I just wanted to add my take on this.
 
This is what we found with Ginger, the rescue that we took in last fall.
Before we took her in, she had spent who knows how long alone in her cage
on top of the refridgerator.  She was fed crappy food, and ignored.  She
had no sparkle left in her eyes--she was just waiting to die.
 
We convinced her to eat the good stuff (TF, 8 in 1 Ultimate, and Innova) by
giving it to her as mush, until she recognized the kibble by the smell.  We
fed her several times a day by hand with a spoon.  What she needed most was
the attention.  And more attention.  And more attention.  I firmly believe
that for many surrendered ferrets, the thing they need most is the
reassurance that they will get love from now on.
 
I have more good news on Ginger--after six months on good food, she is now
finally getting hair on her butt.  She was so bald that we thought she
might be adrenal, but she is getting a lovely crop of cinnamon fur.  Who
knows, maybe she might even get hair on her tail this winter!
 
Melodyt and the elven eleven
Ferret math--the only place in the universe where 7-1=11!
[Posted in FML issue 3069]