From:
"autumn_whispers2me"
Date: 2007-06-19 07:57:46 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Milo still aggressive, getting worse
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hi everyone,
I posted about one of my new 'rescues' before, about his aggressive
behavior, but it appears to be getting even worse now and I'm at a
total loss as to what to do.
Below are behaviors I've observed in him and am desperately hoping you
can help me narrow this down so I can find out my options. I want him
to stay with us, but I feel so sorry for my other ferrets. I don't
know what to do.
Here's what I've seen, including some behaviors I find 'curious':
* Excessive ear biting.
* Dragging by ears, face, neck, throat.
* Excessive hissing, including but not limited to, hissing at the
others while they're sleeping.
* Won't sleep and will rarely eat unless he's put in the cage.
* Never seems to tire or slow down, even when all the others have
crawled in their sleeping places to sleep.
* Appears to "stalk" other sleeping ferrets, hissing at them, then
finally biting them aggressively, usually by the ears.
* Back end and ear sniffing, which seems excessive to me.
* Will often act aggressive---hissing, ear biting---at other ferrets
if they are eating, drinking water, or going potty (and as mentioned,
while theyr'e sleeping).
Milo & his cage mate, Maui, are approx. 1yr old. Maui is picked on
some, but not to the degree the others are. The 'alpha' is one of our
established ferts and he generally can handle himself quite well where
Milo's aggressiveness is concerned and often makes certain Milo knows
he's the alpha.
Milo literally seems to never ever tire, and as mentioned.. will
become more aggressive the longer he's awake. By the time the others
are asleep, he's still going and going and usually resorts to bullying
and stalking those who are sleeping.
His coat is normal, soft, silky. But as mentioned, he will rarely eat
unless put in the cage, because he seems to focus on going after the
others relentlessly.
I've read some of the archives regarding aggressive behavior, and I
think he's too young to have adrenal disease since he's only 1yr old.
My oldest ferret, Pixie, is having some changes... thinner, though not
boney, etc., and her coat is coarse, and she appears to have 'rat
tail' lately. I've been watching to see if she's becoming aggressive,
but she's actually behaving more stressed out or depressed and tends
to avoid Milo whenever she can.
IF she is having adrenal problems, would that make Milo more
aggressive to the others AND to her? Or could two things or more be
going on here? I still have to have Pixie checked out, especially
reading about the coarse hair being a possible sign of adrenal. But I
would like to find out why Milo is so aggressive and hopefully change
this behavior.
I would be so grateful for any help with this. I hate seeing two of
my three established babies be so stressed out, avoiding their
favorite sleeping places because they're afraid of Milo... seeing them
showing signs of depression. And I don't want to have to place Milo
somewhere else. he's a sweet boy to humans. :(
Thank you in advance for any advice you can give...
Ella
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