From:
Rbossart@aol.com
Date: 2001-08-07 13:59:00 UTC
Subject: Re:need advice to avoid heat stroke
In a message dated 8/7/01 8:20:50 AM,Chris Lloyd writes:
<< I do not know where the odd idea that a fan will not help to cool ferrets
because they do not sweat came from but it is utter rubbish. As long as the
air is cooler than the body temperature of the ferret it will help,
especially if the fan is blowing on the ferret. The ferrets will cool through
their skin, the greater the temp. difference between the air and the ferret
body the better the cooling. I did my pre HND work in thermal dynamics
admittedly nearly 35 years ago but I think the same formulas still apply. The
other thing you need to worry about is that fans and non-vented air
conditioners actually raze the ambient temperature of the room they are being
used in.
>>
Chris, I think the thing you are not considering is that ferrets not only
don't sweat, they are covered with a fairly thick fur that prevents immediate
transfer of the body heat to the moving air. The thick fur creates a dead
air space which greatly slows heat transfer. If the fur were wet, the moving
air from the fan would increase evaporative cooling and by conduction, cool
the ferret. Dry fur is a great buffer.
Dick B.