Adopting a Baby Ferrett

I didn’t know when my wife asked me to take her to the mall, we’d come home with a baby ferret (called a kit). For me, I thought we’d zip in and out (a husband’s dream), maybe catch dinner and see a movie at the local multiplex, my wife had other ideas. A close friend of hers had shown her a picture of a ferret, cute, cuddly, inquisitive, and my wife decided... “I have to have one”. What’s a husband to do except follow along and break out the credit card when asked.

I did learn a bit on the fateful afternoon, and while I’m not a ferret expert, I’m hopeful my experience can help you make your own baby ferret choice an enjoyable day out with the wife (good luck guys).

FERRET FACT: The scientific name for the domesticated ferret is ‘Mustela furo’; they are a member of the weasel family (polecat, mink, ermine, and otter). Historical records state the first ferrets came to the USA well over 300 years ago and were used primarily for rodent control.

Step one in our journey to furry ferret land, where can you find a ferret?

Pet stores, local breeders, classified ads, humane shelters are some among the places to check, with my first choice being the humane shelters. We all need a helping hand sometimes, no different for a displaced ferret. However my wife insisted on a baby ferret, her “biological clock is ticking” so the pet store was our (actually her) first choice. I grimaced quietly knowing if we walked out with a little bundle of ferret joy, I’d have spent around $200 (prices vary depending on your location) on a furry ferret and his necessities.

Be certain to ask about the personality of your (or her) choice, since ferrets, just like "man's best friend" can vary significantly with one enjoying a good snuggle and another wriggling their way to freedom whenever held. That's not to say there are evil ferrets, just a variety of personalities.
You'll need to consider a "litter box", yep, comes with the territory, guys and the fact your furry ferret bundle will need to be "nip trained". These nips aren't meant to hurt you, but biting is part of their nature, having tough skin and used to rough play. You (and your lovely assistant with the smooth skin) might not take these nips in the spirit intended. Plan your ferret "nip training" early and often, refrain from smacking them on the nose (anger management class might help), rather answering their nip with a LOUD NOISE. There are other methods and my wife insisted I try bitter apple spray, tiring quickly from my LOUD... yells.

I'm a firm believer in positive reinforcement, and the pet store owner (I'm taking him OFF my Christmas card list) told me to never let go, even if the little bugger gives me a good nip, rather to reward him/her with praise and a treat when performances equal expectations.

I'm not a vet, and neither was the pet store owner (he was a good salesman) but I knew enough to look for apparent signs of good health; clear eyes, smooth coat and most important, that alert and inquisitive personality that has caused ferrets to be our friends since the time of the Pharaohs.

We walked out of the store with a new pet who'd (in short order) become part of our family living his life (9 to 10 years on average) in the comfort of suburbia. Now then dear, how about that movie?

(Lee Dobbins writes for Epet Pet Center where you can learn more about all types of pets, including the Ferret. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Dobbins)

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Letting Gilly Go

Gillis was a 4 year old red Doberman that I loved more than I should have. I got her from a shelter just hours before she was to be put down. The Animal Shelter people said she was so skinny (she was starving) she had to be sick and in that high-kill shelter it didn't take much to condemn a dog, especially a larger dog, because there were so many and so few homes. She and I bonded immediately. We communicated better than I could with most people. She seemed to know how I was feeling and what the appropriate thing was. She became my baby, my Gilly Girl. When my daughter was involved in a bad car accident and I spent days in the hospital, returning home only for a change of clothes and maybe a good night's sleep, Gilly always "took care" of me both mentally and emotionally while I was there.

A year ago she developed a limp. My vet said it was a trauma injury and she gave her a shot and pills. I took her home but didn't confine her and she played with our chocolate lab. He can be pretty rowdy and her leg didn't get better so the next week I took her back to the vet. She received another shot and I vowed this time that I would keep her confined so the leg could heal. We were busy on Tuesday and when I came home that evening, intending to work on my computer, Gilly let me know she needed me. I lay down with her and she snuggled against my side but she couldn't get comfortable. She would stand on the bed and look at me with her paw held out and I knew it was hurting her. I gave her Ascriptin and rubbed it with Allercreme. I even filled a bag with ice cubes and held it on her but nothing worked. Finally we both drifted off into a troubled sleep. The next morning I took her back to the vet and I kept thinking "her knee has probably accumulated some fluid that can be drained off or ..."

