Rat Tail Natural Remedy

[Deleted]

My boy Teddy's tail is looking a bit scraggly. The tip has little black spots on it, so I am hoping just rat tail and not adrenal sign. I figured the only way to know without spending a fortune since another pet is going to the vet frequently right now, would be to try treating the rat tail and then if that doesn't work take him in. But all I've read about people using is toner (like salicylic acid for breakouts) on rat tail for fuzzies. I not only don't like that stuff but I don't buy it due to some of the other yucky ingredients in those things.

However, I do make my own facial toner from dried organic thyme, I infuse it in organic witch hazel. Will that work? I have plain witch hazel if thyme is a bad idea. If it's something I can make from what I have that would be optimal. I just don't want to put anything on him if it could be harmful. Thanks!

[Deleted]

You can wash the tail with Dawn's dish soap (the blue one) with some warm water. Only the tail though. The black spots are actually blackheads on the tail and, hopefully, the rat tail is due to the clogged pores and well it causes hair loss. So try washing his tail on a weekly basis or until the blackhead start dissappearing or the fur returns. If it doesn't then it may be time to schedule a vet appt. Hope this helps

[Deleted]

I won't use Dawn dish soap on an animal or on myself due to the chemicals in that nasty stuff. I do, however, make my own soap. I could just use castile soap and rinse his tail with apple cider vinegar instead I guess, totally forgot about my organic ACV, thanks for the reminder. People use that as a facial toner for blackheads too so I don't know why I hadn't thought of it till now.

[crazylady]

Hi you could simply leave the tail alone ! the new hair will push out the plugs of oil and hey presto no blackheads and fuzzy peach fur lol take care bye for now
Bev

[bitbyter]

yeah, I don't really bother doing anything with Rat Tail. It always goes away on the next shed. As for the ears, do you have more than one ferret? If you do, just put a bit of their oil supplement (ferretone, olive oil, salmon oil, etc) on your finger tips and give their ears a good gentle massage (outer and inner ear surface, DON"T poke your finger into the ear canal). They normally will clean each others ears during normal grooming but sometimes grooming each other falls off for a bit (if they are having a spat). The oil will entice them to get back at it.

[Deleted]

Nov 8, 2013 16:32:36 GMT -5 bitbyter said:

yeah, I don't really bother doing anything with Rat Tail. It always goes away on the next shed. As for the ears, do you have more than one ferret?

Didn't know some people did nothing for rat tail. Huh, who'd have thought. He hasn't had a bath in ages anyway so no harm would come of it, worth a shot at least once to see if it helps.

No. I do not have more than one ferret, thankfully. Medical bills for one and our other pets are already almost more than I can handle. Still staying on top of them but it's making QOL for DH & I really hard. Do not see us getting more exotics for a long time.

Thanks guys.

(wave)

[crazylady]

Hi normally bathing them just encourages them to make more oil which in turn = more black heads I use olive oil for cleaning in there ears too simply drip in a little warm olive oil massage down wipe the outer ear with separate cotton wool balls repeat with the oil leave over night and the gunk surfaces then wipe again hope this helps take care bye for now
Bev

[Sherry]

No, I don't bother either. 6 out of our 9 had really bad rat tail this year, and now all have full bushy winter tails

[Deleted]

I do a bath like once a year when he needs it, sometimes less because I know it makes them produce more oils when you bathe frequently (something we never do). I did know the black spots were called blackheads but it had been such a long time since I read it I didn't want to say that and end up looking the fool, haha. Castile soap + ACV rinse has always been a good bath for all our pets, I'm hoping the ACV will help with the tail. I just hate the look of it personally. It's never looked this bad. And the rest of his winter coat is coming in, plus the winter fat so it looks weird I guess haha.

[Heather]

I don't treat for rat tail either. I used to many years ago but discovered that you even if you clean judiciously that the hair doesn't grow back any faster and it was just not worth the stress caused to the parties involved
ciao

[Thérèse]

I agree with Heather. Years ago I had a boy who got rat tail with each coat change. At first I freaked and washed it and the hair came back but then I started leaving it and the hair came back the same, washing did nothing except make me feel like I was doing something

[Deleted]

I never experienced rat tail before but I think Dipsy has it. Is it like really crusty skin on the tail?

[crazylady]

Hi rats tail looks different from ferret to ferret some get dry skin with tiny brown/black dots (oil blocking pores) others get it just underneath the tail (more common in sables ) where lighter ferrets often loose all the hair on the tail in some sables the tail can take on a blue hue ( this is simply the new growth under the skin ) if your ferrets tail is excessively dry and bald you can go against the norm lol simply drip a little olive oil on your hands and massage your hands then rub lightly over the tail this helps prevent the tail cracking and splitting hope this helps take care bye for now
Bev

[lyles]

What if the rat tail is chronic?

Alice did have her rat tail improve when her winter coat came in, but now the end of her tail has rat tail again.

Lots of black heads.

[Sherry]

Some have rat tail every summer. As long as it comes back in every winter no issues. Is it only from the tip up that it sheds? If ever at the base of the tail odds are you are dealing with adrenal.