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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2015 10:46:51 GMT -5
Just wondered it this would make a good thread, as a lot seems to be different for ferrents in the UK. Eg no de-scenting, no Marshalls, differents kibbles, different raws.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2015 10:53:09 GMT -5
For a start, has anyone else had problems with anal swellings? ( of their ferret!) Last week the vet said she had managed to express one scent gland, and it was clear fluid, but couldn't manage the other. Now the bulge seems to be all round the anus again. She is not a ferret specialist. I have seen only 3 vets listed for the UK as exotic/ferret vets. Our nearest is an hour's drive away,but it might be worthwhile getting Nikki to one perhaps. Poor Nikki also has problems with blood glucose level, but is feeling better after being put on a tiny 1mg tablet of prednicare twice a day.
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Post by Heather on Feb 19, 2015 15:51:28 GMT -5
Sounds like an infected anal gland. It may need to be expressed and your little one placed on an antibiotic. It's not any different than dealing with a dog for that matter.
Dealing with insulinoma is a different matter. I've never used pills only liquid.
ciao
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Post by RedSky on Feb 20, 2015 8:14:34 GMT -5
Hi, I'm in the UK too, I live near the West Yorkshire border sort of between Halifax and Manchester.
I only got my trio before Christmas (22nd December) from a lovely ferret rescue centre in Huddersfield, but I have been researching on and off for years until I found this forum and then it took hold. I couldn't stop until I had my own.
Anyway, I'm currently struggling with getting a DES implant for my possibly adrenal female because of how Virbac in the UK have told my vet it isn't recommended to be used in females and that if she has adrenal she should have hair loss.
I know people who have kept giant snails, snakes, lizards, mice, rat, frogs, spiders but don't know many who has or had ferrets (and the ones that do or did keep them in tiny tiny hutches, feed them a terrible diet or once a week and only get them out to work). But most people I tell that I have ferrets have stories along the line of 'when I was a kid my mate had them and they stank and would bite. Their jaws lock you know, vicious horrible things they are'. I show Bolin to everyone comes over that I think won't completely freak out, they watch as he licks my neck and cheek, does his roll over, come and spin around tricks and then falls asleep in my lap. Or if they want to come upstairs I will show them how gentle Mako play bites and his funny war dance (he gets too distracted wanting to explore downstairs). With these people I often forget to mention Korra, or just say she's a bit fast, I don't want her to scare you. One day she will be great, but today isn't that day.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2015 10:46:48 GMT -5
Sounds like an infected anal gland. It may need to be expressed and your little one placed on an antibiotic. It's not any different than dealing with a dog for that matter. Dealing with insulinoma is a different matter. I've never used pills only liquid. ciao Thanks Heather. She just had her anal glads drained again today, and got a bit sore. I asked about ointment and vet said Sudocrem would be ok ( a human baby antiseptic cream). There was a terrible pong, but we were not sure if there was an infection (clear fluid last time one was drained). so no oral antibiotics, but will go back if any more trouble before the 2 week check up. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2015 11:05:03 GMT -5
Hi again RedSky. I suspected Adrenal with our Nikki, but seems not to be. They think it is insulinoma, plus anal gland problems for the loss of tail-base hair ( biting it!) The pred tablets seem to be working well and she is back playing rough and tumble a little with her sister. We had a blood test for the adrenal ( costing £150!)and it came back negative. The blood glucose test for insulinoma was much cheaper and just a drop needed from the toe pad. They tested for androstenedione, cortisol, estradiol and 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and all were within normal ferret range. Not surprised really as there was no vulval swelling. Why do you think Kora has adrenal if she is so fiesty? I thought they were lethargic!
We are just starting them on some raw food to supplement Wellbeloved kibble. Trying Natural Instinct Pure Turkey. But now realise it has no heart or liver. So I'll be looking for some tomorrow. And the bone bits seem a bit sharp and are 3mm in diameter, so I'm really scared their insides will get torn! So I end up feeling it all with my finger tips when it is defrosted and picking out the big bits of bone. Maybe I should add eggshell to compensate. Have you tried raw at all? What do you feed yours on? Our two are my son's really, and are rescue ferrets from the RSPCA in Chobham, Surrey.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2015 14:01:50 GMT -5
Hi, I'm from the UK as well.
Has anyone had any problems with getting ferrets neutered? There isn't really any ferret specialists here, but I'm with a vet who is interested to learn, and is willing to research ferret health care.
I've found that in the UK, it's just easier to feed a complete raw diet than using commercial raw. If I was to use Nature's menu (or something similar) it'd be about £100 for my four cats, but I feed them whole prey/frankenprey and it's about £60 - £70.
