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Modern Ferret News Mailing List Issue #30
http://www.ferretnews.com
September 26, 2002
by Mary R. Shefferman and Eric Shefferman
contact: mary modernferret.com
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Hi
This issue contains the third part of a three-part
article by Mary on reducing stress in ferrets. This
is an important concept that we've been repeating
again and again over the years in our magazine. For
some of you this will be familiar and for some of you
it will be all new concepts -- either way, it is well
worth reading to help get you thinking about ways to
improve your ferrets' lives.
I'd like to say thank you to all the people who wrote
kind words to us about Balthazar. The nicest email was
from someone who actually met us at the Pet Expo in NJ
on the day we got Balthazar and remembered seeing us
holding him.
Over the years we and our ferrets have really gotten
around quite a bit and a lot of people have had the
opportunity to hold one of the Modern Ferrets. It
really pleases me how many people's (and ferrets'!)
lives our ferrets have touched.
Our friend Melissa took the original Magic 8 Ferret
I did and souped it up as a Macromedia Shockwave
file that actually talks out loud. It's really funny!
http://asktheferret.com/talkingmagic8ferret.html
It's a 522K download (about 1 to 2 minutes on a 56K
modem) and requires the free Shockwave player. Don't
let your boss catch you playing with it!
The Modern Ferret News web site has been updated a
bit and the most recent issues are now available. If
you missed any of them, or if you want to read the
first two parts of Mary's article, the location is:
http://www.ferretnews.com/issues.html
- Eric
----- The Modern Ferret News -----
>>> In this issue: <<<
==> Stress Reduction - Part 3 of 3
by Mary R. Shefferman
==> Update on Modern Ferret Things
------ About the Modern Ferret News ------
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==> Stress Reduction - Part 3 of 3
by Mary R. Shefferman
-- Repeating the Introduction
We often think that because ferrets don't have jobs
or deadlines or bills that they don't have stress.
They sleep in hammocks, have all their food and water
provided -- and they get to play a lot. But stress for
ferrets is not the same as stress in humans. The kind
of lay-about life most ferrets have can actually be
stressful for them. As much as they are our pets now,
that's not what nature designed them for. Ferrets are
designed to hunt, which takes both physical and mental
exertion. If their basic needs aren't met, they can
get stressed.
Reducing stress might not have a direct effect on any
specific disease, but a ferret that is not stressed
will have better overall health, and may do better if
he or she does get sick.
There are several things you can do in your home
right now that could help reduce the overall stress
levels of your ferrets.
In Part 1 of Stress Reduction, we discussed play,
darkness, and loneliness.
If you missed Part 1, you can find the issue here:
http://ferretnews.com/issues/modern-ferret-news-28.html
In Part 2 of Stress Reduction, we discussed new
ferrets and change.
If you missed Part 2, you can find the issue here:
http://ferretnews.com/issues/modern-ferret-news-29.html
-- Illness
A brief, minor illness can be stressful both
physically and mentally. A more serious illness
causes more stress. But the stress isn't limited
to the animal who is ill; the other ferrets in the
group are also affected. Pay extra attention to how
all the ferrets in your group are behaving whenever
you have an ill ferret in your home. You'll want to
make sure the ferrets have some time to visit with
each other, even if the ill one has to remain separate
(unless the problem is an illness that is contagious
to the others and visiting would put them at risk --
check with your vet). Make sure an ill ferret who is
isolated has plenty of familiar things around him. If
the ferret has to stay at the vet clinic, make sure
he has something familiar from home -- a favorite
sleep sack, for example. Stress can make an illness
worse, so try to eliminate as much stress as possible
for an ill ferret. Here's where getting your ferrets
used to easily digested foods (such as Hill's a/d or
chicken or turkey baby food) as a treat while they are
well will pay off. A sick ferret who considers a/d or
baby food a treat will not be stressed by force-
feedings or new foods.
-- Death
Losing a ferret can be hard on your ferrets as well
as on you. Like people, some ferrets will just go
on with their lives and some will sink into a deep
depression. Most will fall somewhere in between. The
most difficult problems seem to occur when one of a
strongly bonded pair dies.
Remember that even if you spend a lot of time with
your ferrets, they literally spend their whole lives
eating, sleeping, and playing on top of each other.
