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Post by msav on Aug 10, 2016 16:14:43 GMT -5
I am now regretting my decision to pass on getting her the past years Des implant, I really did not think she would make it. I have wasted a few Des implants on ferrets in the past that passed a few months after getting them implanted.
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Post by Heather on Aug 11, 2016 1:01:11 GMT -5
I've had ferrets who've passed a month or two of having their implants. I never consider it a waste because I know it allows them to feel better, even if it's just for those few weeks. It means it's one element of a disease they're not having to fight. I'm looking at Atreyu who's on his 7th implant right now (eighth coming up). He's not looking great at 9 yrs. His arthritis sometimes makes him ache and he sleeps alot. He's got no fur on the tip of his tail and it's a bit thin on his belly. I've looked at him a number of times in the last year and have wondered if it's time and he rallies. He's due for his bi-annual implant in 3 weeks. He will get it. I bought it for him, he will get it and who knows, maybe the gods won't request his presence yet at the bridge I guess I'm an eternal optimist ciao
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Post by msav on Aug 31, 2016 11:20:57 GMT -5
Helping Turn Bad days into good days. (Avoiding Bad days)
Since we recently moved I have not had time to give the ferrets Mental stimulation. The first few days after we moved it was easy as there was plenty to explore and investigate in the new home. Almost a month later the ferrets are getting bored and just coming out and sleeping after about 30 mins of play.
Cassia is the same. She had some really good days after we moved, then she just comes out to eat and then goes back to sleep.
Sunday I took her outside for the first time. She spent a good hour exploring and rubbing on the grass and having a great time. It was nice to see a 7 year old ferret with so much energy and excitement. Monday morning she came out while I was making breakfast and just stopped and looked up at me. I thought she wanted food so I gave her some rabbit. She sniffed at it then went back to looking up at me. She eventually went to the back door and stood up with her paws at the door. I knew what she was trying to tell me. So I took her outside again. another hour of her exploring and bottle brushed tail and extreme ferret happiness.
If this is all it takes to give her more good days before she passes I am all for it. Tuesday morning I did not get to her in time and I saw her frolicking inside under the kitchen rug, She decided to find something to self entertain. I still took her out side but only for about 30 mins as I had to get to work.
I noticed that all my other ferrets were not as playful and decided with the help of the other half to take them out and let them explore the backyard. OGM! I could not believe how spunky they were. The were like a bunch of little Kangaroos bounding off and war dancing. They were out for about an hour and that was after they were let out to run the house and then eventually went to bed in various places in the house. I though to myself They are going to be zombies tomorrow morning as they were up so late jumping around outside.
This morning to my surprise they were all at the cage door wanting out. I let them run the house and they were jumping around war dancing and playing with each other for over an hour. Seems like the romp outside revitalized them.
I think I am going to try and schedule them for a bit of outside time a few times each week. It is hard because we have 7 and can only let out 2 at a time ( 1 person for each ferret to keep a watch on them ) wish I had a couple of more ferret watchers so I could let more out. Too many placed for them to escape and get into trouble if left unsupervised and I have a Hawk that likes to hang out in the large tree in my back yard.
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Post by Sherry on Aug 31, 2016 11:45:33 GMT -5
sometimes just relieving the boredom makes SUCH a huge difference for them
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Post by unclejoe on Aug 31, 2016 11:47:31 GMT -5
It's amazing what a change of scenery does. Most of ours love bouncing around in the dew on cool mornings.
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Post by Thérèse on Sept 1, 2016 5:07:59 GMT -5
This actually supports my theory that, like people, ferrets need to actually feel sunlight on them and, like people, their bodies use it to produce things they need. Years ago at the IFCA ferret symposium in a presentation on making outdoor areas, someone commented that even when the weather was bad the ferrets would always go out of their own volition at least once a day.
You will find a trip outdoors invigorates them to a much greater extent than just a visit to a new indoor location. Just my thoughts.
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Sept 1, 2016 5:41:19 GMT -5
Msav, thanks for that post. That has encouraged me to take mine out--- even though the harnesses are soo annoying and Annabelle tries to eat everything that moves.
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Post by Aftershock on Sept 1, 2016 7:52:37 GMT -5
This actually supports my theory that, like people, ferrets need to actually feel sunlight on them and, like people, their bodies use it to produce things they need. Years ago at the IFCA ferret symposium in a presentation on making outdoor areas, someone commented that even when the weather was bad the ferrets would always go out of their own volition at least once a day. You will find a trip outdoors invigorates them to a much greater extent than just a visit to a new indoor location. Just my thoughts. I actually wondered about that. I realized the other day that I closed the blinds weird and a bit of real sunlight actually hits maybe a third of my kids cage, and they will all go sleep in it. They have had much more energy. It may sound kind of strange, but I've noticed they act more... content. Maybe that's a weird word for it, but I'm not sure what other word to use.
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