Message Number: YG1843 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Sukie Crandall
Date: 2001-03-29 13:16:00 UTC
Subject: Re: new ferret owner

Canine Distemper vaccinations are normally at 8, 11, and 14 weeks,
though some vets use 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age. At three months of
age, he's due! A ferret must be over 12 weeks old before IMRAB 3 can
be given as the rabies vaccination so many vets prefer to wait till
week 14 to 18 just be the safe. Just this last week there has been
an absolutely splendid post here on the FHL about separating
vaccinations, pre-medicating with Benedryl, etc. You'll most
definitely want to read that.

Heart worm is rare around here, but as I recall there is a fine write
up on it at http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc

At 3 months of age he should be able to handle hard crunchies. We
use a combination of Totally Ferret, the Ferret Store's (
http://www.theferretstore.com/ ) own food, 8 in 1 Ultimate, Zupreem,
Marshall, and Ferret's Choice to give them some variety, and in case
anyone has a bad batch or altered batch, or if the stores run out of
one type. Ferrets set their food preferences mostly in the first six
months of life. That said, I think that MF has a food specification
in their warranty so that may also be a consideration for you.

It's a shedding time of year. Petromalt is fine, plain petroleum
jelly will work, then there's what our guys usually prefer; Laxastat.
Yes, they do get furballs.

Teething can be expected that to have something to do with mouthiness
during kithood. There are several products which can help you with
teething, ones like Cheweasels and Foamy Fries. These also help keep
teeth clean. Some of the typical dental eruption ages are:

about day 50: upper and lower canines, and lower molar 1
about day 53: upper molar 1
about day 60: upper premolars 2-4, lower premolar 2
about day 67: lower premolar 3
about day 74: lower premolar 4

There also is the simple learning that any other young animal goes
through about what not to do. We personally have our best success
with times-out for misbehavior.