This won't be grammatical because I am tired but nowhere near as tired as
the last few days; I'm catching up a little on my sleep finally.
 
1. It is not hard to teach most hearing ferrets the meaning of words,
esp. for things like body parts and places, and words for some actions
like "Where" which here means "Where is ----- (named individual); leads
us to her/him", a favorite game of Sherman's.  Body parts we teach teach
by tickling, grabbing, bumping, or kissing various places, and they can
learn them so well that one ferret we had who loved her own toy ferret
could show us "Belly", "Bum", "Head" and "Foot" on that one; another
who also had a toy ferret would have trouble dragging it sometimes if he
didn't grab an ear, so we'd say, "No, Spot, get ferret-mousie ear and
he'd change his grip."  The word has to be repeated a LOT and has to
have relevance for the ferret, but it's not in least hard to do form
most ferrets we've had.  We've had or have I guess three or four in 21
years who could cope with short sentences and conditionals, like when
we'd tell Meltdown several times over, "Meltdown get Warp, then Meltdown
get treat." Shed find sleeping Warp and bring her to us, then lick her
chops.  I don't know if this form of stimulation was already mentioned.
 
2. I know that Bob mentioned some things about scents in the recent
Ferret Mailing Lists.  Don't know if he mentioned it, but essential oils
put on protruding things and divided so that different scents are used on
different sides of a room and different scents in each room will not only
prevent accidents for blind ones and get them moving more quickly and
assertively again, but it will give them a map of where they are at any
time.
 
3. Okay, mostly I wanted to say something about stimulation for the
critically ill because we have Chiclet with her long term (5 and 1/2
weeks so far) infection.  She is trying very hard to live and still
eats well but is incredibly weak (though today is an improvement over
the last week plus).  Obviously standard toys just don't work.  So
here are some toy approaches and other forms of stimulation:
 
A. Stink Sacks: paper bags with safe herbs or safe oils/extracts in
them.  These are maybe the oldest form of stimulation used for sick
ones in terms of FML mentions, but it may be preceded or equaled in
age as a tip for sick ones compared to...
 
B. ...Music: they especially seem to enjoy plucked instruments (and
I wish that we had more harp and banjo but am glad that we've got so
much guitar music)
 
C. Walking around the house and nearby visiting places
 
D. Visits from other ferrets if no illness sharing risk exists and the
ferret wants these
 
E. There ARE some toys to be found at pet stores that make the standard
ones look large and heavy.  Depending on the ferret and toy these may be
beaten up to get out frustration or may be cuddled.
 
F. A Marshall Fleece ball with a bell in it can have thick strong sewn
to it and hung.  Chiclet is so happy with her's that she wore herself
out today at one point from knocking it with her nose repeatedly.
 
G. The plastic covers from (ahem) pads are tiny and light weight.  (The
gents who don't understand can ask a woman who will know.)  Play with
them MUST be supervised though.
 
H. Some sick ferrets like tissues to shred or nuzzle.
 
I. Heavy bedding (even a t-shirt) can be hard for the very ill to move
as sleeping covers.  Instead, use bandannas, cut up nightgowns or slips,
etc. instead to give the ferret more control of her environment.
 
H. It is possible to put the ferret in a plastic bag and play
hand-to-hand through it but never leave the ferret alone with it.
 
J. Crinkle sacks are another way to get in the chance to make some noise
 
K. Hugs are so very important
 
L. Use textures, too.  On their pads and noses they are aware or what is
satiny, what is silky, etc.
 
M. Years ago Tory Lynn sent carnations to Meltdown because Meltie loved
flower scents during her final illness; they've been a favorite flower
here ever since and flower scents can perk up a sick one at times.
 
N. Change tastes around to add interest.  We have a range of baby foods
here plus a/d for easy taste stimulation.
 
O. Some like things like bird calls, but that varies.
 
I am sure I am skipping a few tricks, but those should help someone.
 
Stimulation is essential for a critically ill individual who still could
go either way to give the best shot at survival, and essential for
quality of life for those who won't make it.  I'll copy this to both the
FHL and FML in case it helps some very sick ferrets at either location;
ofr the FHL it is a new conversation and for the FML it is an aside which
is slightly related to a set of posts by Bob but for a very specific need
set and one which is fresh in our memories right now.
 
When Chiclet improves more if she gets better she'll need rehab and
that also is a form of stimulation.  There are ferret skate board, ferret
wheelchairs, ferret pantyhose slings, etc.
[Posted in FML issue 4207]