From:
"Dan Muldoon"
Date: 2003-01-07 18:51:05 UTC
Subject: Ferret with psychological trauma
To: <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <000901c2b67d$bb933830$269a8693@URD0020647421>
I have just brought into my home a sweet 4 y/o boy who had been assaulted by a
cat. The feline swiped at the ferret's face, severely injuring one eye. After
an operation, his eye has healed and it's difficult to notice by just looking
at him that there was an injury. He (and a little deaf female--who seems to be
adjusting very well--from the same home) has been in my apartment for about 3
weeks. BTW, vision in the uninjured eye appears to be OK; we don't think his
problems are due to visual impairment. Around people he's fine (a lap ferret,
in fact); he had been in a home where the people gave him nothing but loving
attention.
Behaviorally, though, he hasn't really recovered--I'm wondering if the cat's
attack left him with the ferret equivalent to post-traumatic stress disorder.
He had lived a playful happy life in perfect harmony with his "sister" ferret
for several years. After the incident with the cat, he can't be left with her
unsupervised because on unpredictable occasions he attacks her. He is
extremely fearful and anxious of my other three ferts--it doesn't help that
two of those will jump him and go for the neck (the other one wouldn't hurt a
fly). I let him out of his cage when I can be sure I can keep the others from
injuring him, and he will wander around for just a little while (showing very
little interest in playing, exploring, or anything else) and then go back to
his cage (or a lap or carry sack) and sleep. He seems very timorous and
frequently begs to be picked up and hides if it isn't possible to pick him up
right away.
The boy has been to the vet with no signs of any health problems except a GI
infection (marked by persistent diarrhea) that is being treated with Amoxi
drops (the medicine is working--his bowel movements are normal now).
Has anybody else had a ferret that has survived any sort of attack or abuse,
such that they have had a chance to observe changes in the fert's behavior
after the incident--and help it recover? I'm in the process of teaching him
that my home is safe. All five weasels will be moving with me to a house in a
few weeks.
Thanks for any help!
Dan and the fuzzy five