Why is my ferret releasing his scent?

Question
QUESTION: Hi Jacquie

I adopted a ferret in the beginning of February 08 from our local SPCA. I live on a tiny island and therefore good help is not available. When I picked him up he was in a dismal condition and he was not a very happy babe. He bit the ladies at the SPCA, but I contribute that too the tiny and very dark and dingy cage his was in and which he was never allowed to leave. The ladies working at the SPCA couldn't tell me how old he is, where he came from or who dropped him off. Strangely, no forms was filled in for him. Therefore, I have no background on him. I apologize for this lengthy email, but I am going to give you as much information on him that I think you might find helpful.

I had him neutered and looked at by our vet within the first few days of getting him. She suspects that he is anything between 6-9 months old (he weighs 1kg or 2.2lbs). He had a whole 'colony' of ear mites and we are still treating him for it with Canaural and Spot on. His ears are finally clean and free from ear mite poop. He hasn't bitten me or my husband, only nipping a bit too hard when he wants to play. Now for my questions: He started releasing his scent (or that is what I imagine it is) about two weeks after I got him. I didn't know then what it was, so I can't say that I know what he or I did when it happened. However, he started doing it a bit more often. The first time that I paid attention to what was happening was because he was using my carpet as the loo and I became vocal with him. I find that odd, since it was the first time he responded like that to a vocal command. The second time was when I played with him... teasing him and 'rough-housing' him with a towel. Now, I know it sounds like I was playing really rough, but I had a bird as a pet before and I played the same way with him; really not very rough. So, I stopped doing that. I would hate to do anything to hurt him. But then it happened again, however this time he was playing inside this cupboard under the stairs that my husband and I converted for him into a little playroom. He loves this space and prefers this above his cage (which is the size of a mansion.) I just find it odd and still can't figure out what scared him. There was no-one around and the toys in the cupboard are his favourites. He is a very active little fellow and he will allow you to pick him up, but not for long. He then wants to be let down to play. He was playing in his cupboard the other night and I walked through to check on him. I found him sitting (not lying) on the floor, not looking particularly distressed but too quiet and a bit unhappy. He allowed me to hold him for about 5 minutes without wanting to be let down. Again, this is possibly normal, but like I said, he is a very active critter and I've never held him for that long. I really need to know what is causing his behaviour, what I should be looking for and how I should deal with it. Not knowing what is scaring my baby is worrying me.

Now, about his nipping. Like I mentioned earlier, he doesn't bite like a scared ferret, however he nips a bit too hard. I have tried yelping, which is not very effective. Walking away works, but only until he finds me again. As soon as he starts nipping my toes or hi-jacking my feet, asking me to play (and to entertain me with his war dance), I respond. However, he then thinks the game is on and tries his might to get into the slippers. I've never allowed him that far because I suspect a nasty bite will follow. I'm in a catch-22 as I don't want to discourage him from playing, but I also want to teach him what is appropriate nipping. I wear slippers as wearing socks seems a bit brave.

Also he is forever scratching. I realize that a lot of his scratching had to do with the ear mites, but since these are almost gone, I suspect that he is going to shed his winter's coat. He just look like he is in so much distress when this happens that I suspects it might be a cause for him releasing his scent. Is that possible and what can I do to relieve the itching? His coat was so thin when I got him and it is in such a good condition after I started giving him Ferretone and Beaphar (hairball and vitamin paste.) I've considered giving him a bath, but I suspects he had a nasty experience with water or at least a shower. I allowed him into the bathroom and shower to see if he likes the trickling of water from the shower. As I moved closer to him while he was sniffing out the shower he saw me and bolted for his life. I haven't tried doing that again. I placed him in the bath without water and he also wasn't very happy about that.

And lastly: It happened three times now that he will wake up from a deep sleep making this deep wheezing sound. Almost like a combination between the moan of a bad dream and coughing up a hairball. It only happens when he is asleep and it doesn't last for long...30 seconds or so. As soon as we lift up his towel and he sees us, he calms down and stops.

Writing all of this to you gives me the feeling that he is reacting to us and his environment as soon as he remembers something that happened to him before.

Thank you for listening to this desperate mother. I sometimes feel like I have no idea what I am doing.

Karen

PS: I am currently trying to find a playmate for him, but I am at home all day, so he gets as much attention as possible.

ANSWER: Hi Karen:

Thank you so very much for the very informative letter! It does make it so much easier when I have lots of information and background, not only his medical history, but possible emotional "memory" triggers that could affect his behaviors.

