My ferret always seems to get the hiccups,
Is this normal in ferrets?
Does this cause him much discomfort and is
there any way I can help him over them?
From Guy.
Dear Guy,
The most disgusting sight I ever saw was
when my best friend, Cru, drank
about a tablespoon of wine from a glass that
my mum CARELESSLY left on
the coffee table while she answered the phone.
He got the hiccups big
time! He tried to get on the settee and kept
falling on his back, then he
slept for a long time and when he woke up
he didn't want to taste wine ever again.
I guess that your ferret doesn't have a drinking
problem though.
Hiccups are caused by a muscle spasm of the
diaphragm. It's like a nervous tic really, and is not harmful at all. Mostly,
very young ferrets get them after eating dinner too quickly but older ferrets
can get them too. Unless your ferret is obviously upset by them, I wouldn't
worry about it. If it does distress your ferret, however, it may be helpful
if you can find a cause. Does it happen after a big meal or vigorous play?.
You may think about giving your ferret his dinner in smaller amounts more
frequently, or curbing really excited play times too soon after a meal.
And whatever you do,
don't let your ferret loose in your wine
cellar!
Dooks from Rucus. [hic!]
Dear Rucus,
Our ferrets constantly "wee" and "poo" beside
their litter trays.
any solutions?
From Tracey.
Dear Tracey,
Toilet training happens when ferrets show
their human companions just where they want to go and their doting companions
comply with the
necessary requirements. It's a bit like enterprise
bargaining really, and you may have to compromise just a little. When I
have just woken up and need to go to the toilet, it is FAR too much trouble
to step into the litter tray. After all, I am not really awake and I much
prefer to go next to it. Also, if I am really having a good play, I can't
waste time stepping into the toilet tray either and want to go next to
it. My mum puts newspaper on the floor around the tray and I use that instead.
Sometimes it's a good idea to leave a bit of soiled litter in the clean
litter tray to remind a sleepy or distracted ferret just where the right
place to "go" is, and after a bit of practice, most ferrets will do their
poo and wee in the right place. I know too, that if I'm a bit upset or
excited, like if a new ferret comes, or Mum has visitors, I make mistakes.
Mum never growls at me though, but just gives a big sigh and cleans it
up because sometimes that is what having a ferret as a friend is all about.
(What do you mean, not in the middle of the
carpet?)
Dooks from Rucus
Dear Rucus,
My beautiful one year old ferret is in season
and I want to breed her.
can I find a full male?
From Jess.
Dear Jess,
At only a year old, your ferret is too young
to breed. Have her brought out of season by a vasectomised male so there
is no danger of her becoming pregnant. Ferret breeding should never be
undertaken unless you are very sure of the suitability of both parent ferrets.
We have a small and isolated gene pool in WA and while we seem to have
superior ferrets, it can only remain this way through judicial breeding.
Both the male and the female ferrets should be at least two years old,
three is better. They should be robust and free from "chronic snuffles",
and any physical impairment, bad eating habits or personality disorders.
Even with a seemingly healthy female ferret, there is still a danger of
she and her kits dying; not a pleasant thing to cope with if you love your
ferret.
