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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2011 8:10:25 GMT -5
I love having a strong bond with my ferret. He follows me everywhere, he plays with me, he grooms me, he even sleeps with us! He thinks I'm a big ferret. LOL. When you have more than one it is cute but they bond more with eachother than with you. So true! I get all of the kisses for myself. ;D
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Post by Sherry on Apr 21, 2011 9:13:26 GMT -5
Carpetsharks- since you are looking at adopting a bonded trio, it would likely be from FRES, so talk to them and get their opinion! One good thing here- the only emergency "fee" I have to pay(I think this is still in effect) is an extra $20 if they are brought in after 10pm at night. The clinic I use is a 24 hour one
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Post by miamiferret2 on Apr 21, 2011 9:48:53 GMT -5
Omg that is awesome. I get charged $150 extra for an emergency fee! It's ridiculous.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2011 9:50:43 GMT -5
Yeah, the clinic I have to go to in the case of an ER visit (not even a ferret knowledgable vet) charges me $100 bucks to walk through the door.
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Post by goingpostal on Apr 21, 2011 10:11:38 GMT -5
$112 e-vet fee here and that's the one that's 2.5 hours away! There isn't really one locally, if you can get ahold of the vet they would help but they aren't useful for a ferret issue anyways.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2011 11:18:15 GMT -5
First off, thank you to those of you who did play devil's advocate - I wanted to get both viewpoints on the situation. I'm starting to think 3 is a bit overwhelming at first, so I'm thinking scratch that idea, but now you guys have got me torn between getting just one or getting two haha! Good to know about the emergency fee Sherry - that helps a lot. After reading about the trios on the FRES website thouh I get the impression they want them to have run of the whole house with minimum cage time, but I can only provide a ferret proof room (which will be 110% ferret proofed - I will get it inspected and check it over as many times as possible) and even then I will have them in the cage when I'm not there or sleeping. Im just worked that one would be super lonely when I got back to school... Hmmm I guess it's easier to start with fewer and get more because I would not want to get more and end up with fewer... If any one else has more insight keep it coming!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2011 11:19:25 GMT -5
Could you possibly foster? That way, you know how much you can handle before you commit?
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Post by kainslie1 on Apr 21, 2011 12:04:49 GMT -5
I adopted a ferret, and as many know, was in and out of the vet's the whole time I had him (8 months) In that 8 months, I spent about 4 thousand on him.. and that is with many vet fee's dismissed (I only paid for 3 vets times for the visit) otherwise it was just meds, and things..
You have to put in mind, the cage, bedding, litter, food, 'everyday' supplies, suppliments ect.
I would definetly try one, or two for now.. One was great and I wish I had more (even though sometimes I was overwhelmed with just one..) I have a high paying job, and I had difficulties with everything.
If I get another ferret (not really if, but when..) I would like two or three.. but before that - I have to save money and have an e-fund.. because I was stuck in bad places a few times, so I couldn't help him to the extent I wanted too.. =[
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Post by miamiferret2 on Apr 21, 2011 12:52:38 GMT -5
@ jackie that really sucks !! at least my emergency vet is ferret knowledgeable. @ carpetsharks, i think everyone here has given you great advice. the medical bill thing is unfortunate but true: when ferrets get sick, it can get really expensive. one of my ferrets was sick w/ insulinoma and advanced adrenal disease & i would literally spend anywhere from $300 to $600 a month on vet bills and medications. he needed melatonin implants every 4 months and lupron every month. then later it was deslorelin which had to be flown in from another country especially for the little prince. he was also on flutamide, propecia, pediapred, diazoxide (a SUPER expensive medication), carafate and various other medications for his ulcers/ibd issues. i was always at the pharmacy picking up his meds. it was a long illness too. he was sick for a year and a half. of course, I loved him more than you can ever imagine and i did it gladly bc i don't have or want skin children and he was like my son. but it is not for everyone. i would come home every day for lunch and feed him, gave him his meds and then rush back to work. this was a 1/2 hour drive to and from. so i'd drive an extra hour every day. i'd wake up in the middle of the night to feed him (sometimes he had to be syringe fed b/c he didn't want to eat). everything revolved around his feeding and medication schedule. i have foregone many vacations bc of old and sick ferrets. i actually hate travelling anywhere bc i hate to leave my ferrets in someone else's care even when they are healthy. fortunately, my mother comes over and stays at my house while i'm gone and she cares for them so i don't have to drop them off and leave them at someone else's house. my mom has also had ferrets for many years so she's not a complete idiot. but still, i worry about leaving them with her.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2011 14:27:55 GMT -5
I'm so sorry to hear about the medical struggles you guys have had with your ferrets I do understand it's pretty much inevitable with these guys, so I think I do need to start with just 1 or 2 and instead of deciding I want 1 or 2 I think I'll just go with whatever happens - maybe I'll find a perfect bonded pair an maybe I'll find a ferret who doesn't like other ferrets and would rather human companionship. As for fostering... I could do that, but my worry is what if the ferrets I end up fostering are really sweet but just dont work for my lifestyle and I don't want to adopt them... Then I have foster ferrets and possibly other ferrets that I end up adopting. I can see ferret math taking over very quick here haha. I think I will talk to FRES - see who they match me with and go from there Thank you all for your advice - having never owned ferrets, having more than one sounds great in my head and I'm sure it's pretty easy when you're used to them (just as 3 hedgies is basically no different than one) but until I figure out my footing as a ferrent - probably best to start slow. Thanks again! It's so great to have such experienced people to turn to for insight!!!!