From your letter I think you are either in the U.K. or Canada, but I'm not sure which. I'm not that familiar with medications you mentioned, so that didn't help, but I'll trust that your vet treated the mites properly, especially since they seem to have disappeared. I do wonder if either of the products used was anything that would also work *systemically* and be effective on fleas? I have heard people say for years that ferrets are "itchy", but my own experience with them is that a healthy ferret on a good diet, with a healthy coat is not any itchier than any other pet. So, it may be a good idea to discuss this with your vet. Over the counter flea preparations can be very dangerous for ferrets, so do be sure to check with your vet before you use anything. Since some flea/tick preparations do not wash off once applied, it's very important to KNOW for sure that what we put on ferrets won't make them sick. Regular dog and cat flea preparations are usually just too strong for ferrets. There are *some* flea products made especially for young kittens that can be used, but again, I'm not sure of names so do check with your vet to be sure.

I also think that a nice warm with a no-tears type baby shampoo, a double-rinse to make SURE all suds are out might also be a good idea. Who knows what might be hiding deep under that coat of his - he may be leery at first, but I bet he will be doing a happy dance after he is all nice and clean!  One really good way to get them used to the idea of a bath is to take him in the bathroom with you every evening and let him watch the process. Then, when it's his turn, go very slowly, talk to him or sing to him, keep the water very warm (remember his normal body temperature is 103 degrees). Keep your tone of voice light and cheerful - I like to sing nursery rhymes to mine at bath time. I also like to do baths in the kitchen sink where I can easily use both hands and let him rest his feet on the bottom of the sink to help him feel more secure. I even put a folded up towel in the bottom of the sink so he doesn't slip. As long as the ferret feels secure, he won't fight; it's when they feel insecure that they panic. Keep your face close to theirs and talk to them, sing to them; let them KNOW they have your undivided attention. Do NOT answer the phone or get distracted in any other way while bathing the ferret or they will never forget it and will not trust you again.  Have everything handy and within reach - shampoo, dry towels. (NOTE: Perfect time to wash ears is right before a bath; dip q-tips in baby oil, scruff ferret and wipe folds of ears and ear canal - go in and straight down in a twirling motion. Change q-tips often, making sure they are always soaked in baby oil. When they come out clean, use a dry q-tip to absorb excess oil. Bathe to remove excess oil in fur.) Sit down with ferret and dry towel for at least 30 seconds or so afterwards and get the majority of water off the ferret before turning him loose (preferrably in a small room with clean towels on the floor for him to dry himself on. He will go crazy for a few minutes - this is a great, fun play time. Don't try to get him to do anything other than be silly until he completely wears himself out and falls asleep. THEN, you can dribble a bit of Ferretone on his belly and clip toenails. Bathtime should always be a fun time; un-rushed, uninterrupted and just plain silly. Expect poops, either IN the bath or as soon as you put him down after the bath - it just goes with the territory; too much excitement - so don't put a freshly-bathed ferret on a white carpet :-)

The good news is that you couldn't have planned his neutering better if you had purchased him from a breeder and planned to neuter him at the time that was most ideal for his maximum long-term health and well-being! The most common cause of illness and early death in ferrets here in the U.S. is adrenal disease, which is the result of our ferrets being neutered too early; other countries such as the U.K. who neuter their ferrets between 6 and 9 months of age don't have adrenal disease.

In regards to his 'poofing', I'm certainly not an expert on ferrets who still have their scent glands, but it is not at all unusual for the glands to become impacted and sometimes even infected. When this happens, the ferret will tend to try to "empty" them at times that aren't really appropriate to be 'poofing' - merely because the ferret is feeling discomfort and needs to relieve the pressure he is feeling.  Your vet visit should definitely include a thorough exam (they are probably swollen) and manual 'expression' of his scent glands. At that time the vet can tell if they are infected and can give you antibiotics for any infection. Perhaps they are just impacted and need to be emptied fully. That is something you can learn to do and it will help your ferret stay more comfortable if you don't plan to have his scent glands removed. It's not a big deal, but an intact ferret sometimes just needs a little bit of maintenance - nothing to worry about, I don't think.  If he continues unusual behavior after his scent glands are manually expressed, then I will be more than happy to look at this a lot closer with you. I really feel that a quick procedure at the vets will give both of you lots of relief!

