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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2016 1:50:40 GMT -5
My two ferrets have been on a raw diet for about 4 months now. I've already seen incredible improvements in their skin and coat, however one of my ferrets has a really bad uncomfortable itch. I'll occasionally find both of them scratching and biting at themselves, but one of my ferrets seems to itch non stop and it can't be comfortable. I've been reading that ferrets have sensitive skin and it isn't uncommon for them to itch a lot. It still bothers me to watch the poor guy suffer like that. Is there any kind of topical I can supplement to their diet? I give them salmon oil a few times a week, I'm also looking into Olive Oil. I'm thinking of using Coconut oil topically to see if I can help moisturize their coats and maybe prevent itching. I know coconut oil isn't "species appropriate" but I figure it may be able to help topically. Any thoughts on coconut oil?
My neighbor who raw feeds their dog keeps suggesting golden turmeric paste (a mixture of turmeric, coconut oil and black pepper) to me because it has many benefits including anti-inflammatory properties and benefits to skin and coat from the coconut oil. However I'm not sure if golden paste is okay for ferrets, I haven't found anything for or against its use with weasels. Any thoughts?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2016 1:58:07 GMT -5
turmeric is apparently a new trend, I wouldn't know too much on that.
How often do you bath them? There could also be an underlying issue, but I guess a bath in some oats may help. Some people put it in a towel and let ti sit in the water then bath their ferrets in it. Coconut oil may help outside of the skin as well. Are they shedding?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2016 3:42:44 GMT -5
Scratching is a common behaviour ferrets do, they are naturally scratchy animals, they get random itches for no reason and some have them more than others. Willow and Jasper are my scratchiest two, when they're out loose and not in their housing, they will be bouncing around or exploring and will get a random that's either under their arm, around their rump and back end and or around their shoulders. Nibbling themselves is part of a grooming routine which they do along with scratching, both of which are used to clean the hair and stimulate their oil glands so they release oil into their coat which keep their skin and coat in good condition. A ferret with dry skin will have flakey dandruff and will have a dry coat instead of a sleek, oily coat. Here is a video of Vinnie grooming himself  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2016 10:29:18 GMT -5
I've only bathed them once since getting them. I use tea tree oil shampoo. Other than that I do occasionally use a spray bath and wipe them down. They've been treated for fleas and I've yet to find any in them since treatment. (I bombed the whole apartment.) How often could I apply the coconut oil? I've been doing it as I clip their nails because the absolutely love the taste. I'll try to make another thread for the Golden paste.
I've read they're naturally scratchy guys, but he looks so uncomfortable when he does it. He scratches in his cage too.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2016 10:39:56 GMT -5
I've only bathed them once since getting them. I use tea tree oil shampoo. Other than that I do occasionally use a spray bath and wipe them down. They've been treated for fleas and I've yet to find any in them since treatment. (I bombed the whole apartment.) How often could I apply the coconut oil? I've been doing it as I clip their nails because the absolutely love the taste. I'll try to make another thread for the Golden paste. I've read they're naturally scratchy guys, but he looks so uncomfortable when he does it. He scratches in his cage too. Please ditch the Tea Tree oil shampoo. Tea tree is toxic to ferrets. ;n; |
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Post by Sherry on Jan 30, 2016 12:35:12 GMT -5
Defintely ditch the tea tree. How old is your really itchy little one, and how long has it been going on for? If just recent odds are it is just shed. If your ferret is a couple years old, and it has been going on for over a month(the extreme non stop itching) you may be looking at adrenal.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2016 14:17:56 GMT -5
My ferrets are 7 and 5 months old. The 7 month old has been itchy like this since I got him really.
I had no idea about the tea tree shampoo! God I really hate the pet industry, you can't trust companies with anything! Is there a recommended shampoo? Luckily I never give them baths anyway, so ditching the shampoo isn't a big deal. Since we're on the subject, should I not use the waterless spray bath either? I use it maybe twice a month at the most. They don't like being sprayed but it hasn't seemed to make them anymore itchy than they already were. The ingredients are labeled as follows: water, natural enzymes, aloe vera, and organic stabilizers.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2016 15:00:52 GMT -5
My ferrets are 7 and 5 months old. The 7 month old has been itchy like this since I got him really. I had no idea about the tea tree shampoo! God I really hate the pet industry, you can't trust companies with anything! Is there a recommended shampoo? Luckily I never give them baths anyway, so ditching the shampoo isn't a big deal. Since we're on the subject, should I not use the waterless spray bath either? I use it maybe twice a month at the most. They don't like being sprayed but it hasn't seemed to make them anymore itchy than they already were. The ingredients are labeled as follows: water, natural enzymes, aloe vera, and organic stabilizers. He must be one of those that's scratchier than others since he's done it since you've had him, the only shampoo I've used for ferrets is baby shampoo that can be used on newborn babies and that's never irritated their skin. I don't bath them unless they've rolled around in wet mud while on a walk which doesn't happen very often as I usually walk them on paths when it's raining. |
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Post by crazylady on Jan 31, 2016 5:31:55 GMT -5
Hi use a fine tooth comb on him (the kind you use for head lice on a child ) then brush him with a medium hard brush and finally finish off with a dry chamois leather it sounds strange I know but I will explain this procedure the comb removes any loose hairs (this also gives him an all over scratch lol) next the brush this encourages even distribution of natural oils in the hair shafts and skin and finally the chamois this collects any dust or loose hair the brush has kicked out if you do this daily you are removing his need to itch and groom as you are doing it for him it also gives you a good bond with your ferret and you have the peace of mind of knowing he wont pick up a hairball ! hope this helps take care bye for now
Bev
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Post by lyles on Jan 31, 2016 5:57:35 GMT -5
How do you help promote a oily coat? Nei used to have a sleek and oily coat but over winter her coat has been very dry.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2016 10:45:01 GMT -5
How do you help promote a oily coat? Nei used to have a sleek and oily coat but over winter her coat has been very dry. I advise giving her a supplement for her coat such as salmon oil or light olive oil. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2016 11:25:04 GMT -5
Fuzzbuttlove would give her adrenal boy a nice warm soak in Aveeno collodial oatmeal. I have not looked on package to check ingredients .
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Post by Sherry on Jan 31, 2016 13:24:46 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2016 15:52:00 GMT -5
The only way I wash my babies is with straight water. I only used soap until I learned that things labelled for ferrets are usually bad for them, then the only one who got soap baths was Marty when he had bad accidents.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2016 19:54:04 GMT -5
Hi use a fine tooth comb on him (the kind you use for head lice on a child ) then brush him with a medium hard brush and finally finish off with a dry chamois leather it sounds strange I know but I will explain this procedure the comb removes any loose hairs (this also gives him an all over scratch lol) next the brush this encourages even distribution of natural oils in the hair shafts and skin and finally the chamois this collects any dust or loose hair the brush has kicked out if you do this daily you are removing his need to itch and groom as you are doing it for him it also gives you a good bond with your ferret and you have the peace of mind of knowing he wont pick up a hairball ! hope this helps take care bye for now Bev I brush them daily but I didn't think about that stuff. I'll definitely try it out! |
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