Hello, ferret friends.
Turns out Dandy's shivering was because she has an upper respiratory
infection. My open-on-Saturday vet--(PetSmart)--put her on Clavamox. She's
better, but not eating on her own yet. Acting like she wants to--putting
her nose in the Duck Soup, and mouthing the Iams kibbles some--but not
enthusiastic about filling her *own* belly yet. She still wants me to feed
her. And of course, Rascal caught her cold. They'll both see my regular
vet (she's very good--Dr. Denise Roche in Springfield, MO) tomorrow morning.
Someone mentioned nip training recently. Rascal was *bad* about nipping
when I first got him. He thought fingers and toes were just for *him* to
chew on. I wanted to let him sleep with me, but I couldn't, because he'd
wait till I was *just* asleep and then burrow under the blankets on a toe
search-and-destroy mission. I tried everything I'd heard about to teach him
to keep his teeth to himself: nose-thumping, scruffing, shaking, dragging,
yelling in his face, etc. etc. etc. Finally I came up with something on
my own. When he bit, he was usually in a state of excitement or agitation,
so I began to concentrate on calming him down and hoping that cessation of
biting would be a by-product. Whenever he bit, I would gently but firmly
hold his mouth shut, being careful not to cover his nose with my fingers,
and talk soothingly to him and stroke him. Over time it began to work. Now
I can tell him, "no bite" when he gets excited, and he stretches out on my
arm for a cuddle session. Love conquers all, I think. At least this worked
better with Rascal. The nose thumping and scruffing etc. just made him
worse. Maybe this approach will work for other biters. Now Rascal is as
gentle and sweet as you please. He still attacks my gym shoes, though.
He'd shred them if I'd let him. Wonder what Dandy's vice will be?!
Hope this isn't too long, BIG.
TTFN,
Didi ("Rascal, *no shoe*!")
& Rascal ("Let's cuddle, Mom.")
& Dandy (*yawn*)
[Posted in FML issue 1561]
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