Like puppies and kittens, kits (baby ferrets) are very mouthy. They use their teeth to nip and explore. But since they’re so small and sharp, that can be a painful experience. Fortunately, with patience, most ferrets can be trained not to injure a person or another ferret. Scruffing in response to a bite is the…
Many people find themselves too busy to devote a lot of attention to their pet ferret. Yet, the ferret enjoys interaction. Apart from non-neutered males, they will generally seek the company of others and want to play and explore. To solve that problem, many will get another ferret. But ferrets, like most mammals, are territorial…
Like any aging mammal, ferrets get tumors, cancers and the like. When they reach around age four or later, the odds increase. The average ferret lifespan is between 6-8 years. One of the more common types is a form known as insulinomas. These are tumors from insulin producing cells in the pancreas. In addition to…
How it is even possible to be a veterinarian is something of a mystery. Being a physician that treats humans is challenging enough. They spend years learning anatomy and physiology, pharmacology and a dozen other major subjects. Yet medical doctors have only one species to study. Vets are expected to know a half-dozen or more.…
When thinking about ferrets and the law, few have to think about what trouble their ferret got into. Though there has been a lawsuit or two involving bites and yard or toy damage. But when considering the choice to invite one of these fascinating creatures into your home, there are still a few things worth…
Like dogs, cats and other mammals, ferrets can acquire dangerous viruses. Sometimes those are fatal. But that result can usually be avoided by a proper vaccination schedule, using the right vaccines. As in humans, dogs and so forth, vaccines work by stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies against a disease organism before it occurs.…
Ferrets have very high metabolisms. As a result, unlike dogs, they should have access to food at all times. Their digestive systems work quickly and they will typically process anything they’ve eaten within a few hours. For that, and other aspects, to function properly, they also need lots of water. Ferrets, though they sleep about…
Like cats and dogs, ferrets can be bitten by fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and other potentially harmful parasites. Ctenocephalides felis, the most common cat flea, is the primary culprit. But since ferrets love to explore burrows, if they’re let outside, they can readily come into contact with others. Just as with cats and dogs, flea problems…
Ferrets, like many of the cousins in the weasel family, have a natural musky scent. Over time that can build up to an unpleasant level. That happens too often in pet stores and the homes of careless owners who don’t house and clean the cage properly. But some odor can be present even in the…
Keeping your ferret properly caged and supplied with toys isn’t just for its (or your) amusement. Though that’s not a bad reason! The proper cage and accessories will help keep it safe, healthy and out of trouble. Ferrets sleep about 18 hours per day, but the other six hours they can be (and usually are)…