jhay
New member
Posts: 20
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Post by jhay on Jan 25, 2019 5:17:22 GMT -5
Hello everyone. I have a 3 year old ferret. His name is Fernando. I got really sick about 3 weeks ago and I noticed about 2 weeks ago that my ferrets behavior has changed immensely. He is basically doing everything I have trained him NOT to do. I mean things I have had a problem with him doing since I’ve trained him. He is pooping on every level of his cage except for the designated level (the only level with the bedding and puppy pad [he refuses to use a litter box]). He is getting into any and everything. Even things that he knows can be harmful for him. I have to watch his EVERY MOVE. He is just going really off the rails and I don’t know how much longer I can deal with this. I already have a blind dog that I have to tend to very tediously so to have him acting out this bad on top of it is just too much. Does anyone know what this could be and what I can do to fix it? I don’t want to have to even think about giving him away. He has too many problems and I don’t think he could survive without me and me without him. Any help would be appreciated.
Here are the steps I’ve taken so far to correct the issues:
-Watching his every move when roaming -Thoroughly cleaned levels of the cage not for potty use with order neutralizing pet spray -Thoroughly cleaned each level with soap, vinegar and hot water -Tried scolding when he does something bad but don’t really know much to do besides saying no.
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Post by aurra on Jan 25, 2019 7:19:25 GMT -5
Do you use blankets? My baby won't poop on fresh blankets that smell like a dryer sheet because he likes sleeping on it but once that smell goes away he won't care. I've been training him by changing up fleece blankets every week. (I use hypoallergenic eco stuff so the smell doesn't hurt their noses)
Does he go out of his way to poop on another level. He may be having accidents and will need to see a vet. Or are the poops or pees a little forced? Lol my big guy protest pees when put him in his room. He could just be bored and want more things.
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Jan 25, 2019 7:20:54 GMT -5
Do you have the square ferret potties? You can cut in half a puppy pad and put in litter box and try to wean him off pads in the cage. I use pads and potties in my house but always potties in the cages. I don't want to clean pooh off the bars of cage.
I thought I could have one potty in my Ferret Nation for my waardy. I put it on bottom level---she always sleeps on the top floor. I put blankies and sheets in a wad to cover the whole top floor. Did this prevent her from poohing on top level? No(LOL). She would not go down to bottom level---just too sleepy she said. Anyway I did put a potty on top floor and kept the blankies as before and everything turned out just great. Put a piece of his pooh in the potty too. This lets him know this is where the pooh is suppose to be.
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jhay
New member
Posts: 20
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Post by jhay on Jan 25, 2019 7:22:49 GMT -5
Do you use blankets? My baby won't poop on fresh blankets that smell like a dryer sheet because he likes sleeping on it but once that smell goes away he won't care. I've been training him by changing up fleece blankets every week. (I use hypoallergenic eco stuff so the smell doesn't hurt their noses) Does he go out of his way to poop on another level. He may be having accidents and will need to see a vet. Or are the poops or pees a little forced? Lol my big guy protest pees when put him in his room. He could just be bored and want more things. Hi! I do use blankets in every place for him that is for sleep or relaxation. I tossed them all in the blanket and washed them with a natural botanical soap for sensitive skin. He seems to tolerate it very well. I spoke the the vet and they said they think he is just being lazy since he is looking like we wants to go up the ramp to the correct level but just doesn’t. He isn’t forcing anything either.
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jhay
New member
Posts: 20
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Post by jhay on Jan 25, 2019 7:27:55 GMT -5
Do you have the square ferret potties? You can put a cut in half puppy pad in litter box if he is use to a pad I thought I could have one potty in my Ferret Nation for my waardy. I put it on bottom level---she always sleeps on the top floor. I put blankies and sheets in a wad to cover the whole top floor. Did this prevent her from poohing on top level---no(LOL). She would not go down to bottom level---just too sleepy she said. Anyway I did put a potty on top floor and kept the blankies as before and everything turned out just great. Put a piece of his pooh in the potty too. This lets him know that this is where the pooh is suppose to be. Hi! I do not have a square ferret potty. I have never been able to find one! I’ve looked for over half a year for a good potty/litter box that can fit my large nugget. He was going awesome with the puppy pad on one level for a very long time. I guess now he just can’t be bothered and wants to go on whatever level he fell asleep on. So I will be investing in a square potty but for now I’ll just put puppy pads down (they had adhesive because he likes to move them if that aren’t on the potty level) everywhere else that he has been going. This little big boy has been frazzling me lately lol.
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Jan 25, 2019 7:30:53 GMT -5
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Post by aurra on Jan 25, 2019 7:57:44 GMT -5
I made all my litter boxes. I don't have one in the cage because they didnt sleep in there much but I do need to make one because the baby sleeps in there for some reason lol. I got clear plastic totes that are 2ftX1ft for the corners in their room because they sucked at using the smaller ones... And even then it's about 50% in the litter box. The floors are ruined lol. If you get a clear tote then you will need a dremel. If you get a Rubbermaid one, you can use a knife or mini saw. You should sand it down after. It's extra work but a quarter of the price. Especially if you live in Canada and have to order them through an American website.
I just cut them so they have a high back and an inch lip. They back into it very easily.
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Post by Charlie on Jan 25, 2019 22:08:22 GMT -5
I know what you mean by attending to a dog very tediously! I'm there too with my old pup. Thank goodness my ferret is doing well.
I use shallow cat litter boxes that I got from the dollar store (Dollarama in Canada) in my ferret nation and have one on the top level and the bottom level. I didn't bother even cutting down one side because he can get in and out of it no problem. The top shelf has his food and water and the other shelf has another water bowl. So far he has used his litter box all but once. They are big enough to get all his paws in it and doesn't miss! lol
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Post by Sherry on Jan 26, 2019 10:21:26 GMT -5
Hi, ferrets stress over a variety of things. You being so sick stressed him, so he is acting out. Not to worry, he will get back to normal. For the pottying issues IN the cage, put him on boot camp. Basically restrict him to a single level for now. Cram that level with lots of bedding so the ONLY level place he can potty is his litter box. It needs to be a large one. Litter box one end of cage, food and water the other end. He can burrow in the excess bedding in between. Give him about a week of this, then add in a hammock for him to sleep. If he keeps using the box reliably add a shelf back in. Attach some bedding to that level as well. Leave that for about a week. If he keeps using his box, you can continue to add levels back in at the rate of one a week. If he slips up and goes elsewhere in the cage, go back to the last level he reliably used the box. As for other behaviours- they will change as he realizes you still love him and he is not abandoned.
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