Author: Barb Carlson

Billie & Brody at old home

Brody at shelter

This was written by shelter volunteer, Joe, for the Ferret Giving Tree:

Hello, I came to the shelter with my girlfriend Billie. Our mom decided to go to school far away and couldn’t take us along. We were left with her family, but they really don’t have time for us, so the Hide-E-Hole agreed to take us in. We had to wait for months to get in since the shelter was full, but now we get more playtime and really good food here.

Shelter mom says: Brodie is adorable. He has huge eyes! He’s very sweet, doesn’t nip and loves being held. We think he might like being held more than running around and playing! We tried him with some other ferrets, but he hid in the crock the whole time and shook. He might learn to get along with another gentle ferret, but he seems perfectly content with his friend, Billie, and human attention.

Sterling & Ruby in 2010

Sterling in 2010

Sterling in 2013

Sterling in 2013

The first time I came to the shelter, I was found in a cardboard box wedged in the front door. It was really hot in there and it was scary. I came with a little girl, but she wanted to sleep by herself so we were separated. It was a lot quieter after that. After a little while, I was adopted and kept for 3 years but then returned to the shelter minus most of my fur. Shelter mom always lets us come back if we are not wanted–it’s better than ending up on Craigslist. My old mom didn’t take take me to the vet for my hair loss, but shelter mom knew what I needed as soon as she saw my bald patches. I have some bad teeth, too, but they are getting better with the Oxyfresh Pet Gel. Right after I got to the shelter, I caught something and I was real sick for a while. But the good food, yummy soup and loving care helped and I was ready for an implant in a couple weeks. My fur is growing back now and I am happy my back won’t be so cold when I am out playing. I play alone since I have been alone most of my life and I don’t want to share my toys. It would be nice to have my own home again, but I’m 6 and a half years old, and shelter mom says I’m a hard sell. She also says I’m one of the sweetest ferrets she’s ever met. I like to be held and I will follow you around like a dog. I’m ready to play when you are, but if it’s boring I just go back to sleep. I love N-Bones and would eat a whole bag if I was allowed.

Shelter mom says: Sterling is delightful. If he’s asleep and you walk in the room, he comes out to see what you’re doing. If you call him, he’ll come see what you want. He spends a lot of time right at your feet as you walk, so you need to be careful. He adores “helping” you clean. He likes to be held and never ever nips. He does not like other ferrets, though. If he’s bored, he goes to sleep, but if there are people around or if you’re doing something, he’ll stay up.

This little boy deserves his own home. His fur is slow growing in, but it’s coming.

I wanted to let everyone know that the ferret has been found. As soon as the owner gets a chance, he’s going to send me a photo of her so you can see the lucky little girl.

–Barb–

From the owner’s mother:

My son’s ferret escaped around 4 pm on Monday after someone left his apartment door open! He is mentally disabled is going crazy. She is a Panda color. She will be near the corner of Main and Robert Street in Carnegie. Please mobilize all of your resources to help me. If he can’t find her or if he finds her dead, I’m afraid he’ll harm himself. Thanks for your help.

budda1994@verizon.net
412-606-7934

I tried to answer your email but it bounced. If you are Kara.stanley57549@gmail.com … please write again and give me a non-bouncing email address! 🙂

Mercury

An article published in the July 2012 issue of the Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine (Vol 21, Issue 3, pgs 243-247) by Robert Wagner, VMD, Dip. ABVP (Exotic Companion Mammal) and Nitin Bhardwaj, DVM, MVSc, PhD drew this conclusion:

“Our results suggest that ferrets maintain SN antibody titers of > 1:50 against CDV for > 3 years after being vaccinated at 14 to 16 weeks of age or older, and there is no significant difference in the ability of 3 brands of CDV vaccine to elicit anti-CDV SN titers.”

Serum-Neutralizing Antibody Responses to Canine Distemper Virus Vaccines in Domestic Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo)

Two of the three vaccines mentioned in the article are no longer available, and the third [Purevax-D] is often out of stock. Currently, Dr. Wagner (and the Hide-E-Hole) are testing a couple dog vaccines to make sure they work properly (he thinks they will).

What this means to you:

• If your ferret was purchased as a baby from the pet store, and you never took it for shots, it needs to be vaccinated against distemper. You could have a distemper titer done, but odds are it is not protected.
• If you purchased your ferret as a baby from a pet store that said they vaccinated (a vaccination *in addition* to what the breeder gives them before they are shipped), you should have a distemper titer run and vaccinate if needed.
• If you got your ferret from someone else, and you don’t really know the vaccination history, you should have a distemper titer run and only vaccinate if needed.
• If it’s been more than three or four years since your ferret was vaccinate, you should have a distemper titer run and vaccinate if needed.
• If your ferret was vaccinated and it had a reaction, most vets say you should not revaccinate. You could have a titer done for your own peace of mind, but even if it is low, you should not have the ferret vaccinated.

Takeaway:

Your ferret should NOT be vaccinated yearly. If your ferret has been vaccinated after 4 months of age, they should not need to be vaccinated again for 3-4 years. To be extra safe, a canine distemper titer can be done to check how protected your ferret is, only vaccinating if needed. Ferrets are susceptible to severe (sometimes life-threatening) vaccine reactions, so we should only vaccinate if it is needed. On the other hand, distemper is nearly 100% fatal and can by carried into your house on your shoes, so we really should make sure they are protected.