Ferret Footnotes
Monthly Newsletter of the
Ferret Lovers' Club of Texas

"Roscoe and Sonja" were the cover photo ferrets. The image file has been lost.


FEBRUARY 1997

RABIES UPDATE

A brief update on recent developments regarding the rabies issue:

First, Dr. Charles Rupprecht of the CDC in Atlanta, who last fall informed the Compendium Committee that ferrets in the laboratory had been found to shed the raccoon strain of rabies virus, confirmed in an interview with me that he believes the data so far are fully consistent with eventual establishment of an observation period in lieu of decapitation in bite cases. This is based on the fact that within no more than 3 days after shedding began, the rabid ferrets began to display obvious clinical symptoms of rabies. What this means is, a 10-day observation period, as with dogs and cats, is viable.

Second, although it has not made much noise lately, the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee to the Public Health Service (ACIP) continues to have on the books a very misinformed and regressive policy on rabies and ferrets dating back to 1991. It characterizes ferrets as "wild animals," citing the NASPHV (National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians) as its authority, and openly recommends mandatory euthanasia for testing in all bite cases.

Third, in a recent exchange of correspondence with me, Dr. Suzanne Jenkins, head of the NASPHV and the Compendium Committee, disputed ACIP's characterization of the NASPHV position and affirmed that NASPHV, unlike ACIP, supports a "case-by-case" decision in bite cases on whether euthanization is necessary.
Fourth, LIFE has just issued a revised and updated "Fact Sheet on Rabies in Ferrets".

The text of her remarks, the ACIP position, the interview with Rupprecht, and the new LIFE Fact Sheet can all be accessed from the LIFE Web site.

Also available now on the LIFE Page is a new search engine that can be used to search by keywords through the hundreds of useful and informative articles on the LIFE site, the Ferret Information Bank, and the archives of the Independent Voice.

Howard Davis, Humane Affairs Coordinator
League of Independent Ferret Enthusiasts (LIFE)

FERRET MAINTENANCE: FUR, NAILS, EARS, TEETH
February Meeting Topic

Bathing
Baths are recommended no more often than once a month. More frequent bathing will dry out the skin and coat, and actually make your ferret smell worse as the body works extra hard to produce more skin oils. Ferrets will smell the worst in the 2-3 weeks after a bath as their skin oils replenish. Some owners recommend bathing only when needed (such as if the ferret gets dirty playing in something or picks up fleas) or twice a year. Bathing your pet eliminates the accumulation of glandular secretions that give the fur a flattened, oily look, or discolor the coat. A thorough washing with a ferret shampoo and medium warm water will remove heavy soil deposits. Bathing also aids in the reduction of such external parasites as fleas and ticks. There are a number of good ferret shampoos on the market. A kitten shampoo is fine or a no-tears baby shampoo which is good to use on the ferret's head to avoid eye irritation. In the winter, when the air in your house is dryer, it is helpful to use a conditioner on your ferret to keep its skin from becoming too dry. Older ferret also tend to have drier skin.

Trimming Nails
Left untrimmed, long nails make walking difficult, painful, and ultimately, impossible. Long nails are dangerous; they become entangled in bedding and clothing and risk being pulled out. You may incur serious scratches even during gentle play with your ferret. Filing nails tends to be time consuming and ineffective. Nails should be clipped every other week. Clipping at one week may be uncomfortable for the ferret and cause retraction of the "quick" which can lead to later arthritis, and waiting three weeks allows the "quick" to elongate, which can cause pain while walking. Be sure to trim the nails on all four feet (back nails grow a bit more slowly than front). Use clippers designed for cats or dogs. These can be looped clippers, or special scissor-like tools designed especially for the task. Use human nail clippers as a last resort; they don't provide as much control, ability to see what you are doing, and the curved ends can cut another toe. Cut just below the white tip in front of the pink area (the "quick") of each nail. If you cut into the pink area, you will hit a vein and the ferret will bleed. Styptic pencil or Kwik Stop will stop the blood flow; cold water, cornstarch, or talcum powder work also.

Try one of the following methods to trim nails: (1) Ask a friend or family member to assist you, (2) "Scruff" the ferret--grasp the ferret by the skin on the back of the neck as a mother would carry a kit and let it hang in the air; your ferret should be rendered motionless by this grip. (3) Put a drop of Linatone or Ferretone on the ferret's stomach and while he is licking it off, you can trim the nails, or (4) Trim the nails when the ferret is asleep (be quick!). Distractions with Nutrical or Laxatone also work well. Try to clip nails AFTER a bath, not before.

Ear Cleaning
A careful bimonthly cleaning will remove waxy buildup and reduce the possibility of ear wax hardening and causing hearing problems. Ferrets may also receive scratches to the inside of the ears during vigorous play or scratching with too-long nails. Gentle cleaning removes dried blood deposits which feel uncomfortable and could increase irritation to the ears.

