Ferret Book Tidbits

Ferret Book Changes

Aleutian's Disease

Kim's Ferret Book

HOLY FUZZBUTT!! I wrote the ferret care sheet many years ago, when I just started with ferrets! I must admit it's extremely lacking in MANY, MANY ways. But you're all in luck! I became a little bit more fuzzy educated over the years, and was given the opportunity to write an entire book. While I didn't have much choice in the title (Ferrets for Dummies), I did get 100% say so in what got put in there. And I had the help of many knowledgeable ferret people out there! Not to pat myself too hard on the back - it's a great book! You can order it by heading to the online bookstore http://www.Amazon.com.

Photo above by http://www.photoswithflair.com, of SNF's Chili, owned by Suzanne Bergren.

Don't forget - this is ANYTHING but a Book for Dummies. I believe it'll be extremely useful for both experienced and inexperienced fuzzy owners, or people just wanting to know more before jumping in with both feet. This is a definite must have for shelters too. It's fun and easy to read, and touches on almost all subjects, even the controversial ones! Finally! A book that reveals the true picture of our beloved fuzzbutts! Besides containing nearly 100 pictures, the book is almost 400 pages long. Now THAT'S a big fuzzy book. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Now that the publishers are done fighting with each other, and the book is moving forward, here's a the lowdown on what you can expect in FERRETS FOR DUMMIES:

Foreword

Introduction

Part I:    Is a Ferret the Pet for You?

Things to Know About Ferrets What is a Ferret? Lifespan of a Fuzzy In this Corner Weighing in at... So, When do They Come Out and Play? Points About Claws and Teeth Making Sense of Senses All About Colors and Patterns Smell This, Man!!

Is a Ferret for You?

Time Consideration The Odor Factor Financial Matters The Space They Need The Challenges of Ferret- Proofing Your Home Ferrets and Kids

Legal Aspects

Ferrets and the Law What's it Gonna be? Wild, Domestic, or Exotic? Feral Ferts in My Neighborhood? The Unfounded Fear of Rabies A License? But He Can't Even Reach the Pedals! Know the Law If You Break the Law

Part II:    Finding Your Ferret and Hanging Up the Welcome Hammock

Your Ideal Furball New or Used Kits (baby ferrets) Older ferrets Boy or Girl? Altered vs. Whole Ferts Boys will be Boys Girls will be Girls You Want How Many? On the Trail of a new Fuzzy Pet Shops Private Breeders Ferret Shelters The Classifieds The Wayward Weasel: Stray Ferrets

Home Sweet Home: Setting Up Your Ferret's House

Size Design A Room with a View: Finding a Place for the Cage Make the Bed Set the Table The Food Dish The Water Bottle Prepare the Bathroom The Litter Pan The Perfect Litter Cage Accessories Extra Snooze Sites and Stuff Round and 'Round We Go: Exercise Wheels Leashes and Harnesses Toys Galore The Travel Taxi

Other Things to Do Before Your Ferret Comes Home

Ferret-Proof Your House Laundry Room Kitchen Moldings, Baseboards, and Under Cabinets Windows and Doors Floor Vents and Air Returns Plants Heights Electrical Cords Reclining Chairs/Rockers and Foldout Couches Fireplaces Mattresses, Couches and Chairs Toilets, Bathtubs and Buckets Cabinets Trash Cans Change Your Habits Get a Vet

Introducing Your Ferret to His New Family

Ferrets as Social Animals You and Your New Ferret: Making the Most out of Your Friendship Hold me Gently, Please! Getting Him Settled In Fuzzy Meets Fuzzy Meeting on Neutral Ground Messing With Their Sniffers Fuzzy Meets Fido and Fluffy Heeeeere kitty, kitty Nice Puppy Other Small Animals Enter the Kids Preparing Your Child for the Ferret Making the Introductions Stranger Danger

Part III:    Basic Care and Feeding

Filling Their Bellies

Water, Water, Everywhere

The Traditional Diet

Wet or Dry? Feeding Schedule Knowing You've Got it Right Changing Diets

An Alternative Diet

Bones Meat Converting the Ferret Naturally

Supplements

Fatty-Acid Supplement A Calorie Boost Please Pass the Hairballs

Treat Time!

The Good Stuff The Not-So-Good Stuff

Playtime and Exercise

Getting Down and Ferty Teaching an Old Fert New Tricks I Beg Your Pardon? Jumping Through Hoops Roll Over, Beethoven Mom, I Think Fuzzy's Dead Diving For Treasures

Enriching Their Lives

Bringing Home the Blue Ribbon Fun Matches Ferret Shows

Cleaning Time: It's Not All ferret Fun and Games

Cleaning House Doing Dishes Stripping the Bed Scrubbing the Toilet Tearing Down the House Getting the Gunk Off the Toys

Bathing Fuzzy

One Bath Too Many? Picking a Shampoo Choosing the Crime Scene Doing the Deed A Bath Alternative Getting the Gunk Off the Toys

Caring for Those Little Ears

Nailing Down the Manicure

Chomper Maintenance

The Dental Check-Up Brushing Their Teeth

Breaking out the Hairbrush

Traveling (or not) with Your Ferret

Fuzzy's Going on vacation Checking Ahead Packing the Necessities Road Trip! Taking to the Friendly Skies Going International Leaving Your Fuzzy in Good Hands The Perfect Pet Sitter Going Away to Camp: Boarding Your Ferret

