RE:Shedding Info...
(Date Posted:11/24/2008 13:37 PM)
Preventing Hairballs In Your Shedding Ferret
By Mary R. Shefferman
Gabby has finally decided to shed her winter coat and fat. Some ferrets may have already gone through their spring shed; others might not be ready just yet. But this seems as good a time as any to remind everyone that ferrets can benefit from a little help when they shed.
Our ferrets' ancestors had a different diet than our little pets have today. What they ate helped them to pass any fur they happened to swallow while cleaning themselves. Because most ferret owners don't feed whole carcass animals to their pets, they need to give them hairball remedy during shedding .
Other ways to help your ferret get rid of loose fur safely is to brush or bathe her. The more loose fur you can remove, the less fur your ferret is likely to swallow. The less fur your ferret swallows, the lower the chances of her getting a hairball.
Unlike cats, ferrets do not cough up hairballs. They pass them through their digestive tract -- or they don't. To help your ferret pass any fur she's swallowed, give her hairball remedy once a day during the several days she's actively shedding. The biggest problem with ferrets getting hairballs is that the hairball can cause a partial or total intestinal obstruction. Both of these conditions require veterinary attention, and possibly emergency surgery. Prevention is the best plan.
We get letters from people who are concerned because their ferret has changed color. This is a normal part of the aging process for many ferrets, especially those with silver fur. As we were brushing Gabby, we could see her change color before our eyes. Her new coat has fewer dark guard hairs, so she's whiter than before. What we're seeing in Gabby is called roaning. Brown ferrets (sables, chocolates, and even cinnamons) sometimes show changes in the darkness or shape of their masks from season to season. Albino ferrets tend to take on a yellowish tint as they get older.
Another aspect of coat changing that can cause new ferret owners some concern is weight gain and loss. Ferrets tend to lose a bit of fat for the summer. This, too, is normal. Our Ralph used to gain or lose a whole pound going from one season to the next. Most of our ferrets never went through as dramatic a weight change as Ralph did, but they did slim down for summer and plump up for winter. |
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"May light and love surround and protect you"
Patrice |
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