To clean the ears, use a Q-tip moistened with a gentle cleanser such as Oti-Clens or Clorahexiderm. You could use hydrogen peroxide or mineral oil, but HP may dry out the ear, and mineral oil may add to the was problem. Alcohol is too strong and painful to the sensitive ear membranes. Swab out the ear and twirl the Q-tip between your fingers to get deep enough into the ear. Do not force the Q-tip any deeper than the twirling action permits. Be sure to tilt the Q tip to follow the natural direction of the ear canal, but do not penetrate the canal. You may wish to scruff your ferret while cleaning.

Cleaning ears will help in the detection and eradication of earmites, which are small, bloodsucking parasites visible under a microscope. Ferrets frequently get earmites (often arriving from the petstore with them), and if left untreated, these can cause infection or affect your ferret's balance. If the ferret scratches or rubs its ears along the floor or walls of its cage, or if the ferret seems to lose its balance, chances are your ferret has earmites. Earmites produce a black ear wax with a strong odor. Ear drops with a miticide are available from your vet or pet store (buy one that is safe for kittens, such as Nolvamite or Cerumite), are used for treatment. Treatment is daily, and involves putting several drops down the ear canal and rubbing it in. If you have more than one pet, all will need to be treated, as this bug is highly contagious. Some theorize that the "thumping" motion that animals make when scratched around the ears is due to earmites, not ecstasy! In a severe case, a vet can administer ivermectin drops every two weeks for two to three sessions. It is important to administer any earmite preventive medicine exactly according to instruction so the egg/adult cycle can be broken.

Dental Care
Ferrets have 40 adult teeth on which plaque can collect and calcify to form tartar if not removed. Tartar can also form under the gumline and cause infection and tooth decay. This infection can cause kidney disease, digestive problems, and severe discomfort for the ferret. Dental neglect means that your ferret will have to go to the vet, be anesthetized, and scale the teeth. This is particularly hard (and risky) on older ferrets, and expensive for any ferret. Avoid the need for this by brushing your ferret's teeth!

A diet of dry food helps cleanse the teeth. With this diet, twice per month brushing is sufficient. However, other food supplements, such as raisins, fruit, Nutrical, Laxatone, Petromalt, or any soft or sugary foods may mean that you may have to brush your pet's teeth weekly or even twice weekly.

Brush your ferret's teeth with a ferret or kitten toothbrush, using a pet dentifrice such as Pet Dent, CET, or Petrodex. Never use toothpaste made for humans! Additionally, never use a toothbrush made for humans. Even the softest human baby toothbrush is 3 times too harsh for a ferret. Brushes will either have handles or fit over the finger. Brush the teeth as you would brush your own, but you do not need to rinse, with these specially designed pet toothpastes. It is normal for some gum bleeding to occur the first few time you brush. You can put Oxyfresh gel on the bums after brushing. Thoroughly clean the brush with antibacterial soap.

If your ferret simply cannot stand the brushing, other minimal dental care should take place. There are special pet mouthwashes than can be rubbed over your ferret's teeth with a cloth. Or your ferret may simply chew on the toothbrush. Chew toys can also help reduce plaque, such as Ferretone on a rope toy, Nylabone dental toys, or Kong toys. However, proactive scrubbing with a brush is the best method.

Even with regular dental attention, a ferret may need to see the vet for a tooth scaling. Make sure the vet uses isofluorane gas and not injectable ketamine to put your ferret under. Under no circumstances should a ferret's teeth be filed down. Teeth pulling may need to occur as a last resort, but a ferret who stops eating may end in a fatality.


Canadian Ferret Import Rules Eased

Some good news from Canada:

As of Jan 22, 1997, ferrets entering Canada to visit, and ferrets re-entering Canada after visiting the US don't need a permit any longer, reports Gerry Bucsis, Canadian-American ferret activist. Individuals bringing ferrets into Canada now will require only documentation that the animals have been vaccinated for rabies by a veterinarian within one year prior to the date of importation.

Ms. Bucsis received a letter from Dr. Brian Peart, chief, regulatory affairs, animal health division, Agriculture Canada confirming the change in Section 25.1 of the Health of Animals Regulations. Agriculture Canada is the Canadian equivalent of the US Department of Agriculture.

The new regulatory language gives ferrets their own section instead of lumping them, as in the past, with foxes, skunks, raccoons, and other wildlife. In the past, people importing or re-importing ferrets into Canada were required to go through expensive and cumbersome bureaucratic procedures to get a one-time permit from Agriculture Canada.

Persons desiring further information may contact Ms. Bucsis directly at (905) 892-6521.

