|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2012 15:18:18 GMT -5
Hi all, I have a friend who just went through a tough rescue. She saw an ad on craigslist for ferret kits in her area, and contacted the breeder because some of the info provided sounded suspicious. After speaking with the breeder she was able to confirm he was borderline abusing the ferrets. He was feeding the nursing jill only twice per day, Marshalls mixed with 8in1 (not sure which formula.) So, naturally, the mother and kits are extremely underweight and malnourished. One kit was doing poorly and the breeder was willing to surrender the kit to her, but he died before she was able to get to him. Had apparently been chewed on by mother and siblings.
Anyway she was able to get the man to surrender the mom and remaining kits to her/the shelter she volunteers for, and they picked them all up yesterday. The mother was implanted with Deslorelin immediately. Kits are about 8 weeks old, but undernourished. Still nursing. She is wondering what, if any, effects the des will present to the kits? I believe they will eat soups/mush as well, so it would probably be possible to wean them fully if needed.
Any input is welcomed, she is doing a great job getting these ferrets healthy again but wanted to make sure she wasn't harming the kits by allowing them to nurse.
Thanks!
|
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Sept 14, 2012 15:23:54 GMT -5
DES will dry her up. It's adviced that DES not be administered to breeding or nursing stock (their words not mine, it's written on the pamphlet  ) The kits should probably be weened at this point anyway so that the jill can recover. My first question would be how soon is it safe to administer the implant to a jill who was nursing and is under-nourished. I would be calling the company. Your friend is an angel. Thank you so much for rescuing this wee girlie and her little ones. Hopefully, they will have a chance and the  , fool which is a politer way of putting it will not be able to get his hands on new breed stock ciao |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2012 17:31:49 GMT -5
I agree! The guy "just wanted his hob to know what sex was like." Um...   He seems to understand getting in over his head and I believe the shelter is heavily suggesting he neuter his hob if he won't surrender him. I hope they keep checking in with him, because frankly I think charges should have been pressed. I figured it would dry her up pretty quickly, too. Thanks for the response! |
|
|
|
Post by miamiferret2 on Sept 14, 2012 18:30:49 GMT -5
Oh lord. That is not good. Those kits will prob have to be hand fed now.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Sept 14, 2012 18:35:13 GMT -5
At 8 weeks they should be able to be weaned thank heavens. Thank heavens she was able to talk him into giving the Jill as well as the babies up.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2012 18:53:01 GMT -5
Weaned at 8 weeks is not a terrible thing, it just concerns me because they were so malnourished to begin with - if it were up to me, I wouldn't have implanted the mama until the kits were well again. But, it is what it is, and they *are* attempting to get them all on raw supplementation, so that is at least a positive!
|
|
|
|
Post by miamiferret2 on Sept 14, 2012 19:55:35 GMT -5
Oh i missed their ages. I though they were younger. If she was not being fed appropriately they must be malnourished. Even if 8 weeks already.  |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2012 11:21:31 GMT -5
Good lord, where are you finding intact ferrets in MA? Or is your friend elsewhere in the country? There are no more breeders in New England from my understanding and research. |
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Sept 15, 2012 12:42:53 GMT -5
You can get intact ferrets from Carolina Ferrets if I remember correctly. You ARE supposed to implant them with des for chemical castration, or agree to spay/neuter at an appropriate age.
However, there are byb's around as well and they could have come from there.
|
|
|
|
Post by crazylady on Sept 15, 2012 16:10:00 GMT -5
oh boy you can ween them now very successfully but you will need to do it in small stages ( or they will get bloat and there stomaches wont cope ) I would do 6 small meals a day along with kitten replacer milk starting with a mush gradually making it thicker as the days progress so after a week they can cope with ground meats hope this helps take care bye for now
Bev
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2012 22:53:02 GMT -5
This friend lives in Texas, I have no idea where the guy got intact ferrets. MA has a law against the sale of intact ferrets, though until a couple years ago, I only knew of one BYB in the state (Methuen.) They have since switched to breeding guinea pigs  I think currently I might be the only person in the state with any intact ferrets (shh don't tell the government!) Thanks for the weaning advice, Bev. So far they are doing well with replacer milk, I think they are going to be started on a raw mush soon! |
|
|
|
Post by darlene on Sept 16, 2012 10:54:51 GMT -5
Thank God those poor ferrets were rescued from that abuser. Praying that momma and the kits do well.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2012 12:01:09 GMT -5
I think currently I might be the only person in the state with any intact ferrets (shh don't tell the government!) Nah.. we're around. Had a heck of a time getting our last private breeder ferrets neutered, though (years ago). Had a few receptionists tell me that they 'come without their bits!'. And one that threatened to call the police on me for owning intact ferrets. Fingers crossed that mom and kits bounce back from this rough start! |
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Sept 18, 2012 13:56:05 GMT -5
The receptionist was going to call due to you having an intact ferret you were in the process of trying to get neutered. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2012 14:32:45 GMT -5
yep! I had a good laugh at that one... and the ones who asked me if I was SURE my ferret had testicles.  |
|
