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Post by weloveourweasels on Sept 11, 2008 0:38:52 GMT -5
blowing the coat? Rolo turns 1 in 5 days and she is blowing her coat for the first time. I can see the new guard hairs coming in under her undercoat. I was doing my routine brushing of everyone. Loki isn't blowing her coat yet. I don't know if she will either because she is really fluffy. Mr. Bean is still a baby so he won't yet. Rolo has had TONS of her undercoat come out with her guard hairs. I mean piles. (only when i brush) I have one of those rubber cat brushes that gets the hair out really good. I figured it would be best to brush it then let it come out and he maybe ingest some while grooming. My boyfriend is worried because it is a lot of hair. She isn't bald anywhere though. On her back where i have brushed her thoroughly she has in the middle no undercoat and the guard hairs are coming up. The boyfriend said I mutilated her  I have heard of people who pluck their ferrets around this time so it must be natural that is is coming back right? When will her undercoat come back? |
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Post by Heather on Sept 11, 2008 2:16:39 GMT -5
Sounds like it could be a couple of things (none of which are particularly serious  ). The infamous baby shed, seasonal shed and possibly a diet switch. Now, someone who has baby ferrets on a regular basis may be able to better answer that one, but the first seasonal shed can net you huge amounts of hair. When did you change to raw? It's sounds weird but if the switch coincides with a seasonal shed you can also get large amount of hair loss. Do you see pink skin or are you just looking at a whole amount of less coat? I've got two seniors who are shedding big time, and I switched them around June. Are you seeing a change in activity levels? Eating habits? I wouldn't worry unless your seeing other problems as well. You're doing right by brushing her. Many of us wouldn't notice except when we go to change their bedding and the amount of fur that's left on our shirts when we snuggle our little ones. Brushing is an excellent idea as it stimulates new hair growth and gets rid of old hair thus preventing hair balls and possible blockages. Clear as mud Just a few ideas. ciao |
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Post by weloveourweasels on Sept 11, 2008 2:42:44 GMT -5
Well I have not yet switched them to raw. I still need to get a job to support it. They have had no diet change as of now. I think honestly it is probably the baby shed AND seasonal shedding at the same time. It is hard to explain how it looks so I am taking a picture right now. She looks hysterical. I told my boyfriend its better I'm brushing her than letting her possible ingest it or let the others groom her and have them ingest it. The main thing I am confused about is the new hair growing in all i see is guard hair I am wondering when her undercoat will come out. It was regular looking till I brushed her and the masses of undercoat came out. If you look under all her hair you can see the new hair growing in. It is all the same length as the spot on her back. So should i try to pluck the rest of the undercoat or just keep brushing it?   |
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Post by mangekyousharingan on Sept 11, 2008 3:11:05 GMT -5
We had a similar look from our ferrets when we plucked them. The hair always came back. I agree with Heather in that I do not believe it is something to worry about. This seems like seasonal shedding, though the age could play a factor since my ferret had a similar look when shedding at that age. He looks goofy now but I'm sure it will grow back. The guard hair grows first, with the new undercoat growing under it.
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Post by Heather on Sept 11, 2008 9:53:44 GMT -5
Oh, my I'm glad someone piped in about plucking....I would have suggested perhaps testing for mites...I've never had them strip out like that I don't brush my guys a lot either If you're getting that much fur out of her and it is indeed seasonal you're doing a great thing for her to prevent blockages. I've seen my guys strip out, but it's an all over thing, but you're brushing it out so artificially stripping. It certainly can't be a bad thing to get that much hair out. How's this, if the undercoat doesn't appear to be coming in, in the next little while, I would go in for skin tests but that coat looks reasonably healthy from the pics. Let's just say that you will notice a big difference when you finally switch to raw...this won't happen to this degree I can certainly see why your boy friend was a little alarmed ciao |
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Post by tss on Sept 11, 2008 10:11:07 GMT -5
Save the fur and you can mix it with wool, spin it and knit something out of it :-)
Thats what I'm going with all of my pups and fuzzies fur.
I've never seen a ferret shed like that.
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Post by Heather on Sept 11, 2008 10:43:20 GMT -5
Are you by any chance using a furminator brush or a reasonable fact simile??
ciao
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Post by tss on Sept 11, 2008 10:48:43 GMT -5
A "rubber cat brush" sounds like a rubber curry or zoom groom. The dog versions are supposed to work awesome for dogs, especially ones who are sensitive to normal combs and rakes.
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Post by Heather on Sept 11, 2008 14:51:48 GMT -5
This one is certainly working well  I was just wondering if it was stripping too much coat?? That maybe it was breaking it off as well as stripping out. Anyone?? ciao |
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Post by weloveourweasels on Sept 11, 2008 17:50:39 GMT -5
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Post by mustelidmusk on Sept 11, 2008 18:04:17 GMT -5
I never hade my ferrets shed in big spots like that til I started them on raw. In fact, the first years I had them (and they were eating raw), two of them shed in a strange pattern. Tonto was really hilarious looking because he shed everything out except for his head/shoulders/neck....he looked like a little lion because he's so furry . He actually had a long mane while the rest of his fur was really short. I hate shedding - it always makes me paranoid!!!
-jennifer
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Post by sherrylynne on Sept 11, 2008 19:01:14 GMT -5
Thank you so much for posting those pictures. At least now I'm prepared  . Since mine haven't had a seasonal shed yet, and had I seen something like that unprepared, I'd probably have blown a gasket and rushed them to the emergency vet ! |
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Post by tss on Sept 11, 2008 21:17:44 GMT -5
Even if you brushed too hard with a curry it doesn't cut the fur like some other things (like a furminator) can. I think that's just the pattern she is shedding in and the way you brushed her has nothing to do with it.
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Post by weloveourweasels on Sept 11, 2008 22:32:33 GMT -5
OK I am at peace now. When I found out Tonto shed like this made me feel OK. I know kibble isn't good at all but at least they are on a very high quality one. The girls fur is so soft and fluffy. Rolo's undercoat is like butter. So soft and smooth. Her guard hairs (what are left) are 2, 2 1/2 inches long. I don't think Loki will be shedding this season. (Or she did it already) Her guard hairs are 2 inches long and her undercoat isn't anywhere near as thick as Rolo's remaining is. Loki is smaller than Rolo though. She is also a year and a couple months older. They are both beautiful girls. Mr. Bean still has nothing but baby fuzz. I can't remember when Rolo started getting her lovely coat. I hope Mr. Bean has a luxurious coat.
Anyone know how long before Rolo will be back to normal? Estimated?
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