dry feet

Question
QUESTION: We have three ferrets two are one year old and the other is three months old. They all have no medical history and normal poops. Ok, I heard that if your ferret gets dry feet that you put some patroleum jelly on it and it will help. I also heard that there is such a thing called foot rot what are the symptoms.

ANSWER: Hello Madeline,

I think I have answered several questions for you already, correct? In the future, if you wouldn't mind using the "add follow-up" option when you want to ask another question, that would really help me a lot. I don't mean to be rude, but each separate time you ask a different question, it takes up a question that someone else might want to ask. Do you see what I mean? Again, I don't mean to be rude. I am always happy to help and if you are not the Madeline I have been corresponding with, then disregard this completely! :). On to your question!

To my knowledge, ferrets usually don't have foot problems unless they are having a reaction to something, such as urine burns from an unclean cage or if they are a bit up there in years. Petroleum jelly should help the dry feet problem.

I think what you're referring to when you say "foot rot" is sarcoptic mange, which is a form of scabies. Here is an article on this :

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=11+1290&aid=2608

I hope this helps, and as always, if you need anything else, please don't hesitate to ask!

Sincerely,
Emilee Andrews

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Oh! I am so sorry! I didn't  know you could do that. I thought you had to ask a new question each time. Sorry!
  Our family is thinking about getting another ferret for his birthday. We already have three ferrets. Two are one year the other is four months. I was wondering if our cage is big enough. Our cage is 5 feet 2 inches tall, 3 feet wide, and 2 feet deep.
 Again, sorry for asking a  new question each time instead of a follow up!

Answer
Hi again, Madeline,

You don't need to apologize. I apologize if I sounded rude! It is not a problem at all!

Do you have a Ferret Nation Cage? Even if what you have isn't a Ferret Nation cage, I think it should be absolutely fine. I wouldn't exceed five ferrets in that cage, however, not only because of a possible space issue, but also because you shouldn't house more ferrets than are in a litter together. Do you know what I mean? I am pretty sure that it can lead to fighting and pecking order issues within the group.

I hope this answers your question and if you need anything else, please don't hesitate to ask! Again, I hope I wasn't rude in pointing out the follow-up option! Please know it wasn't my intention to be!

Sincerely,
Emilee Andrews