Message Number: YG11032 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Debbie Schwering
Date: 2002-02-12 11:17:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] kinked whiskers

It looks like his whiskers got burned. When I first got ferrets I foolishly thought they were like cats. Once they realized the candle was hot,
they'd leave it alone. Ornery lost most of his whiskers and eyebrows before I gave up and took it away. By then he was trying to haul the candle
away (he was supervised, I just thought he would learn for himself). His whiskers (what were left) looked just like that.

Debbie

Steve Austin wrote:

> O.K., I have a very strange question., I just noticed that the end of the whiskers on my ferret are kinked and white- a thick white, I think
> thicker than the regular whisker, but the curled appearance is what bothers me. It is not just the whiskers, but also the hair above his eyes, and
> some of the guard hairs- although these don't appear kinked,
> just white tips- I also think the hairs with the white tips pull out easily? Well they pulled out and he didn't seem to mind so much, and one
> whisker came out in my hand it was completely white, I didn't pull it, he moved as I was checking it, and it didn't' hurt him, none of the others
> pull out ( don't worry no ferret was actually harmed in this experiment )
>
> I checked every other ferret and only one has a slightly white whisker that is a little curly- everyone else, sick or old, young, etc have normal
> whiskers and guard hairs.
>
> First I thought about getting into paint, but there isn't any around, and it would kink the hair anyway. I am wondering about nutritional problem,
> they are all on a good kibble mix. Or maybe I just didn't notice it before? He is around 3 year old,
> had a left adrenalectomy and splenectomy about a year ago, and otherwise healthy,
>
> If anyone can tell from the pictures what is wrong I would appreciate it.
>
> Thanks
>
> Patty