Q: Does your daughter have a boyfriend?
 
A: Not currently, but then I have a shotgun.
 
Q: How do you brush your ferret's teeth?
 
A: With someone else's fingers.
 
Actually, I use an Oral B for babies (short handle) and grind off the outer
row on each side.  I then cut 1/3rd off the end of the brush, then smooth
out the grinding defects, and polish the plastic.  The brush now only has 2
or 3 rows, depending on the exact toothbrush used.  What I wind up with is a
tiny toothbrush that easily fits in the ferret's mouth.
 
I use a toothpaste that lacks floride because it is next to impossible to
get the ferrets to spit, and floride is not all that good to eat.  I put the
toothpaste on the brush, then dip the brush into a bowl of ferretone to
flavor it, and start brushing.  At first, the ferrets will fight the
procedure, but with time and stubborness (yours, not theirs) they will let
you brush their little toofies.  Well, most of them.  I suggest you start as
young as possible.
 
There is also a finger toothbrush available; it is worn like a finger cot.
I have not tried it because my pinkies are so large, but it might be a good
alternative.  I have also seen doggie/kitty toothbrushes, but they are about
the same size as the baby oral B, and more expensive.
 
As for how I do it, I just place the ferret on my lap (with their back
against my belly) and give a drop or two of ferretone.  I then tightly
scruff the neck, and when the mouth opens, I brush a single quadrant (That
is, the right half of the lower jaw, etc.).  After a few good brushes, I
relax the grip and let them lick and swallow.  If they let me brush without
struggling, I tell them what a good ferret they were, and reward them with
ferretone.  I repeat the procedure until all four quadrants are brushed.  At
the end of the brushing, I pet them for awhile, then give them a special
treat; popular treats include jerky (beef and fish), turkey paste, bone
marrow paste, and dried shrimp.  Each ferret has their favorite.
 
In short, I try to make the experience as pleasant as possible so they look
forward to it.  BTW, the ferrets *WILL* chew on the brush, so it has a
limited life.  I usually make several at once.
 
Q: What is the correct dosage for raisins?  I've heard it was one a day, but
   I give my ferrets as many as they want, and they don't get the runs.
 
A: But are they getting the hits or walks?
 
Biological systems are tremendously adaptive, and it sounds as if your
ferrets have adapted to their heavy raisin diet.  I'm sure if you ate a box
of prunes each day, your system would ultimately get used to it as well.
 
The real question is, is it healthy?  I don't think so, for several reasons.
First, bulk generally increases the speed of the food through the gut.  This
decreases the time nutrients from the food can be absorbed.  So your ferret
has to eat more to get the same amount of nutrients.  Second, that is a lot
of sugar, which increases the ferret's blood sugar, decreasing their
appetite and effectively reducing their intake, which decreases the amount
of essential nutrients ingested.  Third, the constant increased sugar levels
have been known to cause obesity, pancreatic problems, and behavioral
problems.  Fourth, ferrets tend to eat until full, and if they fill up on
raisins, they don't eat those foods needed to remain healthy; raisins are
good for sugar and bulk, but ferrets need proteins which raisins provide
very little.  Last, many commercial raisins have been dusted with sulpher to
reduce mold growth, and high raisin intake means high sulpher intake, and
I'm not sure what the long term effects would be.  This is a very short list
which could be extended to dozens of reasons.
 
I suggest training your ferrets to accept a variety of treats, such as dried
fish, beef jerky, ferretone, sardines, night crawlers, meat paste, dried
shrimp, boiled egg, etc.  I give mine something I call "dust bonies," which
all 18 love, and Bear will *dance* for (I'm not kidding; he dances all
around my feet when he smells them).
 
If my ferrets won't accept my treat, I dip it in ferretone or some other
liquid treat they *do* like.  It doesn't take long to get them to accept it.
Most of them anyway; ferrets are like people, and some just don't like what
you are offering.  Try something else.
 
Bobs Dust Bonies:
 
Mix equal portions of bone meal, powdered bullion (beef is the local
favorite, but pork and chicken also do well), and brewer's yeast with egg
white to make a thick paste.  Roll the paste into small balls, about the
size of a pea.  Allow to dry overnight, dip into ferretone, and then place
in a bag containing a small amount of powdered sugar and shake.
 
The balls could be crushed to make minature cookies. I limit them to 5 or
6 because they are slightly salty from the bullion. I have subsituted
powdered beef jerky, but it is a lot of work.
 
Mo' Bob and the 18 Black-hearted and Evil Ferrets (Missing Gus)
[Posted in FML issue 1751]