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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2011 0:33:11 GMT -5
It's a risk you have to weigh on your own. The chances of your ferret actually getting rabies is very slim. So the only reason most vaccinate is to satisfy the laws. Some travel between states, some need it for shows, etc. Some are worried about what will happen if the ferret bites someone, etc.
I choose not to. That decision is not best for everyone.
If you do decide to vaccinate, I would try to wait until 4-6 months. The later the better. A vaccine given before the maternal antibodies wear off does absolutely no good. So save yourself some cash and risk of reaction.
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Post by Heather on May 1, 2011 0:36:33 GMT -5
Dead sleeping, can be scary even when you know about it My guys don't have any problem with vacuum cleaners hearing or deafies. It is an object to destroy, chase away. It has rubber tires, tubes, makes a lot of noise and it has been known to suck up little ferret tails and bums...you attack it, bite it and chase it ;D. ciao
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Post by Sherry on May 1, 2011 1:20:24 GMT -5
Rabies is the law here, unfortunately. And the penalty is extremely stiff. Ferret is taken, euthanized and tested. Period. I no longer do vaccines, but neither do I allow anyone who is not involved in the ferret community here to touch one of my ferrets unless I am absolutely certain that ferret will not nip even if startled. Vincent and Miss Emilee are the only two who fit that bill.
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Post by therippletide on May 1, 2011 1:32:13 GMT -5
One of the past ferts we had was deaf. We finally figured it out because she had no sense of balance. She'd fall over backwards and didn't seem to notice it. She was also much jumpier than our boys were. Sleeping Not Dead, I forgot about it until recently. Watch the chest and then you can be sure they're still breathing. It's gotta be one of the scariest things with fuzzies. Rip does it a lot and it still scares me!
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Post by Sherry on May 1, 2011 1:36:32 GMT -5
One test I've done to determine deafness is to take a fuzz into a small enclosed room with something like a hard sided empty cat carrier. I place the carrier up out of sight on the bathroom counter, let the fuzz get busy checking everything out while I stand beside the counter. When they aren't paying me any attention, I give the carrier a god awful bang with my hand. Fuzz has no reaction, they are likely deaf. If they jump out of their skin, they can obviously hear ;D
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Post by miamiferret2 on May 1, 2011 8:42:07 GMT -5
Hard to tell if they are deaf because they respond to vibrations too. Just subtle differences. Make a tapping sound on the counter far away and see who looks up. Deaf ferrets get along just fine anyway. Some people go years without knowing that their ferret is deaf. When ferrets are old they also lose their hearing. I won't get into the vaccine issue as I believe we have all spoken about that in the other thread. In December I am having him titered but I probably will not be vaccinating again for rabies as I found a local reaction to the vax.
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2011 9:10:32 GMT -5
As for knowing weather or not Ping was deaf....well while she's always been with other ferrets, she will play for a bit and then go off on her own, seemingly ignoring everyone and everything...no response to loud noises (I have three skin kids so loud noises are the norm here) no looking in the way of a noise, no jumping or startling...just Ping in her own little world. As for vaccines, I don't do them here...and if I ever run into a problem with Animal Control then I'll get titers done...
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2011 10:12:48 GMT -5
Becareful with the vacuum - dont let their heads near the nozzle that sucks. Ferrets have very fragile lungs and can be killed. Also collars can get caught on objects or other ferrets mouths - the only time I use a harness is when we go outside.
I use wellness core , and evo , and a mixture that includes Blue Buffalo for wild cats. When I get a new ferret I have THEIR food- My mix - core - evo - 4 bowls - sometimes 5 becase i will start mixing their food with core - I watch to see what they are eating and once they start eating the good stuff the bad food disapears.
Also I have read that raisons and grapes can cause kidney failure in ferrets.
I give my ferrets dogswell chicken breast jerky as a treat .
Good Luck
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Post by fearless on May 1, 2011 10:18:48 GMT -5
My two get bones as treats, they LOVE em, if they are good I leave them in the cage for weeks. Good as in eat all the meat off of em.
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Post by miamiferret2 on May 1, 2011 10:25:42 GMT -5
My Aleister used to ride the vacuum. he also ruined the vacuum by biting the hose.
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2011 11:31:16 GMT -5
Yikes, Vaccinating sounds scary, but so does your ferret getting confescated I wouldn't let anyone other than close family members or friends near the ferrets and even then I don't think I'd let them hold them or get close enough to be bitten. I'll have to go read the vaccination thread. My cat had a really bad reaction to the Rabies vaccine when I got her vaccinated a month ago so I'm already hesitant as it is. Did yours get initial vaccines Sherry? I'd much rather do titers when needed than vaccinate annually or every two years. But I'm guessing they do need some initial shots at least? Thanks for all of the "deaf tests" haha, I will have to try some of them out. I'm not planning on leaving collars on them, just harnesses when we go out. I don't let my cats wear collars in the house either, because they do always get stuck on something. What kind of bones do you give them Fearless? Do you use evo cat or ferret food boozle? I've read they are like the exact same ingredients and contents, but that the cat one is cheaper?
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Post by fearless on May 1, 2011 11:40:18 GMT -5
I give them raw chicken bones for now, they really like em. I plan on adding more bones when I find some good cuts with it. Right now Jude's favorite is chicken wing bones, Zoey's favorite is a chicken thigh bone.
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2011 11:56:51 GMT -5
The issue with the initial kit series is that the shots are given before the maternal antibodies have worn off. So the shots don't provide any protection, because the maternal antibodies cancel them out .
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2011 15:22:10 GMT -5
The issue with the initial kit series is that the shots are given before the maternal antibodies have worn off. So the shots don't provide any protection, because the maternal antibodies cancel them out . Ohh okay that makes sense. I looked into some of those vaccine articles and will read some more and make sure I'm well educated before I go to the vet so that I can discuss it with them.
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Post by Sherry on May 1, 2011 15:28:51 GMT -5
Also I have read that raisons and grapes can cause kidney failure in ferrets. Yes, they can. Any fruit should NOT be fed, because of the sugar in it as well. That's one of the things that can ultimately trigger insulinoma. Did yours get initial vaccines Sherry? I'd much rather do titers when needed than vaccinate annually or every two years. But I'm guessing they do need some initial shots at least? They did, and a one year booster. My first four also got a second year, not realizing that the first ones likely would last for the rest of their lives, or close to it. Now, I'd not do any til at least 4-6 months old, then a one year following that.
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