From:
"Sukie Crandall"
Date: 2007-10-07 23:18:55 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re:Overweight ferret
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "cherylnj81" <Sheryl81@...> wrote:
>
> I just wanted to say, that I have an obese ferret and he is fed well
> and gets a TON of out of the cage time. We feed him Totally Ferret
> and 8-in-One Ultimate. He is just a lap ferret, all he wants to do is
> lay around and climb into our laps and be petted. I try to get him to
> play but it takes a lot. He is very healthy though, we bring him for
> check-ups regularly. I am thinking about walking him outside for more
> stimulation perhaps. He just seems very needy/clingy and has always
> been so.
>
Some just are cuddlers, but others sometimes are held back by
sensory deprivation. In that case there are ways to help them
feel safe which we used for one whose vision reduced suddenly:
1. Scent mapping (See FHL Archives:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
2. Making scent trails
3. putting safe scents on a jingling toy suspended by string
from a pole and use it for the ferret to chase. That is why one
such toy here is called "rose mousie"
4. use textures: for example when getting the ferret to chase
that toy put down bubble wrap (Make sure the ferrets do not bite
it but jumping and digging are fine.), velveteen, satin, etc. on parts
of the floor.
Make the ferret work for any treats. There are actually videos on
YouTube which show people's techniques for teaching tricks, and
there really are a number of tricks they can be taught. If that is
not of interest make getting a treat involve climbing.
Of course, ALWAYS make sure with the treating vet that the ferret
is up to exercise. Quite a number of times ascites from causes like
heart disease have been confused with overweight. While i would
not normally expect a large number of individuals in one household
to have heart disease, I could imaging it happening in places where
there is a lot of heartworm.
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:ferrethealth-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:ferrethealth-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ferrethealth-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/