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Post by stigmata on Dec 17, 2010 3:06:37 GMT -5
So I just got my first ferret yesterday and he's 1 year old. The people I took him from had him living in a dirty cage (and just sprinkled fresh bedding over the dirty soiled bedding like a moron) and had him in what looks like a small hamster cage. He does seem well fed but he's been quite sleepy since hes been here. After I read what was in the food they were giving him I got rid of it and I've been giving him light kibble (it's for my kitties but it's wheat/corn free and lots o chicken until I get a much better kibble until he switches to raw. It's a blue buffalo brand.) and some organic egg yolk until I can get him to eat raw. I tried a raw chicken leg tonight for the first time and he wasn't too interested yet so I'm going to try a soup next or a live mouse.
Anyways I just wanted to let everyone know the details before I ask my question which is when should I get worried with his over sleepiness? Since the crap he was eating had 'sprayed dried animal blood' as a 4th ingredient I'm curious if it's the lack of nutrition or just the move? Both? Hes not scared at all or nippy and I even bathed and trimmed his nails yesterday without a huge fuss (his nails were crazy long!). Since his stupid cage is small he's out constantly but mostly curls up by the tv and just snoozes. I've never owned a ferret so I'm not sure how active he should be or if some ferrets are just less playful than others? I'm just curious if this all sounds normal and when should I expect an improvement so I can tell if it's an actual problem or not?
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Post by sunnyberra on Dec 17, 2010 3:23:46 GMT -5
Changes, even for the better, are stressful, and with a major dietary change, I wouldn't be surprised that he's tired/not quite right. A bit of bowel upset is normal, too, so don't be surprised. Just keep a wary eye out for prolonged symptoms or worsening ones.
(and you can take some of the meat off the bone, dice it, and sprinkle it with a bit of crushed kibble [if he's eating the new stuff]). That's how I switch my guys, and Hiko [newest addition I rescued in November] was eating that combo the same day I got him and was fully switched in just a few days, and he's at least 2 years. Just an idea).
Oh! Have you thought about Rescue Remedy? It won't help with the sleeping problem (it rather encourages it), but it can help ease the stress of big changes.
... also, WHAT. I have never heard of sprayed animal blood in an ingredients list. That's crazy (except, in a way, it does make more sense for a carnivore's food than FRUITS do, ha, which was what was so proudly displayed in Hiko's food when I got him).
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Post by bluemoose on Dec 17, 2010 4:44:31 GMT -5
Ferrets, even healthy ones, sleep a lot. They're kind of like cats in that they sleep 15-20 hours a day. The more chance a ferret gets to be active, the more active it will be. Your fuzzie is probably used to sleeping all day because he wasn't taken out often (just guessing from the conditions he was kept in). That coupled with a poor diet and so many sudden changes, I'd say it's perfectly normal that he's sleeping a lot.
Give him some time to settle in and get the better food in his system. Once he's comfortable, try to get him to run around and explore as much as you can. His body just needs to build up some stamina and get used to being awake more.
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Post by shilohismygirl on Dec 17, 2010 8:26:53 GMT -5
As everyone else has said, he's probably stressed. That said, taking him to the vet for a preliminary checkup is never a bad idea when getting a new ferret. When in doubt, right?
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Post by mustelidmusk on Dec 17, 2010 9:20:17 GMT -5
Any animal you bring home should be taken to the vet for an initial check-up. . While sleeping is something ferrets do very well, all ferrets should be alert and curious. As a 1 -year-old, your ferret should be bouncing around and romping when he's out of the cage for play time if you've had him for a week or two.
It's also not terribly uncommon forferrets to be deaf if they have white blazes on the tops of their heads, white heads with colored bodies, or are white with dark eyes (not red eyes). A deaf ferret will take longer to adjust to change.But deaf ferrets do adjust and make wonderful pets in spite of their difference.
Also keep in mind that your ferret may be older than his previous owners indicated. Some ferret owner will lie about their ferret's age and/or health status just to get rid of him/her more easily. It's easier to find a home for a young, healthy animal than an older one who may have a issue or two.
