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Post by kelseyjosine on Oct 23, 2008 9:40:36 GMT -5
So I was convinced the ferrets had ear mites, like no doubt about it. They had the ear mite crap in their ears and are really itchy. Take them to the vet...no ear mites. Mainly it's just Punk and Shiza who are itchy, and they're sort of itchy mainly on their back ends but all over the place sometimes too. So the vet thinks they have food allergies, and they're being fed the innova evo red meat small bites. She thinks it's that because it's an overall itchiness. But I disagree because they have awesome poops and when they sleep, they curl their whole body inside a blanket, which could account for all over itchiness if they're allergic to the detergent. Anyone have an suggestions?
Also quick cute story haha. So Shiza is my little 7 month old girl, and she is sometimes just mean. She'll climb on my bed and go after my toes and I will be screaming in pain. She doesn't do it when I'm standing, just when I'm in bed which is weird lol. Lets just say she's not much of a cuddler. Anyway I woke up a couple hours ago and it looked like the ferrets had had a party in my apartment. Not sure why but they kinda went a little crazy and knocked things over. Anyway I'm like whatever I'll clean up when I get up in 2 hours. So I don't have my contacts in so I can't see crap and I feel someone crawling up on the bed. I feel Shiza crawl up to my face and I'm like....wtf is on ur head? She had starting chewing a toilet paper roll because they got into my bathroom and it slipped over her head and got stuck. I should've taken a picture lmao. So I was like half asleep and grab the toilet paper roll and Shiza comes out. Then I didn't think anything of it until I woke up this morning and find Shiza sleeping in between my legs. First I thought she was dead of course because she never sleeps with me and I could've squished her haha. Then I realize....I saved her life! lol....that's the only reason I can think of that she would be nice and sleep with her...how cute! K that's my story haha.
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Post by pear2apple on Oct 23, 2008 10:30:34 GMT -5
That is a cute story! I love it when they cuddle, and its so rare for me too!
As for allergies, I would think it'd be unlikely for it to be the Red Meat bites, I would change detergents. Perhaps you are using some softener or spray on their bedding? I would start cutting out any chemicals like that before the food, usually ferrets can be allergic to chicken, and none of that is in that food!
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Post by kelseyjosine on Oct 23, 2008 10:50:15 GMT -5
That's what I thought too. When Willy was eating chicken he had horrible nasty poops because he was allergic so I don't think it's their food. My vet suggested to just wash their bedding in hot water instead of using any detergent so I think I'll try that. I don't use any softener or spray on their bedding though so it's gotta be the detergent. Usually I wash their stuff and let it air dry because the dryer at my apartment sucks so I usually just air dry everything.
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Post by pear2apple on Oct 23, 2008 12:19:46 GMT -5
You could also wash their bedding with vinegar and water. Not sure about the ratios, but a few people do that, and then add a drop of vanilla extract during the rinse cycle.
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Post by weloveourweasels on Oct 23, 2008 23:33:46 GMT -5
My babies were definitely allergic to chemical laundry detergent and softener. Itched like mad. I itched as well. I switched to Eco's laundry detergent which is organic and all natural and has built in soy fabric softener. I use the Magnolia and Lilly scent and it smells so good. It may seem a little expensive but when u think about the fact that the fabric softener is BUILT IN. You save money. One 50 oz bottle cost $ 6.79 and last for about a month or 2 depending on how much laundry you do. You can use the store locater on the site to find out where to buy it or u can get it on-line. I used to use seventh generation but i found out it has sodium laureth sulfates in it. www.ecos.com/pages/ecosliquid.html |
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Post by yaya on Oct 24, 2008 0:01:39 GMT -5
I use vinegar and hot water to wash my kids bedding.. i do a half cup of vinegar. and a not even a teaspoon of detergent
then during the rinse cycle i put a teaspoon of vanilla. its worked well for my kids...
they use to itch like crazy when i used only the detergent.
(it doesn't come out smelling like vinegar either)
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Post by kelseyjosine on Oct 24, 2008 10:18:55 GMT -5
Awesome thanks so much! I'll have to pick up so vinegar today when I'm shopping and try that next time.
