Latest Ferret News

Seasonal Ferret Proofing: Fall and Winter
Repeat after me: "Ferret proofing is never done."
If there's danger in your home, your ferret will find it. We know that we need to clear a room of ferret-unfriendly objects (like foam and rubber) before we let our fuzzballs frolic there, but we might not realize that new seasons can bring new dangers for fuzzies to find.
Seasonal Decor
If you're like most people, you probably decorate your house for Thanksgiving and the Holiday Season. Be extra aware of where you place decorations in your home. If you are putting up lights, be sure that ferrets can't get to the wires. If you put out stuffed toys or other fabric decorations, be sure they are out of ferret reach. It's also a good idea to check on your decorations from time to time to make sure none of the ferrets has teleported to a previously un-ferret-reachable place to make mischief.
Wild Critters
As the weather gets colder, the creatures of the field seek warmth and shelter ... in your house! If you notice the pitter-patter of little feet that isn't from your ferrets, find the source ASAP. We've had squirrels come in the attic or down the chimney. We've seen brazen little field mice scurry across the living room. We've heard stories of opossums taking up residence in the drop ceiling of a kitchen.
Aside from the obvious danger these animals pose to your home, they may pose a risk to your ferrets, too. A little extra vigilance at this time of year can be a big help.
Children
OK, so kids in the kitchen aren't exactly the same as squirrels in the chimney, but neighborhood children who aren't used to ferrets can pose a threat to them. As the weather gets too cold for outdoor playtime, your children might have playmates inside to visit. Be sure to go over the ferret rules with your own children and any of their friends. Even if your children and their friends aren't supposed to handle the ferrets, assume that they might handle them and educate them accordingly.
Shoes and Boots and Gloves
Rain and snow during the fall and winter months can mean that all sorts of things get carried into your house on wet shoes, including toxic ice-melt products. Mats outside and inside doorways can help minimize the debris. Removing "outdoor" shoes at the door can also help reduce the risk of brining unwanted material into your home. Take the time to make sure you don't track possible hazards into your ferrets' play area.
Ferrets love chewy stuff, like leather gloves or shoe and boot insoles. But these things don't like ferrets. Many ferrets have required surgery to remove intestinal blockage caused by rubber or foam insoles and even bits of fabric or leather. Make sure these items are kept in a place where your ferrets can't get to them.
Other Dangers
If you can, keep ferrets out of rooms with fireplaces or wood burning stores. The ever-curious fuzzies are likely to poke their noses where they don't belong.
Some people use shrink-wrap style insulation for their windows during the winter. If you use these, make sure the edges are secure and that no tempting plastic is hanging loose. If it's necessary for you to use this type of window insulation in your ferrets' play area, be sure to check the windows every day for any signs of tearing, chewing or other damage.
Other Seasonal Concerns
In addition to ferret proofing issues, there are other important changes you might need to make for the new season. For example, if the air in your home tends to be dry, which can in turn make your ferrets' skin dry, consider getting a humidifier for your ferret room. Proper humidity is good for them and for you.
One of the big stories this season is still the H1N1 (Swine) Flu. Ferrets are susceptible to human flu viruses, so make sure you take proper precautions to prevent illness in your family and your ferrets. This includes vaccinations, frequent hand-washing, avoiding sick people or crowded places and covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then disposing of the tissue.
See the links below for further tips on ferret proofing, the flu and humidifiers.

