From:
sprite@ksu.edu
Date: 2008-12-15 16:52:02 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Ferret time
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
I agree that a day is a day to our ferrets just as it is to us even
though they age faster than we do.
I've wondered how ferrets know what time it is but from my experience
they do know what certain times are. For example, I have a group that
is caged while I am away because they are not nice to some of the other
ferrets. They are out of the cages from 7pm to 7am each evening, more
on Saturday and Sunday. They seemed to know when it was 7pm as they
rustle around the cages and start banging on the bars. I thought it
was because of my turning on certain programs on the tv that they were
associating time with the ending of a program (on each evening from
6:30-7) and so I tried a little experiment and stopped turning on the
tv when I got home. These little beasties somehow still knew when it
was 7:00pm.
As for how ferrets perceive pain, I'll share my thoughts. From
observing ferrets for 20+ years and from personal experience, I believe
it is the 'not dwelling' on pain that is the key. There are times that
pain cannot be ignored though. Ferrets will often sleep when there is
pain. When Twitch's leg was broke, she slept most of the time through
the healing process. Because of her age and condition of the break it
was best not to intervene surgically. I tried to help her but she
wanted to do things herself, such as going to the food bowl instead of
the food bowl coming to her, going to her regular litter box instead of
the one I placed closer to her bed, etc. There is no doubt she was in
pain. Imagine toting around a broken leg with no pain meds or cast to
protect it. When she healed her activity level returned to what was
normal for her and I noticed with certain movements she showed pain but
it didn't stop her from completing her task.
The brain is very powerful and is one of the organs created to keep our
bodies going. I've been dealing with a serious injury and was told
that I should be in more pain. I'm in pain, but I'm not dwelling on or
acknowledging it so I can continue with what I need to do. I can
concentrate on pain and tell it is there, instead I choose to not
acknowledge it and to move on. I believe that ferrets may react this
same way to pain. They feel it as every living being with nerves does,
but they do not dwell on it.
I chalk up my pain sensory reaction to another lesson learned from these
amazing little beings. Life situations may create obstacles or beat
them down but most rise above them and keep going with a pleasant
attitude as well.
tle
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