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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2017 13:11:33 GMT -5
So I recently adopted a young ferret as a companion for our mischievous and energetic little girl Linguini as we are both both at University during the day and worried she was lonely for those hours. We got Ravioli a very calm, chunky, panda coloured male hoping he might balance her craziness out a little bit... I live in Canada and there are unfortunately no good breeders, certainly not in our area of the Country. I got him from a smaller breeder because we originally got Linguini at a Petland and she has a whole bunch of issues. But after found out this is just another backyard mill  ... we noticed he was very different from her not just more calm but he barely reacted to anything ! loud noises like things being dropped or alarms going off would send linguini running to investigate and he just lumbers along like nothing is going on. He also has a habit of whipping around and smashing into walls and furniture.. at first we thought it might be because he was still a clumsy baby ( we got him a week after he was weaned)... but he hasn't grown out of it... so we started to do at home tests to see if he might be deaf.. he reacts to NO sound so we are 99% sure he is deaf. which makes sense due to his colour and the indiscriminate breeding here. he doesn't seem nearly as intelligent as Linguini although he is much more affectionate. He is also very vocal he dooks and cries much more and much louder than linguini and if we pick him up from behind he gets scared and tries to bite for a second before he sees that it is just us. We do have an appointment with a vet but good exotic vets are hard to find and because this is not really an emergency it is not for another two weeks. we are fairly sure the vet is just going to tell us what we already know... We love our little Ravioli and his slight derpy nature and want to give him the best home we can... So I am wondering if anyone has any tips on training, care and handling a deaf ferret? Thanks ! |
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Post by Heather on Jan 26, 2017 18:35:53 GMT -5
Pandas are always deaf...their colouring dictates they will be. The reactions you're seeing are the reactions of a neural crest or waardy ferret. They're "special" children. The loud vocals, that's a deafy. I don't like the fact he runs into walls but if he does this while wardancing ....then he's just a ferret. They're notorious for dancing themselves off beds, shelves desks...it's one of the reasons why we suggest not to allow them to climb. Where are you in Canada (big place lol), just want an approximation you don't have to be specific.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2017 0:30:17 GMT -5
Oh yes it's nearly always while war dancing. Currently living in Northern Alberta. But I got him when I was visiting family back in Manitoba..
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Post by Sherry on Jan 27, 2017 11:52:03 GMT -5
Sounds like most panda/blaze type ferrets then  They are for the most part happy wee things, but can take longer to train due to the WS |
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Post by mayhemkb on Feb 1, 2017 10:06:57 GMT -5
Oh yeah. The little DEW(or to become a DEW) deaf ones are my cup of tea. I have become the White Weezil Wayward Home and Stoopie House for the shelter. They are just awesome in the personality department and are often super easy to teach tricks to (since they watch so carefully) and they are less spooked outside, in new places and in water. (Put them in a full tub. . .every single one of the ones I have known or handled will happily and calmly float there observing the chaos around them that is bath time.) They are usually pretty confident and happy. Beware, they screech during wrestling matches because they are winning. They also have screaming nightmares at times too. They don't know they are loud. My husband calls any play initiated by them a stealth attack, because if they can't hear themselves no else must either.  Food, hand signals, flash lights and floor stomping are great training tool with these guys. I have found a gentle tap or touch to alert them when you are behind them gets rid of the startle effect. Even if they can't hear you, talk to them. I have developed the habit of holding my weezils up to my chest or throat if I talk to them so they can feel the vibrations. As a heads up with them; I have found that they seem to be more prone to premature aging of their teeth and age out older than they are because of that. Often my older DEWs have no incisors by the time they hit 6yo. They also are more prone to cardiomyopathy so keep an eye out for that. They can have GI issues and some even have a cleft pallet (but you would have noticed that already.) Some of the Marshall babies with the neural crest defects are dwarfs and are a bit mentally slower (though still smart enough to hold their own and learn a lot.) I call those little ones Stoopies and they have a host of health issues that are of their own category. Your Ravioli does not sound like that. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2017 13:39:30 GMT -5
Honestly so far he has been less of a struggle to train than Linguini. He caught on to litter training much quicker than her and he very rarely has accidents, we have only had him for about a month while we have been trying with her for almost half a year and she still poops right beside the little box! The first time I gave him a bath I panicked a little bit when he shoved his entire face under the water! he loves loves water while Linguini HATES it! He is so happy and constantly dooking even when he is trying to sneak attack our feet (yep suuuper sneaky buddy ) .. I have been a little concerned by the screeching during play I have difficulty differentiating who it is coming from when they are tumbling and rolling all over the place I worry that because he cannot hear her and he may not know when he is being too rough?.. I wouldn't be so concerned about this but Linguini is TINY he is already twice her size and isn't even full grown! thanks for the heads up on health aspect! I am currently studying Veterinary health technology so I am little more worried than I probably need to be about my creatures because learning and dealing with the health issues pets have is what we do all day! Unfortunately exotics is not very focused on so I still feel pretty in the dark about that! I will make sure to keep my eye out for it! |
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Post by Heather on Feb 2, 2017 16:00:37 GMT -5
I agree the screeching during play is disconcerting. At one time of 7 in one cage group, 6 were deafies....so I do know what you're talking about. It's hard to believe that only 10 or 15 yrs ago, having a deafy was a rare occurance  Now it's not uncommon for people to have multiples or whole businesses of nothing but waardies  I got to know the difference (between the different ferrets) between stop nibbling me and d*mn I'm going to tear your fur off screams. There were times when I'd come charging in and find that the screaming was for nothing and everyone was playing. Nothing like rushing into the room and everyone stops and looks at you with the "w-h-a-t??!!" expression. ciao |
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Post by mayhemkb on Feb 6, 2017 10:30:30 GMT -5
I have found there is a marked difference in the sound little deafies make. It has the same tone to it as a deaf person who speaks out loud. IT comes from the back of the throat a bit and is an almost mushy big tongue type noise. The non deaf ferret noises are more bright and crisp notes. . .
There is a learning curve with ferrets. You have some great resources at your fingertips being in the program you are. All the ferret vets I have used had to self study on them and got their practice with them through our local shelter and the ones they would bring through. When I was a vet assistant I would just pour through the Veterinary Textbooks they kept on hand on my lunch break. They were fascinating and I learned a ton.
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