From:
sinexr@howa.lib.md.us
Date: 2002-06-17 15:43:00 UTC
Subject: ferret bite - behavior or health problem?
Gradually, my Rhodry has been forgetting that it's rude to bite Mommy's feet (which are most often bare). He did this when he first came to live with me, but taught him that he shouldn't do that (using furotone, as bitter apple didn't work). Anyway, he spent several months
without biting at all, but that too has changed. For a time, he'd nip or bite my feet if he thought I was sitting at my desk or at a table too long. I resolved this by taking my feet out of his reach (sitting on them or proping my feet up on another chair, etc). Well,
Friday night, I left the kids out of their cage all night (they'd already found places to sleep, and I became exhausted very quickly and didn't have the energy to look for them). Saturday morning, Rhodry climbed onto my bed, under my blankets, and started nipping. I have
the vague notion that he might have tried nipping, and I think I might have felt his fur against my feet, but I was still mostly asleep and didn't do more than shifting my feet in response. Then he bit me. I yelled loud enough to wake the neighbors, flung back my covers,
scruffed him, and carried him back to his cage. I left the cage door open because Nev and 'Gwynny were still loose, but Rhodry knew that he was in disgrace, so he stayed in the cage (or at least out of sight) for a couple of hours.
Anyway, looking back on these happenings, I'm wondering if my assumption that Rhodry's simply exhibiting bad maners might be incorrect. Does this sound like he might be trying to tell me that he should go to the vet? Or does it sound like a ferret that thinks that a bite
will win him play time? And for the record: bites NEVER win play time. As for what I consider a bite rather than a nip -- bites hurt, nips don't. Saturday's rude awakening definately hurt.
I would apreciate any input other, more experienced, people think. Is Rhodry being rude, or is he trying to tell me something?
Robin
Rhodry, Brangwyn, & Nevyn.