Howard Davis,
League of Independent Ferret Enthusiasts

Subject: Ferret Personality Quiz

(i just hope nobody's forwarding these to the real world. the men with the white coats will come for me soon)

How well do YOU know your ferrets? Just give them this revealing quiz to find out what personality type your ferret REALLY has! Choose the best possible answer(s) to each question:

1.Which does your ferret prefer: a) raisins dipped in Petromalt, or b) dried cranberries drenched in Linatone?

2.Would your ferret rather bite: a) toes just removed from a sweaty shoe, or b) the wet ankles of someone who's just stepped out of the shower?

3.A(n) _________ is a tasty between-meals treat: a) insole b) eraser c) rubber band

4.If my owner puts yet another potted plant out of my reach, I will: a) poop in the middle of the floor, b) eat a hole in his/her underwear/socks.

5.Carpet ______.: a) covers important subterranean tunnels that lead to the raisin mines! dig for our freedom! dig! b) is for pooping on.

6.The best way to get into the garbage is: a) by toppling it over on top of myself, b) jumping down into it from atop a chair or countertop.

7.It wasn't ME who caused the cat to screech, it was: a) a flea, b) alien ESP, c) a big, scary mouse.

Use the following point system to total up your ferret's score and see what type of personality your ferret has:
1) a: 0 b: 1
2) a: 1 b: 0
3) a: 1 b: 0 c: 0
4) a: 0 b: 1
5) a: 1 b: 0
6) a: 0 b: 1
7) a: 0 b: 0 c: 1

0-9: You have a genuine Mustela furo putorius! Congratulations! Expect mysterious disappearances of small, portable items and a food-consumed/poop-produced ratio that just doesn't quite make sense. You may find yourself tucking your pants into your socks and putting your shoes on top of your sink countertop. However, if you find yourself absentmindedly picking up your ferret and putting them on the counter so that they can reach your shoes more easily, you should send your phone number and address to POTPIE, c/o Melissa. We...er, the world needs more people like you.

Authored by Potpie: "Modern Ferret is for ferret owners! Where's the magazine for FERRETS? I want *real* centerfolds - like of TOES! Yeah! Uncensored, unsocked, unfettered TOES!"

___ Melissa Litwicki __ squirty@umich.edu ___
By the whole newsgroup devoted tennis showing
it after scarfing fork and laughters

FERRET OF THE MONTH COVER PHOTO

The February Ferret of the Month Cover photo features Roscoe (left) and Sonja (right) who own Blanca Martinez, FLC-TX Secretary and member. Similar Ferret Fun House Tents are available to raise funds for Gabriel - contact Trish Curtis.

Would you like your ferret to be featured as a cover photo? Or published in the new handbook? Send photographs to the editor (see page 2), and with a SASE, they will be returned. Be sure to identify the ferret in the photo, include any pertinent information, and mark the photo with your name and address.

February Meeting Minutes

Gabriel in NH Shelter
A person posting to our local mailing list asked for the location of a Coppell breeder to return his guaranteed ferret with a degenerative spinal injury. Trish worked with Alicia Drakiotes (Ferret Wise Shelter in NH) to take in the ferret, because "returned" kits are simply put to death. However, a veterinary exam indicated that the problem was a spinal injury that had been left alone for 30-60 days. The ferret, Gabriel, has been in extreme pain and required major veterinary care. We sold several "Ferret Fun Houses" (which are like ferret tents) to raise money for Gabriel, and Kathy Lucy raffled off a nifty ferret dish to raise $22. Check with Trish Curtis if you want to order a fun house or make a donation. At last report, Gabriel has a loving foster mom, and is improving in his ability to move around and is in less pain.

Ferret Shows
The FLC Champion show in May 1997 has been cancelled due to funding shortages and lack of space to hold the show. We will have the Ferret Olympics Fun Match on the 2nd Saturday of October, and plan a championship show for spring 1998. In the meantime, we need to work on fundraising, planning, and surveying our members about their show needs.

Projects
Our next project is to do a mailing to veterinarians with a vet manual, handbook, and other ferret information. Then we plan a mailing to members about ferret merchandise, general club information, and precautions on ECE. We also need to work with more area petstores with educational brochures and informational flyers, and think about programs for schools.

ECE Carriers
Kathy Lucy noted that the theory about kits inheriting immunity from their ECE mothers and not being carriers was NOT true. Honey's kits did transmit ECE to other households. (Erika's notes: the theory that small exposures over time builds up ECE immunity also does not hold true, as my house was hit with a severe case in spite of tiny exposure levels over the past year).