The nipping you are describing is pretty normal for a young ferret. You can try using the word "NO!" when he does it, or you can even scruff him and hold your finger up to his face and say "NO!" Some even recommend dragging him gently on the floor for maybe six inches, as a mother ferret would do to discipline him. You can try several different approaches; he is young enough and it doesn't sound like it's a terrible problem. If he does bite too hard, just be sure that whatever you do cannot be misinterpreted as a play gesture - such as 'dancing'. That's the purpose of the disciplinary index finger being held in front of his nose when you say "NO". I like for my ferrets to know the word "NO" anyway...you never know when you will look up someday and they will be right on the edge of something dangerous and you can yell "(ferret's name) NO!" and they will pause for just that one or two seconds and you get a chance to grab them or save them that you wouldn't have had if they hadn't known that word. It has paid off for me many many times over the years.

In regards to his nighttime coughing/nightmare spells - since there is some question whether they are truly nightmares or hairballs, I would strongly recommend treating for hairballs, then see if the problem resolves itself. Again, if it doesn't we can always worry about any emotional problems later - let's be sure the life-and-death things are taken care of. Most ferret owners use a petroleum-based Vaseline-type hairball remedy in a tube. Over the years I've just not had very good results with that. Never have seen any of my ferrets pass anything with it. Finally, when I got a ferret who really was prone to hairballs, I was forced to find a better option. I was really surprised and pleased when I started using these "Vetasyl" treatments on Gilbert, my large male who gets hairballs.

"Vetasyl" is a safe bulk product made of psyllium and barley that absorbs liquids as it travels thru the digestive system and works like Metamucil works for people.  I gave him the CONTENTS OF ONE VETASYL CAPSULE (toss the cap itself away) blended into 6-OZ OF VERY WARM WATER and TWO LEVEL TEASPOONS of Uncle Jim's Duk Soup Mix (by Marshalls and available at pet stores or online pet supply stores).  I let him eat all he wanted...and he ate all 6 oz of it!

I repeated this and fed him 'lax soup' ONCE A DAY FOR THREE DAYS IN A ROW.  The first two days he passed a few small hairballs here and there, not enough to explain the tiny poops I had been seeing.  However, on the third day I gave the lax, he passed a hairball the size and shape of my little finger!!  It had some green pus on one end of it, so no doubt he was very close to having a very serious problem - but it was averted just in time!  

Since then, I have been giving the 'soup lax' treatment about once every two weeks. I make up the soup at bedtime and he goes to bed with a tummy full of warm soup.  By morning when I check the litterbox, I often find hairballs that he has passed in his poops.  The first time, for the initial 'clean-out', give it for three days in a row to be sure everything is out, but subsequent treatments can be just one feeding of the 'soup' every couple of weeks.  

My large male ferret eats the whole 6 oz of soup. The 'soup' is very thin like water - it must be for the Vetasyl to work. Smaller ferrets may eat less, but they should eat at least 1/2 of the mixture in order to be effective. The secret is in giving it with enough fluids so that it can swell up in the intestines and move whatever it finds in its path out.  You can get your ferret familiar with Uncle Jim's Duk Soup - it's a treat to my kids - they LOVE it and if you use 2 level teaspoons in 6-oz of warm water and the contents of one Vetasyl capsule, the proportions are just about perfect!  Initially you may have to dip your finger in it, then into their mouth until they develop a taste for it and eat it readily.  I haven't seen a ferret yet who doesn't love Uncle Jim's, so it is perfect for this....and MUCH healthier for our ferrets than the sugary vaseline laxatives we have given for years (and they don't work as well as Vetasyl!). Since you are a bit isolated, I'm sure you can get these products delivered to your home - here's where you can get them:

VETASYL: http://www1.shopping.com/xFSKW=vetasyl&CLT=SCH

UNCLE JIM'S DUK SOUP MIX: http://www1.shopping.com/xFS?KW=Uncle+Jim%27s+Duk+Soup+Mix&CLT=SCH

All in all, I don't think your situation is dire, Karen. I think you have one very very lucky little guy there! No doubt some of his times he his deep in thought, he may just be thinking "WOW! WHAT A LUCKY LITTLE FELLOW I AM! I HAVE A WONDERFUL HOME AND A LOVING MUM & DADDY..WOW!"  I think with just a little 'fine-tuning' at the vets, he will be just fine.  One trip to the vet should take care of everything that is going on. Once he has had a bath, you may well find that he doesn't even have fleas! My kids feel so much better after a bath. I really think you'll be surprised at the difference just that will make. And do be sure all the leftover 'mite poop' is out of his little ears. That could well account for some itchiness too, if it hasn't all been removed. You might even want to put some oil in his ear, massage it down in well and let him shake his head a few times to be sure anything deep inside the ear canal gets loosened and removed. Even with the mites dead, it can be difficult to get all the remnants out.