Swine Flu and Your Ferrets:
What You Need To Know
By Mary R. Drews
The whole world is at the ready to combat a possible swine ‘flu pandemic. But the big question is: Are my ferrets susceptible?
Considering that researchers in the UK are using ferrets to determine the course of the virus, the answer is a sadly resounding “Yes.” (See BBC Article.) Ferrets can get the same influenza virus that humans get. So what can you do?
Don’t Panic!
As with any ‘flu, the best way to prevent infection is to stay calm and focused. Your best bet to keep your ferrets safe is to use standard ‘flu prevention procedures. The CDC outlines these actions you can take to prevent getting and spreading influenza:
Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. Use a tissue to cover your nose / mouth if you can. Then throw away the tissue. This prevents spread of the virus.
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Make sure you vigorously rub your hands together when washing, the friction helps destroy germs. Using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Your hands are most likely to be where you pick up a virus; touching your eyes, nose or mouth gives the virus a way to get into your body.
As much as possible, avoid close contact with sick people.
If you get the 'flu, stay home from work or school. Avoid contact with other people to prevent infecting them.
It's useful to add a few ferret-specific guidelines to this list:
Wash your hands before and after handling your ferrets. Hand-washing is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent the spread of the 'flu.
If you are sick, avoid any contact with your ferrets. If you must have contact with them, wear a mask and be sure to wash your hands.
Do not let anyone outside of your family handle your ferrets. Or be sure that anyone who does handle your ferrets is using precautionary measures to prevent the spread of germs.
If you have young children in your home, consider keeping them from handling the ferrets at all except under close supervision. That way you can ensure that a child doesn't inadvertently expose your ferrets to the virus.
The only way your ferrets can get the 'flu is if you bring it home to them. If the swine flu virus does become a widespread concern, you'll want to make every effort to keep yourself and your ferrets from getting it.
Why Is The Flu Potentially Dangerous To Ferrets?
For the most part any influenza virus will give you a miserable week to 10 days. The same is true for ferrets. Most healthy people -- and ferrets -- should manage to fight off the swine flu virus eventually. But there are a few concerns.
First, the swine flu that's circulating now has never occurred in humans before. It's unknown whether it has occurred in ferrets, but it is unlikely. That means that the body needs to figure out how to fight the flu without having any previous experience with this particular virus. That can be tricky for some people (and ferrets).
Second, those people who had a 'flu shot for the 2008 - 2009 'flu season aren't protected against the swine flu. This particular strain was not included in the 'flu vaccine. This means that people at risk -- the very young, the very old and those with underlying medical conditions -- who were protected against other strains of 'flu are unprotected against this 'flu virus.
Third, it's unclear at this time why this strain of 'flu seems to be severe in otherwise healthy individuals. Some health officials claim that this is because healthy people have a very powerful immune response that causes severe symptoms (basically, the immune response itself causes fluid to collect in the lungs). Other health officials propose that the people who appeared to be healthy actually had an underlying health issue that was unknown. Whatever the reason, we do need to keep an eye on the progress of this virus and who is most severely affected by it.
But how does this affect ferrets? The facts discussed above mean that we might see a large number of people affected with the swine flu, which, in turn, increases the chances that ferrets will be exposed to the virus. This means that it's even more important to consistently follow the precautions outlined at the beginning of this article.
Although most healthy ferrets should manage all right with the 'flu, you will still need to keep a close eye on any ferret that exhibits symptoms. You'll also need to take extra care with very old, very young or otherwise sick ferrets. These are the vulnerable ones in any population -- ferret, human or otherwise. We need to keep in mind how small ferrets are and how easily and quickly they can go downhill once they are too sick to eat and drink sufficiently.
What To Do If Your Ferret Gets Sick
If you or anyone in your family becomes ill with the 'flu (swine or any other type of 'flu), keep them isolated from your ferrets. If you notice any of your ferrets showing signs of the 'flu, it's best to isolate the sick ferret(s) and keep them separated from any of your more vulnerable ferrets.
Signs of the 'flu include:
Sneezing and runny nose / runny eyes
Coughing
Lethargy
Lack of appetite
Diarrhea
Fever
Possibly with swine flu, vomiting
For most ferrets, the best -- and only -- thing you can do is make sure he or she continues to stay hydrated, nourished and warm (but not too warm!). This may mean offering "duck soup," warmed baby food or other soft easily-digested food as well as Pedialyte or another electrolyte replacement product. Your ferret might also benefit from a high-calorie vitamin supplement. Provide blankets and warm sleep sacks so your ferret can choose the most comfortable place to rest.

Humidifiers for Ferrets
The other night it got so cold here that we had to turn on the heat. The next morning Eric and I woke up with sore, dry throats and dry skin. We forget how uncomfortable dry air can be, after a hazy, hot and humid summer. After a second night of cold temperatures and having to put up the heat, we realized it was time to set up the humidifiers in our bedroom and in the living room, where the ferrets are. Even though the ferrets don't seem to be acting any differently, I'm sure the dry air makes them uncomfortable, too. So remember that if you have put on the heat, you'll want to also set up humidifiers in your home -- for your comfort and the comfort of your ferrets. To get the best health results, make sure you follow the humidifier manufacturer's directions for operating and cleaning your humidifier. And, of course, keep your humidifier out of reach of your ferrets.


 

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