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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2013 11:45:38 GMT -5
I've been told by some of you that a good way to get my ferret re-interested in some of his toys and dig boxes is to use things like vanilla or almond extract. I've been thinking about mixing this into his dig boxes. QUESTION: Is there a specific kind of almond or vanilla extract that I have to buy that's the safest to use? Also, what other things can I use to safely "scent" dig boxes and toys? When using this technique for toys, should I mix it with water and spray it on them, or is there a better way of doing this? I did a little researching on what is and isn't safe to use as far as scents go...I'm so lost it's not even funny! There are TONS of conflicting ideas. I came across a lot of stuff talking about essential oils and how dangerous they are, and then I found material talking about how they're completely safe to use around ferrets and how they're even used for scent mapping. Help?!
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Post by Sherry on Sept 10, 2013 18:06:53 GMT -5
For the extracts use pure ones, not artificial. Just put a couple of drops in and mix it around. Essential oils cannot be excreted from the body and organs of a carnivore and build up over years to a toxic level.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2013 18:12:12 GMT -5
I dunno, they seem to think the linings of my boyfriend's shoes smell heavenly.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2013 12:03:26 GMT -5
Sherry: Is it ok to use any scent as far as the pure extracts go? I remember reading that some (Eucalyptus, if I remember correctly) are toxic. They could just be talking about eucalyptus in the essential oil form...? I'm a little nervous. Is there any way I could get a pure extract confused with an essential oil at the store? Or would pure extracts be in like a cooking aisle and essential oils wouldn't? Sorry for all the questions, I'm just a paranoid ferrent who wants to make sure there's no way I can make a mistake.
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Post by Sherry on Sept 11, 2013 18:41:52 GMT -5
Extracts don't have oil, so it would be impossible Generally extracts are vanilla, almond, orange, lemon. I'm fairly sure you can get a couple of others but not many. You'll find them all in the baking aisle. Just checked evidently you can also get coconut and peppermint but I think I'd stay away from the last one. If I remember correctly(although you may want to try it) they don't like the smell of peppermint? Just make sure the bottle says "pure extract"
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2013 19:32:34 GMT -5
You can get dozens of extracts here at the super market Sherry. Real baker's dream. Everything from vanilla, maple, fruits to rum.
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Post by katt on Sept 11, 2013 20:28:22 GMT -5
Actually, peppermint should be safe to my knowledge. It is very attracting to cats as it is in the same family as catnip and has similar properties.
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Post by Sherry on Sept 11, 2013 23:45:33 GMT -5
Perfect-thanks all And weird. City of over a million here and can still only get the basics
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2013 20:21:10 GMT -5
If I recall correctly, extracts are mostly alcohol - does that matter at all? Or would it just evaporate away enough to never cause an issue?
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Post by katt on Sept 15, 2013 1:14:19 GMT -5
Alcohol evaporates very quickly. Also, this is just for smell, not ingestion, so it should be fine.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2013 8:44:58 GMT -5
Do you mix the extract with water when applying to the dig box ?
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Post by Sherry on Sept 15, 2013 9:06:45 GMT -5
No, just a few drops mixed directly in to the rice is fine
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2013 12:39:28 GMT -5
...then I found material talking about how they're completely safe to use around ferrets and how they're even used for scent mapping. Help?! What is scent mapping?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2013 16:36:38 GMT -5
Some blind ferrets use scent mapping to know where things are
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Post by Sherry on Sept 27, 2013 19:50:12 GMT -5
You use a single scent for "danger", such as stairs. Another for bedding. Yet another for a general track or route through the house, etc. They learn to recognize where they are by the scents.
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