Ferret Chewing Blanket

[bibliophiliac]

My almost two year old ferret, Booth, has been chewing his blanket. I finally took it out today as he would not stop chewing them.

He chewed a large hole in one. So here is what I have to ask.

1) Why might he be chewing the blankets?

2) He was just at a vet two days ago, but I didn't mention the blanket chewing. Should he be checked for blockage?

[taratee]

we have blanket chewers here, im sure other people will chime in with reasons why im no help there but i can tell you to watch him for signs of blockages and give him some sort of lax, im not sure what other people will suggest (a ferretlax or pumpkin or something else) but im sure youll find some good information, watch his hydration and teeth grinding, there should be some threads somewhere about blockages that will help you see the signs

[shilohismygirl]

1. Some ferrets are just chewers. I have one ferret, Oz, who chewed his blankies as a kit, and grew out of it a little. He doesn't chew his blankies now, but will take any chance to get a rouge piece of fabric or article of clothing into a corner to chew. He's chewed shoes and laces, ribbons, underwear (both mine and my husbands), and he has tried many a time to get ahold of my head phones and hair ties. Some just chew. However, if he's chewing blankies, you may need to remove them for a few weeks and reintroduce them later. Or, just try a different fabric. I can't use fleece blankies anymore, because Oz thinks they're delicious. Try denim-it's harder to chew and it might make him quit it. Even sweatshirt material or flannel might stop him.

2. Check his poops. Are they skinny? Is he peeing consistently? Is he lethargic? Does he eat and drink as usual? Can you give him a healthy dose of ferret lax or pumpkin (or both?)? Many times, the fabric will pass, though there are those unlucky times that they do not. I've never had a blockage with Oz, but if you suspect one with Booth, you may want to have him checked, especially if he is acting in any way out of the ordinary.

Keep us updated!

[Heather]

I've had a couple...not sure of the reason (though they did have underlying health issues, I'm not sure that's the reason ) I tried different blankies, checked on the blankets regularly and those ferrets always got ferretlax (I don't normally give it but they got it) I found that some materials were less "tasty" but that was up to the individual ferret. I did find that fleece materials were the material of choice with most of the brats that did this. Some stopped once they were on raw (Yuri is my most recent), Calypso did once she got converted over too. Mayhem, just loved to lay there with the material between his paws, lay on his back and suck on his blanky His always started out with him rubbing his tummy with the blankies and then inevitably you would hear that smushing sound of wet blankies and there he would be. He would go for weeks and never touch a blanky then I would change the blankets out of his cage and there would be no middle I would then watch his stools, and give him lax and more pumpkin but for some reason it always seemed to pass with him
ciao

[bibliophiliac]

Thanks. Well, he hasn't acted differently at all. He's very playful, still eating like a pig, drinking water, definitely not dehydrated.

But there were multiple large holes in the blanket and I can't find the missing pieces anywhere! He chewed a hole in it about a month ago, and then he had stopped. Apparently this week he started doing it again(as I change their blankets out once a week).

The one worrying thing is that he sounds like he is hacking a lot the past few days. I'm picking up some ferret lax in a bit and hopefully that will help, but the large missing piece is worrying since nothing is in his stools.

[sherik]

When I first got Huck no blankets were allowed in the cage. I felt bad for him, but even more bad for his cage mates. All I had in his cage were a couple hammocks and even those I had to keep on eye on. He lived on pumpkin the first 3 months he lived here. He likes anything wool. He got out of the cage once and got a hold of a glove. There were no fingers left on it at all and he was puking. I did take him to the vet. But he passed it all on his own. Sounds gross, but I was digging through his poops making sure every piece he ate passed through. Just keep an eye on him, I'm sure he'll be good. Ferrets seem to be able to pass fabric in my experiences anyway. He probably chewed a little here and there and that is why you can't see it in his poops.

[katt]

Ahhh the chewing. I have found in my experience, that they usually do pass fabric relatively easily. That doesn't mean it won't block them or that they should keep eating it but it is Usually ok. Of course that also doesn't mean that it doesn't still freak me out when it happens.
For laxatives some pure petroleum jelly (Vaseline) works wonders. You can mix some ferretvite or ferretone into it and they will love it. Also oils work well, and are much healthier for them too. Fish oil, olive oil, or veggie oil can be used to help lubricate their systems, as well as being good for their skin and coats! Canned pumpkin or blended squash (pumpkin, acorn squash etc blended with some water) is a nice fier-lax and some flax seed can help things along a little as well, though it is not a laxative as much as just a fiber.

[bibliophiliac]

Thanks guys! We bought some ferret lax last night and gave it to the three ferrets in Booths cage because Bonkers had tiny poops. So for the next few days they all get a lovely smooth poop

They no longer have blankets, but we'll be looking into getting some carpet pieces for them, at least for the comfort factor. Overall, I think you're right that they pass it easily as none of them seem ill at all.

=3 Oh well, there's three of them in the cage so if they get cold I guess they'll just have to cuddle. lol

[sherrylynne]

For the interim, you could also put in a cardboard box for them to cuddle in. Just cut a hole big enough for them to get into. It will give them a dark place to sleep, and let them hide themselves away when they want, at least until you get this whole "fabric eating" thing solved!

[bibliophiliac]

I'll try that out =3. We have lots of cut boxes for them outside of their cage, I don't know why I never thought to put one in their cage.

[shilohismygirl]

Yeah, we got cardboard boxes, plastic bins, those plastic igloos, etc. Oz got to where we couldn't have hammocks for the longest while, as he'd chew the taut straps. He broke the hammock once while he was IN it. Silliness!

[bibliophiliac]

Hahaha. ...And as I type that, I see my shoe get dragged under the table. Indeed, ferrets are extremely silly!

[shilohismygirl]

Oh yeah-you also might want to try a cat bed or something. We got a cat bed for the upper level, and Oz never chewed it or tried, and it was a warm place to snuggle.

[katt]

Jan 18, 2011 10:31:37 GMT -5 shilohismygirl said:

Oh yeah-you also might want to try a cat bed or something. We got a cat bed for the upper level, and Oz never chewed it or tried, and it was a warm place to snuggle.

See Koda never chewed his blankets really, but he did chew a hole in the cat bed I had.

[novemberkris]

Paulie's never chewed blankets (thank goodness, he even has crochetted blankets, the spoiled one). But he has a horrible time passing his fur from his shed. I admit, I break out the pure petroleum jelly too on that one. He actually thinks it is delicious with no additives. Strange little fert. At any rate, it does ensure things pass through. Every ferret has different vices and issues, *sighs*, my Grampa jokes its preparing me for parenthood.