Ferrets can exhibit a lot of behaviors when a ferret
dies. Some spend their time looking for the missing
ferret, others sulk, others refuse even to eat.
It is important that you step in and monitor your
other ferrets and help them get over their loss. They
will need extra attention and effort on your part to
help them remember to play and be happy. Especially
make sure that they are all eating.
-- Noise
Loud noises can frighten ferrets. Things like vacuum
cleaners, lawn mowers, fireworks, loud music, and
heavy things falling can all create stress in your
ferrets.
Some of these you can take care of easily -- if
possible you can move your ferrets to a quieter room
when vacuuming, for example. But many times the best
you can do is make sure they have a dark, secure spot
they can retreat to so they can at least feel more
secure despite the loud noises.
Some things ferrets will get accustomed to over time.
Back when we used to do Pet Expos often to promote
Modern Ferret Magazine, we would wind up with our
booth next to a bird booth. After the first few times
of being next to screeching birds, our ferrets learned
to ignore them. The same thing can happen with vacuum
cleaners and other common household noises.
Some ferrets have hearing impairments (especially
common among ferrets with white markings - blazes,
pandas, dark-eyed whites). Thus they may not react
at all to sounds or may react only to sounds in a
certain pitch range. These ferrets may have more
problems with being startled by not seeing something
or someone approach them than they are by sounds.
-- Travel
Ferrets generally travel well. But changing their
surroundings, especially for an ill ferret going to
the veterinarian, can cause stress. When preparing
a travel carrier, make sure you include things that
smell like "home." take a blanket or sleep sack that
the ferret normally uses, so it is familiar. Some
people leave the carrier out with sleeping materials
in it and their ferrets use the carrier as a little
next box -- then, when they have to go somewhere,
the carrier is a comforting, familiar place. For long
trips, make sure you bring water from home. Some areas
of the country have more or less chlorine in the water,
which can affect your ferret's digestion.
We can all benefit from a little stress reduction.
Certainly our ferrets play a part in reducing our
stress. Now you have some ways to help your ferrets
reduce stress, too.
:)
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If you've been reading this newsletter and would
like to see what Mary and Eric do in a real printed
magazine, you can go to our online store and order
a single copy.
http://modernferretstore.com/24/cat24.htm
Modern Ferret Magazine issue #32 features:
- A Dozen Helpful Hints from Bob Church
- Bob Church's Forgotten Ferret History
- Insulinoma to Diabetes: Scoots's Story
- plus ferret cartoons, funny stories, and more!
*and* a very special Patriotic Pin-Up Centerfold!
Note: you'll want an extra copy to be able to hang
this centerfold in your office!
You can also order a subscription, back issues,
and other Modern Ferret products from the site.
http://modernferretstore.com
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==> Update on Modern Ferret Things
Please tell other ferret people to go to our site
ferretnews.com and subscribe to this newsletter!
The more the merrier!
Halloween is coming!
For some useful articles on various aspects of the
holidays and ferrets, see the Modern Ferret News
article archive:
http://www.ferretnews.com/articles.html
Our Ferret Designs store has all sorts of nifty
ferrety Halloween products - t-shirts, mugs, tote
bags, mousepads, and more.
And from now until Sept 30 there's $3 off on all mugs
and free shipping (in the US) for orders of $50.
"She turned me into a ferret!" products:
http://cafeshops.com/cp/store.aspx?s=ferretdesigns.4189
The very special "Official Treat Carrier" Tote Bag
http://cafeshops.com/cp/prod.aspx?p=ferretdesigns.2861471
"Have a Ferrety Halloween" products:
http://cafeshops.com/cp/store.aspx?s=ferretdesigns.4193
-- Our New Book
Don't forget to check out the web site for our new
book _500 Things My Ferret Told Me_. There's some
fun stuff, a free windows screensaver, and previews
from the book.
http://www.asktheferret.com
And right now to make it easier for you to get copies
for yourself as well as gifts for your ferret friends,
we have a special introductory offer:
buy 2, get 1 FREE.
To order the book, see:
http://ferrettradingpost.com/500ferret.html
That's it for this issue!
Stay tuned! More great stuff is on the way!
Remember that shopping at
http://www.FerretDesigns.com
and at
http://www.FerretTradingPost.com
helps support this newsletter and keep it free.
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If your ferret is ill or you think your ferret
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Copyright 2002 Modern Ferret magazine.
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