If he continues to be itchy, you might want to have a look at his diet - make sure he's on a premium ferret diet. I'm not sure what's available in your area, but it should be a minimum of 37% protein and 20% fat from animal sources. Here is a food chart that will help you decide if what you are feeding is a good food or if anything better is available where you live. You may have to do as I do; I have to order mine online and have it delivered because I can't get the premium brands locally:  

http://www.mdferretpaws.org/care/food_treats.html

If he looks like he has dry skin (notice when you give him the bath), you can add extra oil to his diet by dribbling some extra virgin olive oil on a plate and giving it as a treat now and then, either mixed with Ferretone or even just the olive oil by itself. You do have to be careful with Ferretone because vitamins A and D are not water soluble, so if you give him too much he could 'overdose' on the non-water-soluble vitamins and have other health problems. An overdose of Ferretone would be over a tablespoon a week. I like to keep it less than that just to be on the safe side, so I mix the Ferretone 1/2 and 1/2 with virgin olive oil when I get it, then store it in the refrigerator. That keeps it from going rancid (watch for the sediment in the bottom of the bottle - throw it out if you get ANY sediment) and makes a bottle of Ferretone last twice as long AND you don't have to worry about overdosing the ferret either. The extra oils will help his coat be soft and shiny and his skin soft and supple (and not itchy).

Ferrets are incredibly resillient little critters. I think once your little guy's physical 'irritants' are taken care of, he will be just a silly, bouncy little ferret.  No doubt you will see a completely new, even sillier ferret emerge when he gets a little playmate! I'm just so very happy for him and for the new little one that will soon join him.  I wish all of you the very best and hope you will stay in touch and let me know how things turn out after you visit the vet? I know it's difficult to be that isolated; I hope you can get a vet appointment because I do feel each problem you've addressed has a solution the vet can help with.  Please keep me updated and don't hesitate to write again if I can be of help too!   Hug that sweet little guy for me......

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers

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

QUESTION: Hi Jacquie

Thank you for your wonderful and elaborate response. And forgive me, I didn't even tell you what the little critter's name is: Tigga. Yeah, from Tiggerr, but that was my husband's choice!

I had him at the vet (she also has a ferret :-D) as you suggested and after a check-up she suggested that we treat him for the hairballs first. She said something interesting: A possible reason for him poofing at inappropriate times can be because of the pressure that builds up during the coughing. I tried to find the products you mentioned locally (UK) but to no avail. I can order it from the US however shipping costs are often ridiculous and I can't buy the two products from the same store. So, the vet gave me a hairball treatment. I will let you know how it all works out. Now, for some more good news. He actually has no problem with being in water. A few days ago I started playing a game with him where I put some nice hot water in a litter tray with plastic balls and each with a drop of olive oil/ferretone mix on. Today, he climbed in all the way and I managed to get him sopping wet. But I didn't have the right shampoo, so he didn't get a good wash. However, this is absolutely wonderful as I know now I can bath him to get rid of the itchiness.

Also, he appears to be gentle creature. I've been really skittish with letting him come to close to my hands. [Been picking up with a towel the whole month :-(] But then I decided that I'm full of nonsense and should just let him bite me if he wants, but I will let him know that my hands is a good hand. And didn't he surprise me pleasantly! WOW! And even when he gets annoyed with me (I tried the spray shampoo on him) he didn't even bite. He threatened, but then placed his teeth ever so gently on my hand. It's only the toes that he really goes for. But we'll get through that.

And he says thank you for the wonderful smooth you gave him! :-D

Thank you again, Jacquie! I felt so much better after reading your mail.

Kind Regards,

Karen

ANSWER: You are very welcome, anytime, Karen.  I was just happy to be able to help little Tigga...such a cute name! Your vet and I both recommended the hairball treatment first because that is the thing that could suddenly become a life/death problem IF he does happen to have a hairball. It's really important to keep ferrets intestinal tract well-maintained and free of any fur or other things they may eat that they should not have. So this is a treatment you will need to do at least once a month during Tigga's entire lifetime to keep him healthy. It's best not to wait until they are coughing, since that means there is a problem.