Also, does anyone have insurance for their ferrets?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2015 14:06:52 GMT -5
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Post by crazylady on Feb 20, 2015 15:29:16 GMT -5
Hi it depends on which area you are as which vets are available and if you are willing to travel pick up your phone book and ring around for prices for neutering it can vary by a huge amount for example one vet quoted £95 yet another vet 6 miles from the first vet only charged £35 ! the operation is the same as fixing a cat so if they can neuter a cat they can neuter a ferret ! as for anal glands if I feel a ferret I do my own ( sorry whiffy subject but I have had them years lol ) this is one of the reasons I am so pleased vets over here refuse to remove scent glands as when a ferret poofs he is actually emptying his or her own anal glands and keeping them healthy as heather has said antibiotics should of been given try keeping them clean I would apply a warm compress then dry and put on a little cream using a cotton bud ( the warm compress helps draw out anything else in the anal glands and give ease ( yes I know it looks weird holding a warm pad on a ferrets butt but they sure look like they are enjoying it lol ) charlipa if your vet would like I could put them in touch with my vet who does all operations on mine and maybe they could talk each other through it after all mine was a novice on vasectomies until I volunteered a couple of my guys lol they knew how to spey cats but delicate work on a ferret was a whole new ball game lol I changed vets after my old vet messed up an op but when you are willing to work with your vet its amazing what you can accomplish as for foods there are lots of cheaper options out there try abattoirs or look at Durham animal feeds ( DAF) they do some good deals and the meat contains a good amount of ground down bone hope this helps take care bye for now
Bev
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2015 17:11:31 GMT -5
I've got a supplier for my meats and bones, I just find that feeding commercially prepared food is much more expensive than when I'm buying my own meats and bones. Typically, I try not to buy the ground down meats because I don't know the meat/organ/bone ratio. Plus with DAF, I find their raw is more catered towards dogs rather than cats and ferrets.
As for the vet idea, that sounds pretty good! If you could do that, then that would be great.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2015 11:59:30 GMT -5
Hi, I'm from the UK as well. Also, does anyone have insurance for their ferrets? No, we don't, but I'd also be interested to find someone who does, after our latest expense! |
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Post by RedSky on Feb 21, 2015 12:14:59 GMT -5
Hi, food wise I feed raw. We use natures menu blocks, my guys came eating the chicken one mixed with kibble (dry food for us in the UK) and we have never had a problem with it, I also use the blocks from DAF (there isn't any veg or anything added), duck wings and necks along with other bits from DAF, heart and kidney and liver from the supermarket (any anything that's reduced), pheasant and rabbit (and other bits) from the local butchers, mice and chicks from the local pet shop and I'm going to ask them to order me in a bag of quail (24 for £45). Vet wise I can't really help much, sorry. But as for insurance my three are with exotic direct www.exoticdirect.co.uk/ I pay about £35 a month for all three, might seem a little excessive but for that I have a limit for £2000 per ferret. Many owners just suggest putting some money into a bank account each month and saving up and doing it that way but I was too inpatient to get my ferrets so didn't save up enough. I am however putting some away each month now so hopefully I won't take the insurance out again next year, it is a lot of money if you don't use it and since I've never claimed I don't know how easy it is to use or deal with. They are the only company that I know of that covers ferrets though (and pretty much every other animal kept as pets that I could have expected). |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2015 12:29:35 GMT -5
Hi, I'm from the UK as well. Also, does anyone have insurance for their ferrets? No, we don't, but I'd also be interested to find someone who does, after our latest expense! Ah, see I have exoticpet insurance for them. I was just curious incase someone else had different insurance so I could compare. See, I know I couldn't afford a one off payment of like £200+, but I can afford to pay the insurance every month. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2015 12:37:28 GMT -5
Vet wise I can't really help much, sorry. But as for insurance my three are with exotic direct www.exoticdirect.co.uk/ I pay about £35 a month for all three, might seem a little excessive but for that I have a limit for £2000 per ferret. Many owners just suggest putting some money into a bank account each month and saving up and doing it that way but I was too inpatient to get my ferrets so didn't save up enough. I am however putting some away each month now so hopefully I won't take the insurance out again next year, it is a lot of money if you don't use it and since I've never claimed I don't know how easy it is to use or deal with. They are the only company that I know of that covers ferrets though (and pretty much every other animal kept as pets that I could have expected). I use exoticdirect as well, and I pay £28 for two ferrets, so £35 for three is pretty good  As for insurance, I think I'll be taking it out every year, because that way it'll help with chronic illnesses, or say all of them got similar problems all at once. It's all about peace of mind for me. Also, with ferrets since they can just deteriorate so quickly, if you have to take them to an emergency vet then you can be upwards of like £300. For example, when we took my dog to the emergency vet at a weekend we ended up having to pay £370 for them to shave some hair off and take off some dead skin. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2015 13:33:47 GMT -5
This is very interesting! I didn't know you could insure ferrets. Not a lot of use to us at the moment as one has a pre-existing condition, and they are only 6 months away from being 5 years old, and exotic direct don't it seems insure 'small mammals' if they are over 5. But good to know for future.
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