Part IV:    Health Issues, Concerns and Treatments

Vets and First-Aid

Selecting Your Ferret's Veterinarian

Ask Questions Go For a Visit

Vaccinations and Check-Ups: What to Expect

Kits Adolescents and Adults Recognizing Allergic Reactions

Your Ferret First Aid Kit

Ferret First Aid

Things You Don't (Generally) Need to Worry About

Shivering Itching and Scratching Yawning Excessive Sleeping Sneezing, Hiccupping and Coughing Drinking Urine

Handling Emergencies

Bleeding Heatstroke Fractures or Spinal Injuries Vomiting Diarrhea Dehydration Poisoning Animal Bites Electric Shock Burns Eye Injuries Seizures Shock

Feeding the Sick or Debilitated Fuzzbutt

The Recipe The Method

When Bugs Get you Down

Things that go bite in the night Fighting Fleas Ticked off by Ticks Ear Mites Sarcoptic Mange (Scabies) Ringworm

The Internal Buggaboos

Intestinal Worms Giardia Coccidia Heliobacter mustelae Infection Heartworm Toxoplasmosis

Viruses, Cooties, and Other Problems

Canine Distemper Cardiomyopathy Symptoms What you can do for your Ferret Common Cold Dental Disgraces Faulty Teeth The Dreaded Dental Disease ECE - Epizootic Catarrhal Enteritis Symptoms Treating ECE Enlarged Spleen Eye Problems Cataracts Tiny Eyeballs (Microphthalmia) Hairballs Intestinal and Stomach Blockages Symptoms of a Blockage Diagnosis and Cure Rabies Ulcers Urinary Tract Problems Bladder or Urinary Tract Infections Prostate Problems Stones and Blockages

The Big C and Other Lumps

Adrenal Disease (Hyperadrenalcorticism) Making the Diagnosis Treating the Disease Chordomas Insulinoma Making the Diagnosis Treating the Disease Lymphosarcoma Making the Diagnosis Treating the Disease Skin Tumors Mast Cell Tumors Basal Cell Tumors Sebaceous Cell Tumors

When it's Time to Say Goodbye

Saying Goodbye Learning From Death What's After Death? Choosing Cremation Pet Cemetery The Backyard Burial Getting Help with Grief Know You're not Alone Face the Feelings Give yourself Time Help Others Deal with Their Grief

Part V:    Ferret Psychology and Sociology 101

Understanding Your Fuzzball

Say What? Ferret Language The Dook The Screech The Bark The Hiss You Make Me Feel Like Dancin' The Dance of Joy The War Dance More to Behavior Than Just Dancing Going for the Frizz Look The Alligator Roll The Treasure Hunt The Chase is on Wrestle Mania Fuzzy Stalking Tail Wagging Other Ferret Behaviors Ferret Fixations A Felon on Your Hands? Digging to China The Movers Are Here

Basic Training: Easy as 1-2-3

Saying NO to Biting This Way to the Bathroom Being Taken for a Walk Getting Him Used to a Harness Basic Rules when Out and About

Dealing With the Behaviorally Challenged Ferret

Dracula in Fuzzy Clothing Growing Pains Nobody Told Me Not to Bite I'm in Pain, darn it!! The Manly or Bully Ferret It Always Worked Before Fighting Back Other Reasons for Biting Handling the Beast Getting a Grip Getting Unstuck Taming the Critter Keeping Your Cool Litter Box Woes

Part VI:    If You're Thinking About Breeding

Should You Breed Your Ferret? Looking at the BIG Picture

What it Takes to be a Responsible Breeder Deep Pockets The Emotional Stake Time to Care Time to Find Out What You Don't Know The Big Picture: Are YOU Creating a Need for Shelters?

Mustelid Love Unmasked

Fine Tuning the Organs The Boy The Girl Getting Them Together: Enter Neanderthal Ferret Pregnancy Basics What Happens if Your Unaltered Ferret isn't Bred?

Preparing for the Bundles of Joy

Mothering the Mom-to-Be Strange Cravings? The Maternity Ward Off to the Delivery Room The Typical Delivery The Difficult Delivery The Fuzzy Mom on Medical Leave Calling on the Foster Mom Hand-Rearing Kits

From Birth to Bundle of Energy

Fuzzy Infancy - Birth to Three Weeks Fuzzy Toddlerhood - Three to Six Weeks The Terrible Fuzzy Twos - Six to Ten Weeks Adolescence Already? Ten to Fifteen Weeks Teenagers and Puberty

Part VII:    Ferrets: Past and Future

The Historical and Hunting Ferret

Ferret Sightings in History A Knack for Meeting Man's Needs This Sport Called Ferreting Ferrets Catching On

A Note on the Black-Footed Ferret

A Little Background Info Are Black-Footed Ferrets That Different? The Black-Footed Ferret's Territory Enter Intolerant Man Fighting for Survival The Black-Footed Ferret Recovery Plan What You Can Do

Part VIII:    The Part of Tens

Ten Common Myths and Misconceptions

Ferrets are Rodents Ferrets are Wild, Dangerous Animals Feral Ferrets Will Take Over Ferrets are Vicious Biters Ferrets Pose a Serious Rabies Risk The Stink Will Never go Away

Ten Recipes Your Ferret Will Love

Bob's Chicken Gravy Bob's Chicken Ferretisee Foster's Tuna Shake Bear's Jerky Stella's Super Soup Tui's Chewie Carnivore Stew

Ten Ferret Resources

Reading List Web Sites Ferret Discussion Groups

Special Appendix

Shelter/ Organization/Club List (HUGE!)

AND…………There are many other subjects and tidbits of information in the book which aren’t listed! It’s a must have for your library!

Copyright © 1999 Animals for Awareness. All rights reserved.