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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2014 18:14:30 GMT -5
Does anyone have experience with owning a deaf ferret?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2014 19:06:18 GMT -5
I have two deaf ferrets. What do you want to know? So far it hasn't affected their quality of life at all. They don't wake up when I move around and make noise but my hearing ferret does. They sometimes get startled if I sneak up on them. The hearing and the deaf ferrets sometimes have mis-communications because the deaf ones don't hear the squeaks that say 'stop biting me'. Training them not to nip I had to use scruffing/timeouts only since they couldn't hear me yelp in pain. Also training them tricks I use hand signals only no voice. Other than that.... can't tell the difference between my hearing and deaf ferrets!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2014 21:20:53 GMT -5
I'm getting a ferret from my aunt, but I heard that they do better with a buddy. Theres a cute little guy on craigslist in my area that needs a new home, but he's deaf. I guess I was just wondering what to expect from one and if they'd need any special treatment. Thanks a lot
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2014 1:56:02 GMT -5
I had one deafy. I loved that, while he was an only ferret, he wouldn't wake up when we were walking around. LOL But really..other than letting him know you are there before you pick him up...you get used to them being deaf. You can't call their name or squeak something to get them to come to you, so you have to figure out other ways of communicating. My ferret knew some sign language and really hated being told no. LOL They can bite when they are startled...I used to always run my fingers across the cage before I put my hand in...just to let him know I was there. Mine also got used to be knocking on the wall or the floor, he would always run over to me when I did it.
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Post by Sherry on Apr 15, 2014 8:28:17 GMT -5
6 of our 10 are either totally deaf, or having a hearing deficit(appear to only hear certain pitches). Other than sometimes startling easier I havne't noticed much difference TBH. The difference can come when the deafness is due to Waardenburg's Syndrome(neural crest disorder). Than can, but doesn't always, affect the cognitive functions as well.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2014 9:39:38 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2014 10:07:16 GMT -5
The little guy is really cute. I feel rather sad for him, if his owner doesn't know anything about him, what is his story? How many homes has he had? I would love for him to find a safe and happy forever home.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2014 10:22:43 GMT -5
I am no expert by ANY means, but he has the coloration of a Waardy. Here is a good thread about it holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/11451/waardenburg-syndromeHe/She is lovely though! I hope you can make a forever home for the wee one. I bet he's gonna have a mask, kinda a start there. :0) My Pepe is LIKELY a Waardy. He is most definitely deaf! As a doornail. I honestly didn't notice a difference until now that we have Oliver, who is not deaf. He did seem different than ferret's I have had in the past, but it is easier to see how that there's one right there to compare. The biggest thing that I have found is that my kids are loud! Poor Oliver is always stopping and 'listening' while Pepe just carries on. Granted poor Oliver is new also and not used to the screams of a 1.5, 4, and 6 year old. Oliver will also run to the cage when we come near because he can hear us coming while Pepe just lays there. I have startled him a few times by picking him up from a sleep so I try to knock on the cage or shake it gently to let him know I'm there. I try to slap the floor too to get his attention. And at night when we are searching for them to put away, flipping the lights off and on usually gets his attention. He is a good boy though and usually puts himself to bed to sleep. The biggest difference I have noticed so far also is how much Pepe likes to be held compared to Oliver. AGAIN, Oliver is new and not used to us yet, so this may change, but even when we first brought Pepe home, he was a snug bug. Not to say non-waardy's are not snugly, but I think Waardy's tend to be more docile. Pepe is also not too smart, bless his heart. He does especially goofy things (walks off the couch, has run into walls, etc). I admit, even as a tiny baby he was not as playful as I would think a kit would be. He just likes to be cuddled. Also, he LOVES to eat. That boy is still eating almost 10-12 oz a day in raw! He is a BIG boy, thick necked and pear shaped. But he is a gentle giant, and he loves him mommy. :0)
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2014 10:53:59 GMT -5
All she said was that he was a gift and she wanted him to find a good home. If he's still available after schools over then I'd love to get him. She did say she was in no rush to send him away, as long as he got a good home.
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