Q: ears,

Answered by buddeejan on 5/1/2007, 9:03 pm

Q: ears,

> > what is the best way to keep ears clean, and is it natural
> > for them to have dark wax in the ears,
>
> I use mineral oil as an ear cleaner - it works well, helps
> to prevent earmites and it's very inexpensive. Every couple
> weeks is fine (at least once a month, but no more than once
> a week or so).
>
> Your guys may have earmites if you are seeing alot of dark
> wax - I would recommend a vet visit.
>
> Are they UTD on their vaccines? Ferrets require rabies
> (Imrab-3) and canine distemper vaccines (Purevax or
> Galaxy-D). If you have no vaccine record, then you must
> assume they have not been vaccinated and get them done. CD
> is virtually 100%% fatal in ferrets and if there is a bite
> incident and your ferret is not vaccinated for rabies they
> will put it down for rabies testing.
>
> If they are unvaccinated, they will need 2 canine distemper
> vaccines, 2 - 4 weeks apart, then a booster in a year. The
> manufacturer recommends yearly, but talk to your vet about
> their recommendations. Like the dog/cat people, ferret
> people think we are overvaccinating our kids so some people
> are choosing to go longer between vaccinations.
>
> > What is the best way to keep the smell down, bathing
> doesnt
> > work for long, i have 3 ferrets 2 fem i male all desexed,
>
>
> The more you bathe them, the more they will smell :) Here
> are the things to keep their smell to their natural slight
> musk:
>
> * Feeding a diet high in meat protein
> * Use a pelleted litter product (wood stove pellets,
> Yesterdays News, Feline Pine, etc.)
> * Scooping the box daily or every other day/dumping at least
> weekly
> * launder their bedding (e.g. hammocks, blankets, sleep
> sacks, old tee shirts, sheets, etc.) at least once per week.
>
> A good food is one high in meat protein and low in grains.
> Ferrets are obligate carnivores, so they need:
>
> Protien: 36%% or more
> Fat: 19 - 22%% (higher is better)
> Ingredient list: at least 3 of the first 5 (including the
> first) should be a meat protein. Avoid grains and carbs.
>
> What are you feeding them now? If you want to switch, you
> should go with at least two really good foods and do it
> gradually. I offer the new food in one bowl and their old in
> another and a mixture of the two in a third. Some switch on
> their own :)
>
> > i inherited these beautiful creatures so am new at the
> > ferret keeping, imlove them though
>
> If you haven't already, I recommend you read the book,
> ''Ferrets for Dummies'' by Kim Schilling - don't let the
> title fool you, it contains a wealth of important
> information.
>
> Here are some great web links, too:
>
> http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/ferret/ferret.html
> http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc - medical site
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth - medical
> http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html - medical
> http://www.ferretcentral.org - general information
> http://www.ferret-fact.org/SymptomChart.htm
> http://www.ferret.org/links/shelters.asp - AFA Shelter List
> http://www.4lilpaws.org (print out The Ferret Owners
> Handbook).
> http://www.ferret.org - general information
> http://www.trifl.org/medical.html - medical
> http://www.theferretstore.com - great shopping!
> http://www.martinscages.com - great cages!
> http://www.everythingferret.com/ferret_behavior.htm -
> Understanding your ferrets behavior
> http://www.exotichobbyist.com/NaturalFerret.html - Natural
> Diet Information
>
> Aleutian Disease Virus Links:
>
> http://www.ferretadv.com/
>
> Natural Diet Information:
>
> Rethinking the Ferret Diet
> http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=479&S=1&SourceID=43
>
> Barf-for ferrets.
> http://www.ferretlove.co.uk/barf.htm
>
> Ferret Food
> http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~lordluke/feeding_ferrets.htm
>
> Articles on Holistic Veterinary Medicine
> http://www.petsynergy.com/articles.html
>
> Timmy and Friends Ferret Page
> http://www.concentric.net/~Gferret/
>
> Homeopathy for Animals Forum
> http://www.extendedyears.com/homeopathy/h_forum.html
>
> The Ferrets: Medical links.
> http://home.att.net/~The_Ferrets/links/links_med.html
>
> WellPet a Forum for Natural Pet Care
> http://www.wellpet.org/
>
> A Comprehensive Guide to Holistic Pet Care
> http://www.alternativepethealth.com/index.html
>
> Shirley’s Wellness Cafe
> http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/
>
> Dr. Lonsdale’s-Raw Meaty Bones
> http://www.rawmeatybones.com
>
> Natural Ferret Care--By Christie Keith
> http://www.critterhobbyist.com/NaturalFerret.html
>
> Natural Ferret Chat Every Sunday@9pm Eastern
> http://chat.pethobbyist.com/login.php?room_name=Exotic+Pet+Chat
>
> Mice on Ice—The other…other white meat.
> http://www.miceonice.com/homepage.html
>
> Rodent Pro-Frozen Rodent Feeders
> http://www.rodentpro.com/
>
> Ferret Health Books:
>
> Herbs for Pets-Mary Wulff-Tilford—ISBN 1-889540-64-1
> The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care-CJ Puotinen—ISBN
> 9-87983-797-7
> Raw Meaty Bones-Dr. Tom Lonsdal—ISBN 0-646-39624-2
> What Vets Don’t Tell you About Vaccines-Catherine
> O’Driscoll—ISBN 0-9523048-3-X
> Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs-Don Hamilton—ISBN
> 1-55643-295-X
> Wild Health-Cindy Engel—ISBN 0-618-07178-4
> Four Paws, Five Directions-Cheryl Schwartz, DVM—ISBN
> 0-89087-790-4
> Biology and Diseases of the Ferret-James G. Fox—ISBN
> 0-683-30034-2
> Food Pets Die For-Ann N. Martin—0-939165-31-7
> Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents-Hillyer & Quesenberry—ISBN
> 0-7216-4023-0
>
> I hope you find these helpful. If you have any other
> questions, please don't hesitate to ask!
>
> Mary
> these little guys had been vacc last year i didnt realise it was so important. are they still at risk even if they dont come intocontact with other animals except one vacc cat. The rabies doesnt matter here in australia we dont have any rabies in this country. i find you info exceptionally helpful jan
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