From:
steph@cosmicglue.com
Date: 2003-04-07 12:40:58 UTC
Subject: Couple questions regarding coat change and integration
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <14616518.1049719258873.JavaMail.root@scandium>
Hi All,
Well my first question is regarding molting. My albino male (5yo) got his summer coat in the winter and then recently put on his wintercoat just in time for summer. He also put on his winter pounds... he's a little chubby fluff ball. So my question is, is it harmful or is something wrong with him to have his coats reversed and second, is there anything I can do to help him get on the right schedule.
Second question... this same male lost his cagemate back in Sept due to lymphoma. He's been ok, but he does seem depressed a bit (we've had tons of bloodwork and test and know he's healthy) so we've been trying to integrate him with our other pair. He's a MF ferret and pretty docile, while the other pair were privately bred and much more rambunctious and tough. We understand that they will fight and then get over it, so we just let them have at it unless somebody obviously has the upper hand and won't give up. This is where the issue/problem/question is.
a) Nanook (the albino) get's REALLY scared, screams and poops everywhere even if it's not that big of a fight or if the other ferrets are just near him. He then runs back to his cage as soon as he sees the other ferrets. This will continue for days and we end up having to stop the integration because he won't come out of his cage if they are around. Are we traumatizing him?
b) When Nanook fights with Shasta (when she finally finds him or goes into his cage) they fight and fight and then Nanook runs away (he lifts the litterbox and crawls under it) AND THEN Shasta falls over and plays dead, like she passed out or fainted. Once we get her to start moving again she moves super slow like she's trying not to be seen. Is this traumatizing her?
c) The other ferret, Bullwinkle, just brawls with Nanook then they both run away from each other and keep their distance. The fights are short and neither seems too worse for wear, but they are both scared of each other. Will they ever establish dominance if they are both scared?
So, am I doing the wrong thing here? I've toughened myself up to deal with the fighting screams and hisses, but the way they are acting has me really worried.
Thanks in advance,
Stephanie