The vet x-rayed the leg and I was notified that she had advanced bone cancer. They told me we could amputate her leg and give her chemo and radiation but that would only prolong her life for a brief period, maybe 6 months, that was all we could hope for. I was heartsick but remembering how she had suffered the night before (I believe the Lord God gave me that night to help me be willing to let her go) I told the vet to put her down. I held her as the lethal dose was administered and talked to her about how much I loved her and how she was such a good girl - I never thought our time together would be so short. We buried her on our place and I somehow believe that we will meet again. The Bible says that God knows when even a sparrow falls and I believe Gillis is with Him in a happy place where there is no pain or suffering.

(Thanks to Carol for sharing her story about Gillis. If you're looking for a pet, consider one that might be otherwise overlooked, perhaps an older pet like Gillis. You can search by breed, age, size, gender, and zip code on petfinder.com to find a perfect pet in your area.)

Save Money at the Vet - Spay or Neuter Your Pet

We’ve talked before about saving money at the vet clinic. Another way to do this, saving both your money and your pet’s health, is to have your cats and dogs spayed or neutered.

Research has proven time and time again that altered pets have fewer medical problems as they get older. Female cats and dogs that have not been spayed are at an increased risk for mammary cancer and infected uteruses. Intact males are more likely to develop prostate and testicular cancers. All are expensive to treat.

Pets that have not been altered also have a tendency to stray, thus increasing the risk for serious injury, treatment of which certainly can lead to enormous vet bills.

Would you rather pay for a routine surgery now or a complicated surgery later if it meant saving the life of your beloved cat or dog? Trust me on this one—it’s a total no brainier. You’ll thank yourself later as you enjoy your healthy pet as he ages. Indeed, pets who have been altered live two to three years longer than unaltered pets.

So, for the health of your dog or cat – and your pocketbook – spay or neuter your pet.


Avoid Expensive Vet Bills. Insure your Pets Today!

Say it with Doggie-Mail

Want to send your favorite pet or pet owner a special message? Then you need to check out Doggie-Mail at www.petcentric.com (brought to you by Purina).

You can design a video message using your choice of three dogs, choosing a costume, accessories, and even the setting. (Put a cowboy hat on the cute boxer and he looks just like Rocky!) Choose a pre-recorded message, type your own, or even record a message by phone, then send your completed Doggie-Mail via e-mail. There are pre-recorded messages for several occasions, but we suggest getting creative and typing in a personal note. (We haven’t tried the telephone method.) You can choose from a selection of different voices so the doggie messenger can really speak.

Rocky and Bashful Boy loved the messages they received on Valentine’s Day, and so did their “people.” Your favorite person – or pet – will love hearing from you, too. Just go to www.petcentric.com and choose the “Say it with Doggie-mail” link. Have fun!

Bashful Boy

Bashful Boy is a very special 4-year-old Beagle who I adopted at our local animal shelter on January 7, 2004. There were so many people who wanted to adopt Bashful Boy that the shelter held an auction for him. I had experience with eBay so after the auction bids had reached $200 and were still dragging on with only $10 bid increments, I hollered $400 to everyone else's amazement. Bashful was mine.

He had to be neutered before I could bring him home. He was still groggy when I picked him up from the animal hospital after his surgery. By the time we reached home, however, Bashful was happy to explore the backyard of his new home for any new scents he might pick up. He spent quite a bit of time roaming around the yard before he decided to come into the house and explore what new scents he might discover here. Each room of the house was new territory that Bashful Boy carefully examined. He finally settled in the living room where I quickly showed him how to use the doggy door. Bashful is a smart boy and learned his lesson very quickly.