Local Ferret Breeder Problem (plus update after meeting)
STAR*Ferrets forwarded an email from an individual complaining about terrible conditions at an Arlington ferret breeder. FLC-TX contacted Arlington Animal Control to file a complaint. Pending Animal Control response, several FLC-TX officers visited the facility, JR's Cowtown Critters, 1002 Harrison Ave. Suite 210 in Arlington, 817-460-RATS. The ferrets were in fairly dirty conditions, but had food and water. No bedding, litterboxes, or toys were provided, and there was no climate control in the facility. We observed approximately a dozen ferrets, all whole. We then asked to see kits, and were taken to a satellite facility, which was the home of Steven Walters on 104 E. Lovers Lane. We were not allowed into the garage, where the breeder ferrets were kept. We were shown several ferrets, including kits at about 4-5 weeks old. We were offered these kits and told that we could have kits as young as 2 weeks old, they would do fine on a diet of milk and canned cat food. The home was equally unclean, and there were a few ill ferrets present.
Animal Control then inspected the main facility and found no code violations. I requested they inspect the satellite home, but they indicated problems on entering a home without a formal complaint. We also contacted the USDA, but they have no jurisdiction over the retail sale of ferrets.
An FLC-TX officer then used personal funds to remove (purchase) all ferrets from the warehouse facility. There were six ferrets remaining; the rest had either been sold, or taken away for breeding. 5 females and 1 male were subsequently spayed/neutered and given distemper shots by Dr. Kendrick. Then breeding history was researched. After talking to breeders and distributors in Wisconsin and Michigan, it was determined that 3 of the females were European fitches, and two were half fitch and half American domestic. The breeding history of the male could not be determined. The two "half-breeds" are deaf. All ferrets were completely unsocialized, scared of human contact, and bad biters. Three of these ferrets have been placed in homes of FLC-TX members.
Subsequently, two other FLC-TX members visited the satellite facility and gained access to the garage. There were about 50 ferrets. All had food and water, and linoleum bottoms to sit on. However, the cages were indescribably filthy, and the odor was overpowering. Mr. Walters indicated that the ferrets have 1-2 hours of light per day, and airconditioning was available, although ventilation appeared to be quite poor. These members removed (purchased) two females, both possibly pregnant.
FLC-TX officers determined that we do not have enough funds to remove all of his stock and ask him to cease and desist breeding and selling whole ferrets who have some genetic defects and are unsocialized biters. He also sold several pregnant females. (Note that no club funds were used for above purchases as we did not have time to put this up to a membership vote).
Because we have no legal recourse or control, our next step is education. We would like to work with this breeder to improve his conditions, and at minimum hand out information that we would provide at no cost so that new ferret owners would have better information. Due to a rumor that he may be selling to petstores, we will invite USDA inspection as well. However, no animal control codes are being violated, and no laws are being broken due to numbers, sales tax, or other issues.
We need volunteers to follow up on this issue! From: "E. A. Leonard, D.V.M." 71534.1704@COMPUSERVE.COM>
Subject: Vet care survey

This is a survey for people about animal care and their veterinarian. Please send your answers to 4587389@mcimail.com;. I will post the results on the world wide web, and share them with veterinarians to help them serve clients better. Thank you for your time.
Edward A. Leonard, DVM

1. How many animals do you have? (Please enter the number you have.)

A. [ ] Birds.
B. [ ] Cats.
C. [ ] Dogs.
D. [ ] Ferrets.
E. [ ] Horses.
F. [ ] Rabbits.
G. [ ] Other (Please explain.)

2. How would you describe the area where you live? (Please choose one.)

A. [ ] Rural.
B. [ ] Suburban.
C. [ ] Urban.
D. [ ] Other (Please explain.)

3. [ ] How many years have animals been a part of your life?
(Please enter the number of years.)

4. Do you see a veterinarian for animal care? (Please choose one.)

A. [ ] Yes.
B. [ ] No.
C. [ ] Other (Please explain.)

The Remaining Questions Pertain Only If You See A Veterinarian For Animal Care.
5. Why do you see a veterinarian for animal care? (Please answer all that apply.)

A. [ ] Checkups.
B. [ ] Illnesses.
C. [ ] Other (Please explain.)

6. How often do you see a veterinarian for animal care? (Please choose one.)

A. [ ] Weekly.
B. [ ] Monthly.
C. [ ] Quarterly.
D. [ ] Semi-annually.
E. [ ] Yearly.
F. [ ] Other (Please explain.)

7. Do you like your veterinarian? (Please choose one.)

A. [ ] Yes.
B. [ ] No.
C. [ ] Other (Please explain.)

8. Have you switched veterinarians? (Please choose one.)

A. [ ] Yes (Please explain.)
B. [ ] No.
C. [ ] Other (Please explain.)

9. What to you is the clearest sign that a veterinarian does good work?
(Please explain.)

Thank you for your answers!

Comments? Mail to: Dr. Leonard 4587389@mcimail.com
ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ELeonard/

NOTE TO MEMBERS WITHOUT EMAIL ACCESS: Bring your finished survey to the next meeting, and they will be consolidated and mailed to this researcher.

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