MegaWeasel - Update and questions

[maddy]

first question, can someone explain exactly what rat tail is? I used a stridex pad and rubbed MegaWeasel's nasty tail up and down (pulling out hair -- hopefully my fault and not more adrenal symptoms). The pad was a nasty orangish brown color when I was finished and the skin looks a little better. What does this mean?

Also, what all does trembling mean? It just seems like I have read in different places it is a bad sign, but I also thought it was them regulating their body temps?

Also, MegaWeasel isn't molesting anymore--maybe he never was and I just had it wrong? But he is being MEAN to Vanilla Bean. Some of you may remember that I had a lot of bullying issues when I first brought her home with him. Well it got better but it is bad again. I just don't understand bc when they are in the cage they are always cuddled up together, but when they are out he drags her aroung and does the kill shake and she of course screams...she is my deafie DEW btw. He bites her neck and her face?? And really it isn't just him... it is EVERYONE (except sweet little lady Badger) that pick on her. She will sprint across the room with the other 3 (Mega, Clovis, and Raisinette) right on her tail! There will be times when they get along, but for the most part they like to play 'pick on the dead new kid', even though I have had her since October. Any help?

[maddy]

Also, MegaWeasel's tail seems to be thinning but there are still little black dots that may be fur? Or blackheads...who knows... but I scrubbed his tail down and accidentally pulled a lot of hair out bc he was fighting me. It hasn't progressed to the base or anywhere else, just the end half of his tail. I noticed he is orangy fur too... what does this mean?

I was wondering if any of it had to do with his nutrition? Maybe I am doing something wrong. I have a real problem with Badger eating kibble. For those that don't know, I was switching her with her bff Beatrice passed and had to stop bc it was just a fight and she was emotionally and physically going down hill. She was on Zupreem, and I had to keep some in the cage bc I DO NOT want to separate them...she loves the others too and I know it would do more harm than good. Anyway she is really playful and doing great now...I mean she is older than everyone, 4-5? but still playful. I switched to evo bc I mean, it is better than Zupreem and her coat has gotten GLORIOUS! So lately I am trying to get her on the bandwagon with raw. She will ONLY eat off my finger...so it is a pain... and no chunks, just raw soupie. Anyway, they rest of the crew is eating cut up chunks or bone in and organs ranging from quarter size to ping pong size (they wont eat whole). So I have added ground with some water and duck soup to help entice my little stubborn Badger, and it has helped. HOWEVER... it has made the others take a few steps back. They are only drinking the soup and not eating the chunks unless I hand feed?? I mean wtf? It is soooooooooooooooooooooo frustrating and it'
s a waste bc I am not home all day to make sure they eat. This has been going on for several weeks and I prob should have asked about it earlier, but I was hoping it would improve. I also assume they are eating kibble... Anyway, I just would love some suggestions, and this should go in the nutrition section I know, but it kind of ties in with this post.

Lastly, WHERE do you guys find pumpkin! I have been to Ingles, Publix, and Kroger and they all tell me it is seasonal?? MegaWeasel needs it for his little bum issues.

[katt]

So many questions to answer! Ok so I sent you the link to the thread with Koda's tail thinning right? Because I think that despite Koda showing other signs of adrenal, that the tail thinning was just a strange shedding pattern. I think. Anyways does MegaWeasel look anything like that?
I wouldn't say that the orange-brown color of the face wipe is anything to be concerned with. That is due to the oils in his fur/skin. Which All ferrets have an abundance of.
As for poor VanillaBean, it sounds to me like she is just the bottom of the pack. I do believe that poor Napoleon had to go through the same thing for quite some time. Koda still drags Kenai around by the face on occasion.

For the nutrition, do you have a mentor?

[miamiferret2]

you don't need to buy an actual pumpkin, buy a can of the raw pumpkin (pure pumpkin, not the pumpkin pie mix) from publix. it is in the canned vegetable section. i buy libby's brand. i put the pumpkin into ice cube trays and freeze them. then take the cubes out (hard to do get one of those bendy ice cube trays so it is easier to pop them out) put them in a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer. then unfreeze the cubes as you need it. i put the cubes in the microwave for about 25 to 30 seconds to defrost. beat them well with a spoon, then feed it to my ferret. you can mix it into soupies or give it to them straight. works well for removing and preventing hairballs.
i usually give 2 cubes of pumpkin a week and i am down to one ferret right now.
the wax on the tail (or "blackheads" "rat tail") is more often than not caused by the adrenal disease. they produce more oils as a result of the tumors. i would not use any stridex pads. wash his tail well every day with Dawn dishwashing liquid and then rinse/dry it well. the Dawn will break up the grease in the hair follices on his tail. as for the hair on his tail growing back, that will be up to the meds that you use to treat the adrenal tumors.

[Deleted]

For most places, canned pumpkin is seasonal. I stock up in around November. I did get lucky and found some organic pumpkin at Whole Foods out of season, so you could try there.