A trip to the vet can help assess health status and age. In addition, it's ALWAYS a good idea to have a good ferret vet lined up BEFORE you really NEED one for an emergency or an illness.
-jennifer
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Post by jacksmomma on Dec 17, 2010 9:46:13 GMT -5
And having been living in such a small cage (per your description) he's probably somewhat conditioned to sleeping excessively because he didn't have a whole lot else to do. With solo ferrets YOU have to become their play-thing. When i got Jack he didn't like toys and would prefer to go sleep somewhere unless i roughed him up and chased him around. Have you thought of buying some tubing? Jack's favorite game when he was an "only child" was darting in and out of tubes to hide while I chased him around. He also really loved racing down the stairs. I pretended that he was being naughty by going downstairs and of course the second he was out of his cage, he would race to the stairs, look back to see that i knew what he was doing and then book it down with me chasing behind. if you have special areas in your house that you preserve for designated playtime, those areas stay special and your baby will always associate those areas with playing - for Jack the first level of the house.
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Post by stigmata on Dec 17, 2010 20:17:47 GMT -5
He's going to the vet right after the holidays for his check up and he's acting much more interested in everything than yesterday. He keeps sitting by the bedroom door so today we let him run around and explore the house which it seems he enjoyed very much. My bf was panicing a little bit yesterday because I was reading the shelter shock post to him and his worriedness was making me worried (i mean like my bf didnt think he'd make it through the night kind of worried) but def not as worried as him. I think he's just freaked because we lost our baby snake recently and that was always the fear that she wouldnt make it (that's when I comforted him by saying that reptiles are a whole different ball game than weasles haha) and now that we read all of your posts we are not worried at all, especially after his adventure today. Thanks everyone that posted and made us a lot less worried. He's not liking the kibble anymore or the chicken and is just sticking to the egg...I think a yummy soup is in his near future! He does have a white blaze on his head, but I know he isn't deaf because he comes running when you shake the bag of kibble. I can't wait to see his happiness progess when he gets toys, a decent home, and a friend later! He'll be a whole new ferret! Oh and that food they gave us is called Bonanza! The first ingredient is corn and the 4th is "sprayed dried animal blood" which is crazy beacuse they dont even say what animal! And they could have lied about his age but I really dont care I didnt have a preference, his future friend will be coming from a shelter and Ill probably adopt an older one because they need it! The vet will let me know how old he is!
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Post by katt on Dec 17, 2010 20:33:26 GMT -5
Hate to break it to you, but most ( not all) reptiles are WAY easier than weasels! I have both and Koda makes me rip my hair out on a daily basis! It is soo worth it though! I hope your little guys starts perking up soon and check out our mentor program for help switching to a raw diet! Good luck and congrats on the new baby!
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Post by stigmata on Dec 18, 2010 6:37:15 GMT -5
Haha, It's sooo funny because so many people say that about snakes but I had one milk snake and she was fine for a few months and then winter hits then she stops eating and randomly dies one night when nothing changed in temps and everything in good order. Maintenance for reptiles I believe is way easier, I owned 5 sugar gliders in high school so I thought a snake would be a piece of cake...and then last weekend happened. I do have a friend who had 3 different species of snakes and they all died in the same exact manner mine did. We did get them from the same store so I have a feeling they are to blame. It does seem though that snakes are harder to figure out what's wrong because they are totally expressionless and go in to shock rather easy and with that recent experience we were getting scared because little Artemis was so sleepy he was hardly waking up when he was held so we just feared a similar outcome! For an update he is running around a lot more and enjoying my company more. We have a solo shower and he's very found of rolling in it when it's a little wet and knocking down the shampoo bottles, soo cute! My fears are also gone as he is eating, drinking, and going to the bathroom very well! I think he'll be very happy and healthy in a short time!
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Post by mustelidmusk on Dec 18, 2010 11:38:57 GMT -5
Glad to hear things are going well!!! Ferts are good at make their owners paranoid -jennifer
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Post by sherrylynne on Dec 18, 2010 20:23:42 GMT -5
And THAT'S one thing that never changes
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