Post by miamiferret2 on Apr 17, 2011 12:50:57 GMT -5
here is the story with Badnews Bear, sonny's friend on facebook. i know we have alot of expert ferrents on here and i am sure we will have good advice for his worried mommy:
Hello Everyone!
I have a situation in which I need some advice from experience ferret owners. I hope I can get some input from everyone if the behavior I'm about to list is normal or abnormal. I just want to add, I only have this bulleted so it doesn't run together haha
As some background, I am a ferret owner of seven. I recently adopted a barely two month year old ferret who wasn't even weaned. His name is Mimzy and he is an albino. I get the impression he is blind and although not deaf, is very vocal. When introduced to the crew, he was vocal and jumped at everyone playfully with open mouth which I think made everyone angry. However, Mimzy has simmered down around the others. Hes a very sweet little man.
I also have six additional kids. Mina who is five, Fiasco who is three, Peach & Badnews who will be three this year, Plum who is two and Pepper who is one. Peach is an alpha and is always rude to newcomers. She definitely has an attitude and has since I got her at 12 weeks. However, the remaining kids I listed are very docile.
Prior to the newcomer, my ferret Badnews had been very stressed out. The ferrets had the flu, had a course of antibiotics and then we had an outbreak of fleas which we have been treating. Badnews is very sensitive and I noticed a thinning of hair at the tip of the bottom side of his tail.
Badnews is normally WONDERFUL with newcomers. He was my second fuzzkid, so he has met his fair share of boys and girls. He normally is very gentle. We even adopted a ferret named Fiasco in January and he was wonderful with him. However, he was very rough and domineering with the little man. I have been keeping them seperated since and only allow little sniffs.
I also need to add that Badnews is very sensitve and very attached to me. He is incredibly empathetic and in tune with me. For instance, when I lost my Gram in January, he got stressed out as well. I'm not sure if he may feel threatened and establishing dominance. Pepper and Fiasco were bigger than him when he came into the house. Also, since everyone is so angry about the newcomer, Mimzy has been getting the most attention though I have been making sure to shower Badnews with a lot of attention.
I have noticed Badnews tail has looked a little worse since. I am now wondering if it could be an adrenal issue. He also has black heads on his tail so I'm not sure if it could be alopecia. His tail is FAR from rat tail but just thinner on about a third of the underside of the tail.
HOWEVER! It is not only Badnews who is being aggressive. Peach (as expected) is and so are Plum and Fiasco. Pepper and Mina are fine with him but the rest attack him any chance they can get. Peach, Fiasco and Badnews start shaking if they smell him on my clothes and they tense up. Could they just not like this ferret? Could Badnews be Adrenal? I am planning a vet visit but I wanted to get some input from experienced fuzzparents!
I'm going to include a picture of his tail. He was NEVER aggressive prior to this and he is my baby. I'm not sure if I'm overreacting and I don't want to start a course of Lupron prematurely. All in put is greatly appreciated
Thank you everyone!
¢¾ Steph
Hello Everyone!
I have a situation in which I need some advice from experience ferret owners. I hope I can get some input from everyone if the behavior I'm about to list is normal or abnormal. I just want to add, I only have this bulleted so it doesn't run together haha
As some background, I am a ferret owner of seven. I recently adopted a barely two month year old ferret who wasn't even weaned. His name is Mimzy and he is an albino. I get the impression he is blind and although not deaf, is very vocal. When introduced to the crew, he was vocal and jumped at everyone playfully with open mouth which I think made everyone angry. However, Mimzy has simmered down around the others. Hes a very sweet little man.
I also have six additional kids. Mina who is five, Fiasco who is three, Peach & Badnews who will be three this year, Plum who is two and Pepper who is one. Peach is an alpha and is always rude to newcomers. She definitely has an attitude and has since I got her at 12 weeks. However, the remaining kids I listed are very docile.
Prior to the newcomer, my ferret Badnews had been very stressed out. The ferrets had the flu, had a course of antibiotics and then we had an outbreak of fleas which we have been treating. Badnews is very sensitive and I noticed a thinning of hair at the tip of the bottom side of his tail.
Badnews is normally WONDERFUL with newcomers. He was my second fuzzkid, so he has met his fair share of boys and girls. He normally is very gentle. We even adopted a ferret named Fiasco in January and he was wonderful with him. However, he was very rough and domineering with the little man. I have been keeping them seperated since and only allow little sniffs.
I also need to add that Badnews is very sensitve and very attached to me. He is incredibly empathetic and in tune with me. For instance, when I lost my Gram in January, he got stressed out as well. I'm not sure if he may feel threatened and establishing dominance. Pepper and Fiasco were bigger than him when he came into the house. Also, since everyone is so angry about the newcomer, Mimzy has been getting the most attention though I have been making sure to shower Badnews with a lot of attention.
I have noticed Badnews tail has looked a little worse since. I am now wondering if it could be an adrenal issue. He also has black heads on his tail so I'm not sure if it could be alopecia. His tail is FAR from rat tail but just thinner on about a third of the underside of the tail.
HOWEVER! It is not only Badnews who is being aggressive. Peach (as expected) is and so are Plum and Fiasco. Pepper and Mina are fine with him but the rest attack him any chance they can get. Peach, Fiasco and Badnews start shaking if they smell him on my clothes and they tense up. Could they just not like this ferret? Could Badnews be Adrenal? I am planning a vet visit but I wanted to get some input from experienced fuzzparents!
I'm going to include a picture of his tail. He was NEVER aggressive prior to this and he is my baby. I'm not sure if I'm overreacting and I don't want to start a course of Lupron prematurely. All in put is greatly appreciated
Thank you everyone!
¢¾ Steph