I'm not surprised you couldn't find Vetasyl and Uncle Jim's locally in the UK. Do you have any kind of psyllium fiber-type laxative for people? It is called Metamucil here in the states; you mix it with water, stir and drink it. IF you do have that, you can make some up for him and let him drink it....as much as he will drink, just be sure it's mixed according to the instructions and that he drinks as close to 6 oz of it as possibe.   

If you CAN get the Uncle Jim's Duk Soup Mix, it would sure make it easier as to what to mix it with, because he probably isn't going to want to just drink blah old water and psyllium fiber lax :-)  We don't want to use anything sweet (even tho ferret loves sweets, they are very dangerous for ferret's health). You *could* also use a small jar of WARM (mush) meat baby food mixed with six ounces of warm water for flavor and add that to the psyllium fiber. The very very important thing is that the thickness of the mixture you give him is very very thin like water. The psyllium fiber will expand after it is in his stomach, then will move thru his system and take all fur and other items it finds in its path and carry it out the other end.

For best results, give this mixture ONCE A DAY FOR THREE DAYS IN A ROW. I hope you are able to get the psyllium fiber lax (your vet or pharmacist should know of one you can use, either for pets or for people). The problem with the gooey petroleum laxatives is they don't seem to work very well from my experiences, but they are better than nothing. For them to work, you have to give a LOT of it and that means lots of sugary stuff for the ferret too :-(.

If Tigga continues to have problems with coughing, I would be happy to get both the Vetasyl and the Uncle Jim's Duk Soup Mix and ship them in one box over to you if that would help. Just let me know if you want me to do that and I'd be happy to. I have PayPal so it would be easy for you to get payment to me to purchase the items needed. I will leave that up to you - if you want them, tho, I will get them to you in one box.

I'm so happy you've decided to trust Tigga with your hands! I've never had a ferret yet who would even consider doing ANYTHING except giving my hands kisses!  And what sweet kisses they give on the lips when I give them kisses!! :-o   I think the reason most people's ferrets don't like water is that they use too cold water and since ferrets have a body temperature of 103 degrees, that seems freezing to them! Tigga just may turn out to love baths once he actually tries a real one! Some of my silly ferrets have even enjoyed getting in the bathtub with me over the years!

Please don't hesitate to write again if I can be of help!

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers

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

QUESTION: Hi Jacquie

Thank you for your help. Phew! You have no idea how much this really helps me. I think I am going to take you up on your offer for the Uncle Jim's Duk Soup and the Vetasyl. I am famliar with Metamucil, but am not sure if they keep it on the Island. Secondly, I couldn't find baby food that is mainly meat. There are only two food chain stores allowed on the island and there aren't enough compition to force them to stock a decent selection of products.

I had him on the hairball treatment for a week and I didn't spot anything in his faeces. However, he has stopped coughing. I would like to rather get the products you recommended as I know they are specifically made for ferrets.

As for his poofing - that has not stopped. The only possible reason I thought might be the cause is the itching and scratching. I gave him a bath which seemed to have help tremendously, but there are two spots where he still seems to itch. And sadly, the one spot is slightly bald. I can't say for how long it has been like that, but he isn't scratching there nearly as much as before and I see the hair is growing back. So as you can imagine, my worries doesn't just include poofing anymore. Now, I have to get the vet to look at this too. I am really not sure what is causing the poofing. We moved him into a room (yes, he now have a whole bedroom to himself. As if the cage the size of a mansion and the cupboard under the stairs wasn't enough) where he can play 'unsupervized' and every now and then when I check up on him I can smell he poofed. The door isn't closed, so I can hear what is going on and check easily on him. I am going to ask the vet if they can descent him, but I don't expect they will as she mentioned that it is not done in the UK. *sigh*....

But, O! I am such a happy mother. He chuckled for the first time this morning and how precious! I wish he will do that more often!

Thank you Jacquie! Thank you, Thank you!
Hope you have a great Easter weekend!
Kind Regards,

Karen

Answer
Hi Karen:

Your timing is perfect. I was just getting ready to order some Vetasyl for my own use, so I can just order an extra bottle for you.  I don't need any Uncle Jim's, but no doubt it would cost less for it to be shipped here in the U.S, then package the two items together and ship to you - don't you think?  I'm certainly not an expert on shipping overseas, but I would think that would save some for you.

Write back one more time and mark it "PRIVATE" so I can give you my email address.

sincerely,

jacquie