>From:    Dan Kinney <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: fruit & foozles
>Although I've read in several places that letting ferrets have too much
>fresh fruit is a bad idea, I have a hard time denying the little weasels.
>As far as I can tell ... the reason for limiting fruit to a once-in-awhile
>treat is sugar, or sucrose or dextrose or something.
 
Sugar isn't the problem.  Vegetables and fruits are just not meat.  Ferrets
are carnivores "designed" to get nutrients from flesh not plants.  I've no
reason to suspect raisins are much better or worse than other fruits.  Your
amount 1/3 cup sounds too high but it won't kill them in a hurry.  Its hard
to change from thinking how good fruits and veggies are for people and about
limitting the fats and meats to the exact reverse for ferrets.  But since
people are omnivores the percentage of non-meats for ferrets is less than
the percentage of meats for people.
 
We don't use Marshall's as we don't like it as well as other alternatives.
We aren't actively boycotting Marshall but we don't want to support them
very much as long as they maintain a few of their "bad" practices.  If it
was the only good ferret food available though we'd rather provide for our
ferrets than hurt them through a political protest.
 
>From:    "Damian J. Larkin" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: poultry mush recipe needed
 
Simplest is merely baby food.  That without enhancers like onion powder are
better.  Things like nutristat can be added but that is for the worse cases.
 
>From:    "A. ANCHIETA" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Ferret Reference, 8in1, New Addition
 
Our biggest problem with 8in1 food is that they leave out some of the needed
fat to encourage sales of Ferretone to put it back in.
 
>From:    "Pedro N. Roura Rivera" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Shots?
 
Several of us give our own shots to our ferrets.
 
You might try asking vets over the phone while "anonymous" whether they'd
treat ferrets.  It would be far easier than learning all this.
 
Since ferrets are illegal in Peurto Rico you probably can't get it there.
At 8 weeks of age a ferret needs one distemper shot.  Use Galaxy-D.  You
might be able to get it from a feed store - where ever people with horses or
farmers get their supplies.  You might be able to mail order from Jeffers
but not sure about shipping to PR.  Its not really out of country but.
 
Pretreat the ferret orally (through the mouth) with childrens Benedryl -
about .5 cc half an hour before vaccination.
 
Distemper vaccine comes in two vials.  You use a syringe (3cc with a 20
guage needle should work) to transfer the liquid diluent into the vial with
the vaccine powder.  Warm the vial while mixing it by rolling between your
palms.  Then use the syringe to extract the vaccine.  Point the needle
straight up and tap the syringe to get the air bubbles to the top push the
plunger in to force the air out.  Set aside.
 
What we do is put some Linatone in a small saucer.  Let the ferret lick it.
Then while the ferret is distracted pull up a bit of skin behind the
shoulder blades.  Slide the needle into the skin but not into the flesh.
The needle should be moving freely inside the skin if its not in the tissue.
Push the plunger in to force the vaccine in.
 
Watch the ferret for at least half an hour after the shot.  Do this on a
cooler day.  The more stressful the shot is the more likely a reaction based
on anecdotal data.
 
The second shot should be 3 weeks or 21 days later.  After this every year
another shot is needed.  Your ferret already missed the real ages for the
shots but just start now with the first shot of the two.  Normally there are
three when a young kit but that isn't probably needed for a ferret almost a
year old.
 
Not sure how you could get Imrab-3 for rabies vaccinations.  It is less
medically important than distemper vaccinations but might help in a case of
accidental biting.
 
If this is not clear please email us directly.  I work with a woman from PR
and she still has family down there.  She can help me with any language
problems or specific questions about PR.
 
bill and diane killian
zen and the art of ferrets
http://www.zenferret.com/
mailto:[log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 1784]