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Post by Sherry on Apr 21, 2011 21:32:49 GMT -5
After reading about the trios on the FRES website thouh I get the impression they want them to have run of the whole house with minimum cage time, That's simply the ideal. When I fostered, and then wound up adopting(failed at fostering 101 ;D ), they knew in advance I'd only be able to get them out for about 4 hours a day on weekdays, but longer on w/e.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2011 0:42:55 GMT -5
After reading about the trios on the FRES website thouh I get the impression they want them to have run of the whole house with minimum cage time, That's simply the ideal. When I fostered, and then wound up adopting(failed at fostering 101 ;D ), they knew in advance I'd only be able to get them out for about 4 hours a day on weekdays, but longer on w/e. Yeah... the opinion seems to vary between FRES representatives. I talked to quite a few different ones at the Pet Expo last month and some of them were dead-set on the ferrets MUST be free-roaming and the others told me my set-up (a large cage with 4-6 hours of ferret-proofed room roaming) was perfect... so I don't know. I love them for being so dedicated and picky about what homes their ferrets go to... but at the same time I feel incredibly daunted by their whole adoption "process".... I can seriously see why some people just get them from pet stores. Hopefully I'll get a chance to talk to one of the less radical people in the organization... but I find some rescue organizations are just overwhelming, sometimes.
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Post by engel on Apr 22, 2011 1:00:43 GMT -5
I have to agree with you, Engel. I started out with one, ended up with two while working two jobs, going to school, and planning my wedding. Even before the second job and the wedding, I am ashamed to think about how little attention I was able to give them. There is a sharp learning curve with these guys, and I think it's easier when you have one or two to start so you can really get to know their personalities. Because they all have their affinities... One might like rubbery things, one might like noisy things, etc. This means they will go after and possibly steal different things. You'll have to figure out how to properly ferret-proof their play area, and then of course theres the whole feeding issue... Just having one more and making it three may not sound like a big difference to the veterans here, but for me two was WAY plenty. I didn't go for a third until I was working part time and out of school. It can be really stressful on you AND your fuzz if you can't get over that learning curve quickly enough. It's one thing to be aware of all the things you'll need to do, and another to experience them. You don't want to be stuck cleaning more poop than you can handle because they're stubborn about litter training, not eating well because they don't like the food, having weird mysterious illnesses you can't properly attend to for lack of time.... List goes on and on.I do think it's great you're "overthinking" it this much, and that you are brave enough to consider it! You might pull it off, you seem determined enough, and they are very rewarding fuzzies to have. But this being your first time, I'd really consider one or two, probably two since they'd at least have each other to entertain and not require YOU to be their everything. Three might just be enough to tip the scales to utter frustration! I agree with all you said! and I put in bold the parts I felt more stong about! 'ear 'ear!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2011 1:03:09 GMT -5
That's simply the ideal. When I fostered, and then wound up adopting(failed at fostering 101 ;D ), they knew in advance I'd only be able to get them out for about 4 hours a day on weekdays, but longer on w/e. Yeah... the opinion seems to vary between FRES representatives. I talked to quite a few different ones at the Pet Expo last month and some of them were dead-set on the ferrets MUST be free-roaming and the others told me my set-up (a large cage with 4-6 hours of ferret-proofed room roaming) was perfect... so I don't know. I love them for being so dedicated and picky about what homes their ferrets go to... but at the same time I feel incredibly daunted by their whole adoption "process".... I can seriously see why some people just get them from pet stores. Hopefully I'll get a chance to talk to one of the less radical people in the organization... but I find some rescue organizations are just overwhelming, sometimes. If you don't want to support a pet store adopting one off of Craigslist is also an option. Believe me, I sympathize about ferret rescues. There are several in my area and all are...odd...to say the LEAST. Very anti-raw and pro yearly vaccines. I didn't feel comfortable with lying and risking them possibly finding out and having the ability to seize the fuzz.
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Post by engel on Apr 22, 2011 1:05:43 GMT -5
I would start with one. There is a big learning curve with ferrets. There have been some people on here that got ferrets and then realized later that it is not the right pet for them (I believe her username was bluemoose?). I have a single ferret now. He is a nut. Extremely happy and playful. He is also very bonded to me. I prefer one now bc 1) vet bills for ferrets can get crazy 2) if I get more than one, I have to worry about bonding and if one dies I deal with major stress issues. Sometimes they just about lose the will to live when their friends die. Bandit is a single ferret too, and he is really really happy. but as most people usually recommend getting them in pairs or something, and you were wanting 3... and if you wouldnt be happy with just 1, i would advice to get just 2. But Bandit is happy being a single ferret, and there ARE happy only ferrets out there! ;D so it is an option as well, just as will know. (is just the op only said 2 or 3, so i adviced to get 2, but i really think is ok and even better for a first time owner to get only one ferret to learn everything there is to learn about it and be prepared to welcome a second or third fuzzy to there home. i know people that now have 10 or 11 ferrets that has a single ferret for almost a year!!)
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