New baby.

[Deleted]

I recently adopted a ferret from her previous owners. I could tell she was not well taken care of because her ears were filthy, she wasn't litter trained, her toenails hadn't been trimmed, and her coat is very dull. She's not very old maybe less than 6 months. She had a cagemate but the previous owners couldn't clarify if she was bonded. They also told me she had been eating their cats food. Once she got to my home she ate and ate and ate. I cleaned her up and started her on supplements. I also started feeding her duk soup. She's not near as energetic as my other baby. She seems to be very weak however she has shown significant improvement that past two days. I was gonna wait a week to see if she's just adjusting to take her to see a vet. She DOES play and run around but not like my other baby who is bouncing off the walls. Is she just getting used to the new environment? Or maybe she's just a little out of of shape from the neglect of her previous owners? Is it just her personality? Should I be worried?

[Heather]

I would be vetting. Never introduce a ferret to your household before properly vetting. If nothing else it will prevent the annoying need to treat everyone in the household for mites. Appearances can be deceiving, what do her teeth look like? You age by teeth
ciao

[Sherry]

I agree. Vetting a new animal is essential for all the animals in the house.

[unclejoe]

Hi, thanks for taking in a needy fuzzy. It's always advisable to get a new pet checked by a vet before you try to socialize them with your current pets, especially if you believe they haven't been properly cared for. Dirty smelly ears could mean mites, and they are easily transmitted to other ferrets and any other pets you may have. At the very least treat for mites ASAP. Check for fleas, too.
If she's been caged her whole life, it might take a few days to get used to a little out of cage time.  You're probably already seeing the difference a decent diet makes.  Keep it up.  Crappy kat food is no good for ferrets, but there are some good kat foods that may be appropriate.  A lot of cheap kat foods contain corn as the first and/or second ingredient, and corn is a no no, as it breaks down to sugar.  Avoid peas as well, as they can lead to bladder stones.  Good luck with your new lil buddy.