As for the blackheads, it honestly is cosmetic. If you do nothing, he will be no worse off. If you want them to go away you could use a soft soft toothbrush with some dish soap, but honestly, it isn't worth it to me. I found that diet helped clear them up on their own. Some ferrets are just oily and get blackheads

[Deleted]

And if you're having some issues with nutrition, I think you should definitely make a post in the nutrition section. I know you already graduated right? So I think making a post to document the diet would be helpful

[Sherry]

You get your's in the canned veg aisle? I get mine(pure pumpkin) in the baking aisle ;D
You can also buy a butternut squash Maddy, bake it for an hour or so, scoop out the filling, puree it, and freeze it.
With VanillaBean, she'll get tired of it sooner or later, and give them what for Miss Emily was the one both Zeus and Athena went for all the time. It took her a year, but she finally had enough, and tore after Athena, chittering at her at the top of her lungs, and Athena turned tail and ran like mad, with little Miss Emily hot on her tail, neck outstreched, mouth wide open, pissed as h*ll ;D
Athena still won't tackle her now ;D
For the diet, you may have to start over again. Take the kibble out overnight, and work with Badger like at the beginning. The raw chunks can be put in the cage and left there all night for the others. Then when you put them back up in the cage, put the kibble back in.

[Deleted]

The orange pad means he's producing oil - which is just fine

The trembling should happen when they all first wake up, to bring their body back to a normal temp.

Are you sure they are bullying her and not playing? My kids play fight, chase each other around, hiss, dook, etc. Maybe you could get a video of it?

[katt]

Oh yes, if you really can't find pumpkin check specialty pet stores. I know the store I get my Freeze Dried meat and Commercial raw from has canned pumpkin just for pets. *I was relieved to see this as pumpkin here is seasonal*
That said if you Still cannot find it, any kind of squash will do. Squash baby food works just as well as pumpkin IME. You do need to feed a little more of it because it is watered down (if 1tsp doesn't do it try like 1.5 tsp), but I have always found it to work quite well. Also oils can help move things through. They act as a lubricant though instead of a fiber. I have had a lot of luck using flax seed as a fiber with Koda's IBD too. I believe Heather said that some ferrets can be sensitive to it though? I never had a problem and use it quite regularly.

[Deleted]

The flax makes some fuzzies itchy, so if you use it look out for that

[maddy]

About nutrition, and I will post there tonight, I did have a mentor, Cristina, but Idk if she is still on bc she graduated college and had to move for a job and was really busy. I dis graduate the mentor program, but Badger did not...

I suppose ill just take megaweasel to the exotics vet I found in Atlanta, he is just sooo expensive. I'm working on my cousin getting some des implants as preventatives but now I'm unsure about Megaweasel...bc if he has it and Idk giving the implant once a yr will be bad for him... I just wish I knew whether or not he did. I could try the lupron shot that katt suggested.

Is the overproduction of oils ever just due to the time of year? Not adrenal? He has the Orange grime on his tail, but it doesn't look like black heads but fire coming in...just hard to tell. And katt, yes I saw the tail pics, it was hard to tell in the pic. Megaweasel is pretty thin... but badgers was nearly naked before her enter coat came in so Idk what to think.

He is lean but still firm and muscular....makes it so hard to decide what to do. My the local vet told me to wait till may/June but its sooo hard.

And I know to look for canned pumpkin, but they didn't have it and said it was seasonal. Thanks for the other suggestions, ill try those. There is a whole foods, fresh market, and trader hors in atl, so one of them is bound to have some pumpkin... its just a good 45min to an hour drive, I could hit it up if I go to that vet tho, or after school.

[katt]

Oh I forgot to add. You can buy fresh squash and prepare your own. Cook it (um, help here? I think boiling is best) and then blend it up with some water. Works the same as canned pumpkin, and is essentially the same thing as the squash baby food. They are all just cooked squash+water. The only factor really is how much water is in each is a bit different.

As for the oils, during seasonal changes, but especially in the Spring (time to oil up that musk and get sexy! ;D) it is normal to produce extra oils. Also, why not just do the Des every 6 months? That will not hurt him at all.... That is what I plan to do for Koda. I think he does have early adrenal, but even if he does not better safe than sorry! I have not decided if I will get a preventative implant done for Kenai or not.

[maddy]

It depends on the cost of the des, my cousin said it was $100 for shipping alone....Idk ill have to wait and see how much it will be all together. I guess that's just what comes w 5 ferrets. I really wanted to use it on the other 4 as a prevention but who knows.

[Deleted]

So for prevention, I believe you have to implant before any tumor growth in order for the implant actually prevent/slow the progression of the disease. With Marshalls, there have been ferrets as young as 8 months with adrenal, so to implant as a preventative I would think you'd have to do it around 6 months or so and continue for the life of the ferret. I think, if you're using it as a preventative, you can implant yearly, but I'm not sure on that. I think it looks promising, but there isn't solid information on it yet. And even if it can slow tumor growth in one ferret, each ferret (and tumor) reacts differently to each drug.

The only thing holding me back from using it preventatively is creating resistant tumors early on that will become more aggressive sooner. Or just using up a very useful tool when they do come down with adrenal.