Ferrets/Care
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Overview
Ferrets are broken up into two distinct groups.
Pet Room
- Perseus will almost certainly attempt to JUMP OUT as soon as you open the door, you must intercept so he does not fall on the floor. Noodle is the second most likely. Be mindful of other ferrets as well if they are awake but less likely to jump.
- It is recommended to do the ferrets food and water FIRST before the rabbits and guinea pig as they will most likely be asleep and you can swiftly top off all bowls before all of them start to wake up.
- When shutting doors please be mindful of where their feet and tails are at so they do not get pinched.
- Ensure that all 6 doors are properly latched into place when closing. You can push on each and if you hear the doors snap when pushed it was not securely locked. Very very important to avoid falls as ferrets are fearless and have poor depth perception and concept of how high up they are.
Office
- Office has two ferrets in a pen. Persephone with special needs and Morticia as her companion.
Food/Water
- All ferrets are on a mixed blend of Ultimate Instinct Chicken / Wysong. Fill both food bowls full each visit.
- This is typically mixed together in advance (both individual pour container and bulk container) for the smell to blend together but on the off chance that both run out, the individual foods are in labeled bulk containers in the pet supply closet and a scoop from each and repeat until full again. You will likely not run out and need to mix more before we return as we will top off ALL containers the day before we leave.
- For water, both an individual pour container as well as gallon refill jugs are in the pet room fridge. They should always get chilled water and preferably not from the tap to help regulate their temperature as the summer heat often yields lukewarm/room temperature water from the tap.
- The ferrets in the main habitat often dig some of the water out so both water bowls are always needing topped off on each visit.
Medicine/Health
The temperature of the pet room should not exceed 70F. Windows should never be opened in the summer. During the winter the screened window can be opened to help chill the room if it gets too warm. There is a thermometer on top of the fridge but we do have a device to monitor the temperature remotely and can remotely adjust the temperature of the AC as needed so you will likely not need to mess with it.
Morticia
- Morticia has Adrenal and is well controlled with the implant. No concerns to note at this time.
Persephone
- Persephone has Adrenal and Blood Sugar issues and she has the implant as well. She takes Prednisolone twice daily as well as a "dollop" (usually around a teaspoon) of chicken baby food (found in pet room fridge) immediately after medicine. The food after the medicine is not only important to help augment the medicine but also to associate receiving medicine with eating "wet" food immediately after.
- Due to the taste of the medicine she will attempt to spit it out if it is not mixed with food. You should draw up 0.15ml of the medicine first in a 1ml oral syringe, flip it upside down and flick the air bubbles out. Afterwards draw up the rest up with the chicken baby food broth until a total of 1 ml is drawn.
- You will likely need to scruff her by the skin of the neck to administer the syringe. Squirt 0.2ml at a time and give her time to swallow before continuing until all 1ml is given.
- Close the lid of the jar, shake it up, and take out a teaspoon of food and put it in the bowl. Do not leave her unattended while she eats, you must visibly observe her until she is finished so she doesn't fall and then gently put her back in the pen and rinse the syringe and bowl out in the hallway bathroom and put the unused food back into the pet room fridge.
- An open chicken baby food jar MUST BE THROWN OUT after 5 days of being open if any food happens to be remaining at the end of the 5 days. New jars can be obtained from the pet room supply closet. Please indicate the date opened with the nearby sharpie.