We have now shared our lives for a little more than 3 years. He is a very playful dog and loves to go for walks, rides in the car, and play tug-of-war games with me. He will bring me one of his many stuffed animals and hold on to one end of the animal as hard as he can with his teeth while I sincerely try to pry the stuffed animal away from him with my hands. He also likes to play games with his kibble and doggy treats. He will throw them up in the air and see where they land. He will hide his doggy treats -- he especially loves Ritz crackers which I put in little sandwich bags for him -- for fear that I might find them and eat them before he has a chance to. He watches me as he carefully moves from one room of the house to the next deciding where would be the best place to hide those Ritz crackers from me. When we go to bed at night, he will jump in the bed with his little bag of crackers and eat them as a nighttime snack. He stretches out his body as he snacks on his crackers and knows full well that he is the master of this house.

Bashful is spoiled -- spoiled with love. His favorite food is chicken and I will often go to the store just to make sure we have cooked chicken on hand. A local market here sells the most delicious 2-pound roasted chickens for $4.98 and I buy 2-3 of them a week. Bashful fights me whenever I have to give him any sort of pill -- like Benadryl -- so I hide the pill in the chicken and can usually get him to swallow the pill without any problem that way. But if he senses the pill or finds it, watch out. He will spit the pill out and carefully inspect every other piece of chicken to make sure that I have not tried that trick on him again.

Bashful Boy, being a beagle, constantly has his nose to the ground. He goes crazy when he comes across a Bumble Bee or any other insect and will spend hours in the yard barking at those moving objects. He has tormented many bumble bees and they, in turn, have stung him. Benadryl is great for treating those stings -- and most other insect bites -- so I always keep it on hand. Bashful Boy's proudest moment was when he found a baby bird -- still alive -- in the yard and brought it inside the house to give to me as a gift. He did not like it when I picked up the baby bird, cleaned it off, and placed it back outside so its mamma could find it again.

I work out of my house so I have the luxury of structuring my life around my Bashful Boy. He hates the sound of garbage trucks on garbage pick-up day and stays right by my side until the trucks are gone. He loves the soothing brush that I used to brush his hair. He does not like water except to drink it. We have a pool in our yard and Bashful goes to the other end of the yard if he thinks I might try to coax him into the water. In the summertime when the temps get to 100 or more, he loves to lick the bowls of ice that I have frozen for him to drink from. I am in trouble if I forget to put bowls of water in the freezer for him during our hot spells.

There is so much more to say about this boy of mine but you get the idea. I love him to pieces and am so blessed to have him in my life.

(Thanks to Sally for sharing about her "baby boy.")

Cats and Dogs Don't Mix

Cats and dogs don’t mix?

Don’t believe it. They do mix, and very nicely.

Think about it:

A 35 pound brown/black/white Welsh Corgi mixed with a little this and that . . . (We’re not sure just what. We think she’s a breed all her own.) That’s Maggie, THE DOG!

Now add:

A 3 ½ pound Persian Tabby. Registered? Oh, yes. A real little princess. Long black/white fluff of fur. Big wide, gold eyes and a cute little nose. Looks as if she was hit in the face by a truck. That is Zoie, THE CAT.

Now how cute is that?

Who rules? Well, that’s a matter of opinion.

THE DOG learned all the tricks: Shake hands, roll over, play dead, toss a treat from her nose and catch it AND be a “pretty girl” when she really wants attention. But it is so hard for THE DOG to remember she is not allowed on the couch or to “stay” when company comes. THE DOG loves sleeping on Pop’s lap while he takes his afternoon nap. At bedtime, THE DOG will take her treat and march off to bed like a “pretty girl.”

However . . .

THE CAT doesn’t have to learn all those tricks. All she has to do is look up at us with those beautiful eyes and we forget about tricks. We just sit and hold her on our laps until she takes her nap, then we play with a special shake toy – until she sees THE DOG’s tail (her favorite plaything). At bedtime, THE CAT marches into the bedroom with us and picks her spot. It might be between us, beside us, or down at the bottom of the bed, as long as she can touch us anytime she feels like it. One night I woke up and she was on top of Pop’s head . . . like Davy Crockett’s coonskin hat with the tail hanging over the side . . .

Who rules??? I’m not sure!!!!

THE DOG Maggie. . . THE CAT Zoie . . . Hmmmmmmmm

(Thanks, Swell Nell, for writing about Maggie and Zoie!)

Eliminating Pet Stains and Odors

Promptness is the key to removing pet stains and odors effectively, especially in the case of pet urine, which not only stains but also leaves behind a potent, long-lasting odor. If you take care of the problem immediately, chances are the urine will leave no trace. Once dried, however, the stain and accompanying odor will become much more difficult to remove, and may require the services of a professional cleaner.