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Post by fortheloveofferret on Oct 24, 2008 14:39:05 GMT -5
I use the vinegar to wash their bedding as well. I use warm water and about a cup of white vinegar. If it's a bigger load, I might use a little bit more than a cup. That's all I use - no detergents, fabric softeners, or dryer sheets - and the bedding comes out smelling fabulous (they just smell pure, like clean water basically). The vinegar neutralizes the ferret odor and gets rid of it, rather than just mask it, which is what most detergents do. The best part - it's SO CHEAP!! I buy the big 64oz bottle for like $2 at Walmart and it lasts me two months easily (when using it only for laundry). LOL, that is a cute story. My ferrets love playing with paper towel tubes - Zoey would always stick her head in them, but she was small enough to get out of them on her own. Chloe also likes sticking her head in them, but she's a little bit pudgier than Zoey and usually needs a hand getting her head out.  I think that's sweet how Shiza curled up to sleep with you after you saved her life. She knew if it weren't for you, her little head would still be stuck. |
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Post by mustelidmusk on Oct 24, 2008 22:01:06 GMT -5
If detergent issues aren't the problem, then litter can be an irritant depending on what you're using. (especially pine!)
The mot significant food allergies include grains and chicken. Soy has also caused issues for some ferrets.
-jennifer
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Post by kelseyjosine on Oct 25, 2008 18:39:34 GMT -5
Well I don't use litter I use newspaper so doubt that's the problem. They eat the innova evo red meat small bites so no chicken or grains in that lol. Shiza eats some of those stella and chewy's freeze dried chicken steaks but Punk doesn't and they're both itchy. But I just washed their bedding in hot water on Thursday and I've already noticed they're scratching less so hopefully that was the problem.
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Post by mustelidmusk on Oct 25, 2008 20:56:43 GMT -5
That's good if you see improvement after making the detergent switch. My brats seem to get itchy when they shed too. so I try to bathe them when they're shedding - it seems to help remove the old shedding fur. It helps with the itchiness too. I just use ferret shampoo an I dilute it with some water . I ue it full stregth on the tails. The brats seem to like getting the baths around shedding season. It also keeps fur out of their tummies. I try to keep the fur out of the drain, but a plugged up drain is much better than a plugged up ferret  -jennifer |
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Post by cristina on Oct 31, 2008 13:13:27 GMT -5
I had the exact same problem with the itchyness, and thats when I went totally natural from leaving solutions to carpet cleaner to soap and detergent. After I switched to ALL natural products the problem was gone!
I use healthy habitat for cleaning "their" areas, and a seventh generation solution for my countertops and such. I use natures miracle animal laundry detergent and I love it! Now everything is pretty much holistic what I do...
Also I know exactly what your talking about with the feet and toe biting in the night, my 3 babies are free roaming and I have them in my huge bedroom (that I have totally ferret proofed), and everynight someone (usually Penny) goes after my toes like a piece of raw meat, and it hurts! But I find it so funny that they dont stop when I take them off my bed, I have learned to love it in a weird way!!!
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Post by luci on Nov 9, 2008 22:45:36 GMT -5
You know... I bought that Nature's Miracle laundry detergent and I think it smells way too strongly of perfume. I was really surprised because I assumed it would be scent free since it's meant to be used on pet bedding and clothing. Now I can't use it because the smell is just overpowering. If I add baking soda to the wash load it will eliminate some of the scent, but I really think it's much too strong smelling.
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Post by cristina on Nov 10, 2008 15:28:40 GMT -5
I actually always use baking soda in the wash with it so thats probably why I dont notice the smell too much. I also use organic, sent free powdered detergent (I think its from Trader Joes), but it doesnt seem to take out the "musky" smell, which is why I sometimes use natures miracle detergent (especially during shedding and hormonal seasons lol, my little girls gets pretty musky!).
Sometimes I even use castile soap flakes, which is about as natural as you can get imo. It pretty much depends on the season for me, I just kinda went all natural with everything, even for me! And I have noticed that my ferrets are totally allergy free because of this change.
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Post by weloveourweasels on Nov 10, 2008 23:31:06 GMT -5
The detergent I posted up there completely gets rid of the musky smell and when the bedding comes out the dryer you can barely smell anything at all (detergent wise) It just smells fresh is the best way you can describe it I use that brand on myself and the ferrets bedding. I do not use anything else.
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