From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2003-07-12 22:11:10 UTC
Subject: quick notes on mental stimulation for very sick ferrets or ones with
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
handicaps
Message-id: <a06001a05bb3637bf28f1@[10.0.1.7]>
This won't be grammatical because I am tired but nowhere near as
tired as the last few days; I'm catching up a little on my sleep
finally.
1. It is not hard to teach most hearing ferrets the meaning of
words, esp. for things like body parts and places, and words for some
actions like "Where" which here means "Where is ----- (named
individual); leads us to her/him", a favorite game of Sherman's.
Body parts we teach teach by tickling, grabbing, bumping, or kissing
various places, and they can learn them so well that one ferret we
had who loved her own toy ferret could show us "Belly", "Bum", "Head"
and "Foot" on that one; another who also had a toy ferret would have
trouble dragging it sometimes if he didn't grab an ear, so we'd say,
"No, Spot, get ferret-mousie ear and he'd change his grip." The word
has to be repeated a LOT and has to have relevance for the ferret,
but it's not in least hard to do form most ferrets we've had. We've
had or have I guess three or four in 21 years who could cope with
short sentences and conditionals, like when we'd tell Meltdown
several times over, "Meltdown get Warp, then Meltdown get treat."
Shed find sleeping Warp and bring her to us, then lick her chops. I
don't know if this form of stimulation was already mentioned.
2. I know that Bob mentioned some things about scents in the recent
Ferret Mailing Lists. Don't know if he mentioned it, but essential
oils put on protruding things and divided so that different scents
are used on different sides of a room and different scents in each
room will not only prevent accidents for blind ones and get them
moving more quickly and assertively again, but it will give them a
map of where they are at any time.
3. Okay, mostly I wanted to say something about stimulation for the
critically ill because we have Chiclet with her long term (5 and 1/2
weeks so far) infection. She is trying very hard to live and still
eats well but is incredibly weak (though today is an improvement over
the last week plus). Obviously standard toys just don't work. So
here are some toy approaches and other forms of stimulation:
A. Stink Sacks: paper bags with safe herbs or safe oils/extracts in
them. These are maybe the oldest form of stimulation used for sick
ones in terms of FML mentions, but it may be preceded or equaled in
age as a tip for sick ones compared to...
B. ...Music: they especially seem to enjoy plucked instruments (and
I wish that we had more harp and banjo but am glad that we've got so
much guitar music)
C. Walking around the house and nearby visiting places
D. Visits from other ferrets if no illness sharing risk exists and
the ferret wants these
E. There ARE some toys to be found at pet stores that make the
standard ones look large and heavy. Depending on the ferret and toy
these may be beaten up to get out frustration or may be cuddled.
F. A Marshall Fleece ball with a bell in it can have thick strong
sewn to it and hung. Chiclet is so happy with her's that she wore
herself out today at one point from knocking it with her nose
repeatedly.
G. The plastic covers from (ahem) pads are tiny and light weight.
(The gents who don't understand can ask a woman who will know.) Play
with them MUST be supervised though.
H. Some sick ferrets like tissues to shred or nuzzle.
I. Heavy bedding (even a t-shirt) can be hard for the very ill to
move as sleeping covers. Instead, use bandannas, cut up nightgowns
or slips, etc. instead to give the ferret more control of her
environment.
H. It is possible to put the ferret in a plastic bag and play
hand-to-hand through it but never leave the ferret alone with it.
J. Crinkle sacks are another way to get in the chance to make some noise
K. Hugs are so very important
L. Use textures, too. On their pads and noses they are aware or
what is satiny, what is silky, etc.
M. Years ago Tory Lynn sent carnations to Meltdown because Meltie
loved flower scents during her final illness; they've been a favorite
flower here ever since and flower scents can perk up a sick one at
times.
N. Change tastes around to add interest. We have a range of baby
foods here plus a/d for easy taste stimulation.
O. Some like things like bird calls, but that varies.
I am sure I am skipping a few tricks, but those should help someone.
Stimulation is essential for a critically ill individual who still
could go either way to give the best shot at survival, and essential
for quality of life for those who won't make it. I'll copy this to
both the FHL and FML in case it helps some very sick ferrets at
either location; ofr the FHL it is a new conversation and for the FML
it is an aside which is slightly related to a set of posts by Bob but
for a very specific need set and one which is fresh in our memories
right now.
When Chiclet improves more if she gets better she'll need rehab and
that also is a form of stimulation. There are ferret skate board,
ferret wheelchairs, ferret pantyhose slings, etc.