A variety of homemade solutions and commercial products are available to help you remove or neutralize stains and odors left behind by urine, vomit, diarrhea or feces.

Remove Pet Stains and Odors on a Variety of Surfaces

Carpets: If the stain is fresh, any good carpet shampoo will work well. First, be sure to remove any solid or semi-solid matter, such as vomit or feces. Clean the spot with the shampoo, and then soak it thoroughly with club soda. Allow it to stand for 10 minutes before blotting it up. If the stain has dried, or if the urine has soaked through to the floor, try using a cleaner with enzymes, which break down the odor-causing compounds. Be sure to follow the product's instructions carefully to prevent damage to your carpet.

Concrete: Fresh stains are easy to remove from sealed concrete. Simply wipe the area with a damp paper towel, and clean it with a commercial cleaning product. If the concrete is unsealed, and the urine or feces is allowed to stand, the stain will be much more difficult to remove, especially if urine has soaked into the surface. If this is the case, first neutralize the stain and odor using a commercial cleaning product then seal the concrete. If the odor is still present, you may have to call a professional cleaning service.

Hardwood: Wipe off fresh stains, and then treat the wood with a commercial cleaning product. If the stains - especially urine stains - have been allowed to stand, you may have to strip, sand and bleach or stain the wood, then re-apply the varnish or polyurethane.

Drapes, clothing, upholstery covers: Place any stained items in the washing machine with a cup of vinegar; do not use detergent. Wash as usual or take to a dry cleaner if that is appropriate for that fabric.

(Article courtesy of PETCO.com)

If a Dog was the Teacher . . .

If a dog was the teacher you would learn stuff like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

When it's in your best interest, practice obedience!

Let others know when they've invaded your territory.

Take naps. Stretch before rising. Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back in the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

On snowy days, have fun with a snowman!

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout. Run right back and make friends.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

Comparison Shopping for a Vet

We posted recently about the high cost of veterinary care for your beloved pets and that there are ways to keep the costs down. Here’s another tip.

Sometimes the best way to save money at the vet is simply to find the cheapest clinic in town. We have already said that running a vet clinic is very expensive, thus justifying some of those big charges, but certainly vet clinics do compete for patients, so in some cases cheaper can be better. So, how do you judge if that is the case?

Ask your friends where they take their pets and ask what kind of prices they charge. Ask to see receipts if possible because some hospitals charge for things differently. How do your friends like the service there? Are the doctors knowledgeable? Is the staff friendly? Do your friends recommend their own vet to others?

If you want to know how much a clinic charges, just pick up the phone and ask! Sometimes you can get a good feel about the hospital just by talking to the person on the phone. Some hospitals won’t give prices out over the phone and will want to mail you the information instead. That’s fine—you’ll just have to wait a little longer.

Which brings me to my next point: always get prices and estimates in writing. This is hard to do over the phone, which is why some hospitals ask if it’s okay to mail you something. But if they don’t, ask to have a list of prices sent to you (or pick them up yourself). Veterinary hospitals can be quite hectic at times and sometimes the person on the phone will simply quote you the wrong price. It happens. Then when you go to check out—surprise! This is no fun for anybody.

If you are calling around to get estimates on surgical procedures always ask what’s included in the price. If you ask “How much to spay a 40 pound dog?” they might say $150. But that may be just the price for the actual surgical procedure itself. Things like anesthesia, bloodwork, pain medication, IV fluids, and e-collar are often not included in that price. Be specific and, as stated before, get it in writing.

Most clinics make you sign an estimate before dropping your pet off for surgery. That way there are no surprises come pick-up time. If there is no estimate given at the time of drop-off, ask to see one (unless you really don’t want to know how much it’s going to cost!). Remember too that an estimate is just that—an estimate. Some things just can’t be predicted ahead of time, but you should be notified if the bill is going to be higher than expected.

With a little pre-visit work, along with some advice from your friends, a visit to the veterinarian doesn’t have to break the bank. With the money that you save by comparison shopping, you can get yourself – or your pet – a special treat!