thanks, Katie!) the
incubation was short, the behavior was not aggressive, and the sub-max
glands were mostly clean.  Now, we have to see how the U.S.  studies
work out.  We send donations for these studies to Morris Animal
Foundation 45 Inverness Drive East, Englewood, CO 80112-5480.
 
Pam, We laughed and laughed reading 'How did you get there?' right
after retrieving Warp from playing flying trapeze on the chandelier.
So far, our door openers and barrier defeaters have been females.
They are smart rapscallions.
 
Nancy, DO watch out for litter dust in your computers!  Also, see if
any of your ferrets imitate you and try to put discs in.  'Chopper
(the organic helicopter) so badly wanted to figure how that worked.
Finally (as in after weeks of trying -- she is obstinant) she gave up
and has punished discs ever sinse.
 
Keep (Kingdom) picking (phylum) cucumbers
(class) or (order) Father (family) gets (genus)
sore (species).
 
        Hugs to all your loves, Sukie
[Posted in FML issue 1256]