Message Number: SG5424 | New FHL Archives Search
From: " "
Date: 2003-07-20 08:17:38 UTC
Subject: ear sucking
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <412003702081738390@earthlink.net>

Someone posted the other day about their ferret sucking on another ferret's
ears in addition to having an off smell, dry fur and a "bowling pin"
appearance. If it were *my* ferret, the first thing to come to mind would
be adrenal. Most of my male adrenal ferrets have been ear suckers -- he
will pin down the victim and suck the ears til the poor victim gets a little
ferret hickey. The last one to do it has me a little confused and will
have to watch him...he began sucking on Taz's ears (and left a nasty hickey),
but Taz is (was) adrenal (had right adrenal surgery three weeks ago), then he
started sucking on Simon's ears, and Simon had adrenal surgery two weeks ago
(bilateral tumors). I figured maybe Garfunkle has become an early warning
device, picking out the adrenal ferrets, but I doubt it, I think he's got
problems, but when we opened him 1 1/2 months ago, found nothing obvious.
But, the point is, ear sucking seems to be a common thing in my house for male
adrenal ferrets -- I've not noticed the females doing it, but it's also been a
very long time (knock on wood) since I've had a female adrenal ferret.

Sandy

--- mustylid@earthlink.net