>From:    Barbara Carlson <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Lost ferret -- good news!!!
 
>I'm a little worried by one behavior, though.  He seemed to gag when he
>drank the water ... I'm going to watch him tomorrow and see if he's still
>doing it.  Has anyone ever heard of that?  He was able to chew and swallow
>dry food without gagging ...
 
I have had my kits out romping and playing and when they all go back and
drink like they have never had a drink in thier life (even tho water is out
for them when they play) I sometimes will see one or two do this.  They
back up and kind of gag.  I always watch them when they do this.  Seems
like they have taken a big drink and have "gotten it down the wrong tube".
Ya know like when people cough or choke when drinking - I think it is the
same thing.  I would only worry if he does it everytime he drinks.
 
>From:    Mia and Patrick Emery <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Wheat germ oil for ferrets
>I make a mixture with wheat germ oil, cod liver oil, and extra virgin
>olive oil, I add brewers yeast for vitamins and powdered garlic to keep the
>fleas away.
 
What are the measurements?  What do you store it in?  Is this cheaper than
ferretone?  What other things that are in ferretone that they "need"?
 
>From:    Justin & Deana Beek <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: ANGORA FERRET - OPINION
>Has anyone ever noticed that the stories about the "vicious" or "bad
>temporment" angora ferrets are usually shared by people that do not own
>them???????  Ever find it funny how you never seem to see OWNERS of angor
>as saying such things?????
 
Actually, as I posted, I have heard an owner of an Angora tell me
personally how horrid hers was.  This comes from a woman that has gotten
many ferrets from Doug McKay (he handles his kits with gloves) so she is
farmiliar with unsocialized ferrets.  This woman seemed to think this
particular kit was very hard headed and not learning what she was trying to
teach it.  That of course doesn't mean that EVERY Angora ferret is like
that.  That would be racisim wouldn't it?  =) I think that EVERY ferret's
personality is molded by the way that it is handled.  I also think that, as
many of you imported ferret owners know, that ferrets from other countries
take a little more time.  The American ferrets seem to be mellow and easy
to train.  I think that may be part of the problem, as well.
 
Please don't get me wrong - I haven't owned one & do not have experience
with them - but I have only spoken of things owners of an Angora & dealers
(a pet store) have told me - all first hand.
 
I saw a breeder selling some kits at a show once and thought they looked
and acted just like any other ferret.  Now I am thinking more and more
about them.  Seems to me the interest in them has greatly improved - I get
e-mails about them all the time!
 
>"Ferret owners" are so appalled at the "horrible rumors" of ferrets (how
>they are agressive and attack babies, etc.) but "ferret owners" are
>commenting on the "agressiveness" of the angora ferret.  Just doesn't make
>sense to me because in my opinion A FERRET IS A FERRET...
 
This is very true - but remember that the Angora is an imported ferret -
and it seems that the imports start out different than the American ferrets.
Right now, I believe most people that have imports do know more than the
average bear about ferrets.  But seeing as a pet store sold them in my area,
the average bear is buying these little kits that are "different" than the
average American ferret.  They are having problems with them being agressive
- probably typical kit stuff (but nipping harder), so they are blaming that
on the "line" of the Angoras.
 
Just trying to help understand why these guys are labled.
 
Amy Flemming
Flemming Farms
http://www.geocities.com/heartland/ranch/9521
[Posted in FML issue 2470]