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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2016 11:45:45 GMT -5
I'm going to be moving soon and I'm trying to get my ferrets used to car rides, since they've never travelled all together before. We plan on putting their whole cage in our car so they have plenty of water and a place to poop, we are going to be in the car for 6 hours, but for right now I have been putting them all in their cat carrier for 10-15 minute car rides. I have noticed something weird though, whenever I take them out of the carrier after a ride there are little wet spots on them. At first I thought it was pee but it doesn't smell like pee and there hasn't been any poop or wet spots in the carrier. All that's in the carrier is the three ferrets and a towel to snuggle in. I know ferrets don't sweat so could this be drool? Pee that doesn't smell? I'm not worried but it has happened every time we have taken them in the car and I'd really like to know what these little wet patches are. Any ideas?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2016 12:09:37 GMT -5
Slobber?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2016 13:18:18 GMT -5
That's what I've been thinking, never seen them drool so much before though, so ferrets slobber a lot?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2016 14:41:44 GMT -5
Is it possible that they are leaning against their water bottle nozzle hard enough to dispense the water? And then as they jostle around in the cage during the ride they get wet in different spots.... Or maybe the water bottle is leaking? Just a guess.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2016 15:03:57 GMT -5
Or... Is there no water bottle in the carrier? Then I'm totally stumped.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2016 17:12:42 GMT -5
There is no water bottle, just a towel, they're only in there for about 15 minutes. I've seen them rub like you said when they're in their cage before but I checked last time before I put them in and they were dry.
If it was pee I would definitely be able to smell it right? I don't think it's that but I don't like the idea of them peeing all over each other in the carrier.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2016 17:45:20 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm stumped. I hope you receive further responses to assist you!
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Post by unclejoe on Jun 20, 2016 18:21:03 GMT -5
the only time i've seen ferrets drool was when they were overheated, which requires immediate action to cool them down, or had a cold/flu/resp infection. I'd guess it was something mechanical. What source of water is there for them in the cage? even when they groom each other they don't usually come out wet. next time take someone along to observe them.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2016 18:43:43 GMT -5
And please make sure they have access to water - no matter if it's only a five minute ride. H2O is just an essential carry-along in my opinion at least.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2016 18:56:50 GMT -5
They aren't showing any other symptoms of overheating (they are alert and responsive and aren't panting or breathing through their mouths at all). It is pretty hot here but they're only out in the heat for a minute or two and we're getting them to the car, after that the AC is ON and we have someone in the back seat with them keeping an eye on them, though I do notice the bottom of the carrier is warm when all three are in there, though it feels just like body warmth.
I'll try putting one of their ice packs in with them but they never seem too interested in the ones I put in their cage, we have AC in the house and we keep the room temperature around '70f. They don't have a water source since they've been on such short rides but I'll try to fix one of their old water bottles to the carrier, although I think if I do I'll never find what was causing it but I'd rather not risk it being heat stroke.
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Jun 20, 2016 19:58:15 GMT -5
Maybe it is pee. If they r hydrated, pees do not have to smell. My Abbey has pees that are clearish as well, but I put a little water in her saucer on her meats or bloody juices from some of the whole prey, so she stays pretty hydrated.
I guess someone will have to check for you--if your the driver--- and see if someone is drooling. I have never seen a ferret drool, but I have read on the forum that some have drooled.
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Post by katt on Jun 20, 2016 21:06:42 GMT -5
It's probably pee. Their pee shouldn't be super pungent smelling, so I wouldn't expect you to be able to smell it necessarily if it was just a small spot. Weird that it's all of them and it's a small spot though - where is this spot? I don't think they are overheating either - they should be fine if the AC is on, they aren't in direct sun (toss a towel over the cage if the sun might shine into the Windows), and they are acting normally. You can put a water bottle in there if you want but I don't bother for short rides in the carrier. If it's really hot (that's what AC is for - it's not hot in the car if you run the AC a few min first), or we'll be driving longer than 10-15min then absolutely they need a water bottle. But they are certainly not going to die of thirst in 10-15min - for perspective a vet appt is longer than that and they aren't usually drinking water during the vet appointment.  Of course you could argue that if something happens and you get stuck then you might have an issue, so that bears keeping in mind - I usually have emergency water in my car. Trips longer than 15min I use a larger carrier or their travel cage - I don't want them laying in poop/pee if they have to go on the way, and they have litter boxes and water bottles in those cages. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2016 22:23:39 GMT -5
If pee won't smell that strong then it probably is that, it was my first thought and I have noticed that one of them always uses the litter box right after I take them out of the carrier. I try to convince them to go before we leave but they're stubborn  The spots were mostly on the backs of their heads, not all of them, mostly Scooter. Is it weird that there weren't any puddles? will ferrets do short bursts of pee when they're in the car? The drive to Connecticut is going to be 6 hours and since I don't have a travel cage I'm going to outfit their normal cage for the car ride, so they'll have some water and a litter pan then. A couple more practice rides and they should be ready for the road. |
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Post by katt on Jun 20, 2016 22:53:24 GMT -5
I would have a towel or blanket draped over the cage to give them shade in case it's sunny. Also, get a 2L soda bottle (if you don't drink soda mineral water is super cheap and you can dump it out) and fill it about 3/4 with water and freeze it. It will stay frozen a really long time. Bring it with you in case it is hot - sometimes the AC can't keep up or might go out. They don't handle the heat well, and it's summer so heat is definitely an issue to worry about.
ETA: I really don't know what to make of wet spots on the head. But if they are acting fine I wouldn't worry too much.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2016 7:35:40 GMT -5
Hi All,
I used to have a sheltie that would barf when I took her out in my Jeep Wrangler. At first she would slobber all over from the rocking since the Jeep had a higher center of gravity. Once I traded the Jeep in for a Subaru which was lower to the ground, she didn't get car sick anymore.
I've never had a ferret get car sick, but figured why couldn't they?
Sarah
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