From:
mjanke@miamiferret.org
Date: 2003-04-30 12:55:53 UTC
Subject: Ferret Muzzles?
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <7316611.1051809725966.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Oh my goodness, that is a severe underbite! I don't think I've ever seen anything like that before (not that I'm a dental expert or anything).
As for the space issue... the wording of the message you got is not clear. It's not you that has used 19.9 mb, but the Ferret Health List in general.
Looks like we're going to have to clean out some of that stuff because we're now at the maximum and there is not a byte left for any other uploads.
mike
Author wrote:
> Here is Chompies Under-Bite...
> (anyone have any idea about how to search for other photos that I might have put in? It says I am using 19.9mb of 20mb and I sure don't remember posting other pictures and I don't have another album)
To: "ferrethealth@smartgroups.com" <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>,
smokinscorpion@hotmail.com
From: Betty <blurofur@shaw.ca>
Message-id: <3EB15BDF.A80F9BF@shaw.ca>
Dear SmokinScorpion,
I personally don't think you would be doing a service to your ferret by
using a muzzle. Firstly, the ones that are on the market for ferrets,
don't work all that well. They come as One Size Fits All, which means
you have a partial chance of it even fitting your ferret. Secondly,
putting a muzzle on a biting ferret does not deal with the issue and is
more akin to grounding a willful child.... it doesn't teach the child
why his behaviour is unacceptable and does not give a pleasurable
outcome or reason to be good or better.
Keep in mind that biting in and of itself could have basis in something
else. Ferrets bite for many reasons... pain, fear, not knowing how hard
or soft to use the teeth and so on. Each ferret needs to be accessed
starting with ruling out any pre-existing medical issues. Are the teeth
growing in the proper direction? Are there mouth abscesses present? Does
touching the ferret in certain areas elicit a bite over other areas? A
good physical exam would rule this out but may have to be done under
general anesthetic to see everything clearly.
Next... keep in mind that each ferret needs to know that it is in safe
surroundings and know it will not be hurt. Ask yourself what kind of
disciplines you are presently using to deal with the biting. I can tell
you from my own experience that any form of negative reaction from you
will only make things worse. I have dealt with a number of severe biters
and I can tell you that you can't put a time limit on progress. One will
come around in a few months, one may take over a year. My hands have
been bitten so hard that I had nerve damage in my thumb for a couple of
years. I won't wear gloves because I want the ferrets to understand that
hands bring kindness and love. For some ferrets, they need constant work
to gain trust.
I have found that using topical ointments, creams or sprays don't give
you lasting results. In some cases, ferrets learn to like things like
Bitter Apple, Hot Sauce and so on. They don't work because they don't
deal with the psychological aspect of why the ferret bites in the first
place.
These are some of the things that have worked for me quite well. When
around the ferret, always be calm, gentle and quiet in tone and voice.
Always talk in a soothing, calm manner. If the ferret is deaf, move
using slower motions in hand and body movements. Acting calm brings
about calming behaviour. Make only good associations with the hand.
Gentle petting, given treats and so on will start the road to trust.
Never hit or use the hand in any way that may be deemed negative.
When picking a biter up, always approach slowly and use slow hand
movements. A ferret will better take to slow gestures over faster ones
any day. If the ferret does not bite when you pick them up, always be
quick to reward with a treat. Keep the sessions short and don't expect
too much. Do this consistently and reward each time the ferret does not
bite.
Give it time... it's hard to know what each ferret went through before
it came into your hands. And keep in mind that sometimes we even
perpetuate bad behaviors unintentionally. Things like picking up a
ferret, having it bite us and so we put it down, teaches the ferret that
the way to the floor is to bite. By carefully scrutinizing our own
actions, we may find that there are things we need to change ourselves
to make a better situation for our ferrets.
If this offers any hope, it took my husband and I just over a year to
deal with one of our severe biters. It took an additional year for her
to come to an understanding, meaning, she gave us a few hard test bites
just to see how we would react. Because we never strike our ferrets, or
negatively punish, and instead just grin and bear it, she learned to
relax. We have no problem picking her up quickly, giving her treats or
putting her anywhere near our face. I am still cautious with her around
children as she will still nip at those she does not know. I think this
has something to do with her being abused before we got her but when she
does it now it is no where near the same intensity as it was before. The
first vet that saw her recommended euthanizing her because she was such
a bad biter. And when I mean bad biter, I mean grab a hold of your most
sensitive spots and grind the teeth through cartilage biting. Love and
kindness always prevails, but most importantly, never, ever set a
deadline.
Good luck and I hope this helps you.
betty and her blur o'fur
for the love of ferrets....
Original message....
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
From: smokinscorpion@hotmail.com
Message-ID:
<4266738.1051707353326.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
I have a female ferret a little over a year and since she was 7 weeks
has been quite the biter. When she was about 6 months old she drew
blood and now draws blood every time she bites. I've talked with
specialists and they believe that it's due to bad breeding and she has
no social skills. She is getting better with me working with her but it
is taking some time. I've heard about muzzles for them but can't find
any, can anyone help me. I'm afraid to let anyone touch her because
she'll bite them. I won't give her up because she is attached to me and
does show affection but doesn't register that biting is bad, and I just
can't give her away. I truly love her and if anyone can help that would
be great.