|
|
Post by taratee on Jan 25, 2011 18:57:10 GMT -5
so crane has a three and a half inch whisker and the other ones on that side are quite large i was wondering if there was something up with that or if he was just special, hes always had larger whiskers i didnt know if this was a sign or symptom of anything
|
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Jan 25, 2011 20:34:22 GMT -5
No sign or symptom that I'm aware of. I know for a cat, it means they can get through a space that large, but with ferrets? I'm guessing it was intended to feel vibrations of prey underground.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2011 21:41:58 GMT -5
ya know it's funny you say something about whiskers! I was just talking about how Godiva has the longest whiskers I've ever seen on a ferret! I'd say that they're almost as long as my cats!
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2011 1:10:22 GMT -5
Your going to love the answer, long whiskers are a sine of a healthy ferret, the longer the better!  Unless he has a harmless mutation that causes his whiskers to grow unnaturally long. Chances of the rest of his body fur and possibly claws not growing freakishly long to, 1 in 1000000050000000. No seriously, long whiskers, sine of healthy ferret  . |
|
|
|
Post by dookdook on Jan 28, 2011 18:42:44 GMT -5
No sign or symptom that I'm aware of. I know for a cat, it means they can get through a space that large, but with ferrets? I'm guessing it was intended to feel vibrations of prey underground. Never knew that! Guess we learn something new everyday huh?  |
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Jan 28, 2011 19:11:27 GMT -5
I don't know that for certain. It's just an assumption on my part.
|
|
|
|
Post by dookdook on Jan 29, 2011 12:01:22 GMT -5
ahh, alright.
|
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Jan 29, 2011 12:09:41 GMT -5
Aaron is correct ;D. Long whiskers on a ferret is a sign of a healthy ferret. There are other signs too, obviously but if you want a telltale sign that your fuzz's health isn't quite where it should be take a look at their whiskers. Napoleon used to have beautiful long whiskers, in the last 6 or 7 months they'd become broken and much shorter. This last month, his whiskers looked trimmed they were so short.
ciao
|
|
|
|
Post by taratee on Jan 29, 2011 12:10:30 GMT -5
does this mean i should worry about ichabod? he has unusually short wiskers
|
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Jan 29, 2011 18:38:32 GMT -5
Worry, no. Observe and make considerations yes. Think of it like a sudden coat change or a behavioural change. It's something to note. On it's own, it probably wouldn't mean anything at all, but written in a combination of factors...something to use like a barometer. In Napoleon's case....weight gain mostly in the abdomen, rough coat, shortened whiskers.....I suggested heart ailments to my vet. She checked him over 4 months ago...found nothing. Final diagnosis...congestive heart failure. Captain Jack, shortened whiskers, rough coat, being sexually active....adrenal. Use it as a warning, not something you should get overly upset about
ciao
|
|
|
|
Post by weezz on Feb 1, 2011 10:53:50 GMT -5
Huh, I didn't know that. I always thought they were a sign of deafness, as my deafies have the longest whiskers.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Feb 1, 2011 11:21:32 GMT -5
I went and check my fuzzes whiskers after reading the post from Heather! And yes, my adrenals, and Boris(probable IBD) have the shorter whiskers.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2011 13:06:01 GMT -5
Whiskers can fall out occasionally, so having a few shorter whiskers isn't necessarily a concern. However, just like a ferret that's healthy has a nice coat, they should have strong, silky whiskers. They are both made of keratin.
Does ichabod have brittle whiskers? Are they thick, or thin? I'm sure there is a genetic aspect to the length of whiskers.
Whiskers are useful for determining if an animal can fit it's body into a small hole/crevice. Normally, whiskers are as long as the animal is wide. But like I said earlier, there could be a genetic aspect for the whisker length.
|
|
Unless he has a harmless mutation that causes his whiskers to grow unnaturally long. Chances of the rest of his body fur and possibly claws not growing freakishly long to, 1 in 1000000050000000. No seriously, long whiskers, sine of healthy ferret 