From:
"Tressie"
Date: 2009-01-08 22:57:53 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Abused Ferrets
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hi Rachael,
I recently adopted a 'fear biter' who was surrendered to our rescue
organization by a veterinary student who had adopted her from the SPCA.
This woman was on the verge of having her euthanized because the ferret
was so vicious. I was familiar with the history of the ferret and knew
for a fact she had been abused by the original owners, primarily hit
whenever she nipped from Day 1.
I realized very quickly when I got her that she was completely deaf,
which contributed to the biting and the inability of previous owners to
deal with the biting. Have you established that neither are deaf, not
always obvious?
A link that gives a good background on fear biting and biting in
general, plus gives some sound suggestions can be found at:
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Lofts/1083/probintro.html
<http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Lofts/1083/probintro.html>
Now my little one is considerably younger than the ones you have but I
think the same principles apply - patience, patience, patience. First
thing is that they need to feel safe, which means initially minimize
handling. Granted I agree they needed the bath and certainly the nail
trim. But now they need their stress levels to be reduced so that they
begin to feel they are in a safe place.
If you think about what a ferret might need to feel safe and secure -
think quiet, dark, cozy - plenty of food and water and no one grabbing
at them.
Next they need to learn that hands mean love not pain. My little girl
went ballistic when I first scruffed her - repeatedly bit my hands .
Scruffing was an obvious trigger for her. She does not get scruffed,
which also meant I couldn't use scruff and drag to communicate to her
that biting was unacceptable.
The strategy I used when she bit was not to react, not a bit (not easy
when your hands are being punctured); and secondly not to give her an
opportunity to bite in the first place. My reasoning was that if I
didn't react it would extinguish her biting over time. It worked
surprizingly quickly.
My hands had to become associated with positive things not threats.
Once she learned that hands did not hurt, I was able to pick her up
always gently. The odd time she did bite, I gently put her back into
her cage for time-out for maybe 5 minutes. After the third time out,
she stopped biting. Now this was a ferret whose previous owner was
considering euthanizing her because everything she tried hadn't worked.
And she was never rough or abusive with her. A veterinary student who
loved animals! But she was not familiar with ferrets or their
psychology.
Because she's deaf my movements are always slow and gentle around her
and I make sure she sees me before I approach her. I have started
teaching her hand signals to communicate to her - things like 'now I am
going to pick you up;' 'come to me', etc. She's bright and is learning
quickly. I now get kisses.
She still occasionally will give me a firm nip if she's really
frustrated and generally its that I am not getting what it is she wants.
Interestingly if I have to put her back in her cage before she's ready
because I have to go out, etc. she grabs my finger firmly in her mouth
as I am carrying her in protest, but does not bite through! HUGE
progress. We are learning how to communicate with each other and she
feels completely safe and secure. The patience has paid off.
To summarize patience; establishing an environment that feels safe for
them on their terms; learning what their triggers are and avoiding the
triggers; and more patience.
Good luck! I think it is wonderful of you to take these two into your
home. Lucky little fuzzbutts.
Tressie
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