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To contact us email redferret4@yahoo.com

About The Board:

President: October

Shelter Operator: October

Secretary: Amber

Treasurer: Char

Director: Chris

If you are looking for volunteer opportunities, please contact us.

Okay, Christmas is here, let’s make sure our fuzzies are safe!

Here are some great tips written by Real Dufour, you can also

find this info on the ferret central website:

Starting with the Christmas tree, from the base to the top:

Gifts:

Forget it. Tons of reports about the fact that ferrets do not respect the "Do not open before Christmas" sign. Take gifts out 20 minutes before opening. Or stack them on a table, away from reach.

Styrofoam Packaging:

Many ferrets like to eat this stuff; this can lead to intestinal obstruction and require surgery. Keep it away from ferrets when unwrapping gifts.

Manger scene:

A few report of missing sheep/lamb figures. But nothing major reported. I guess most of you use ferret proof figures.

Electric trains:

A couple of good stories. Worst case, the train was late!

Tree skirts:

Should be made of heavy material. Some digging reports. Lots of digging under. Good place to sleep.

Stand:

A couple of falling trees reported. Get a good stand!

Water:

If you use a natural tree, do not add any additive to the water if you cannot ferret proof the base. Ferrets WILL find the water and drink some. In fact, if you let them drink (no problems reported if you don't use additives), then watch carefully as you may have to fill the container more often!

Tree:

No major problems reported, even with natural trees. Remove sap or pine pitch stuck to their fur with vegetable oil. It does seem to be a good place to sleep as well. (I want more stuff on this section! Anybody got a furball that like chewing them? Damage report?). BTW: Got two reports of ferrets trying to drag the tree away!

Climbing:

Some odd reports of ferret climbing almost all the way to the top. Most reports will give them 2-3 feet max. Some will not climb, but stretch and get whatever they can from the ground.

Ornaments: (See Climbing).

Avoid any breakable ornaments on the bottom 2-3 feet. Avoid the wire hooks (couple of bad reports). Smaller objects have a tendency to end up under the couch. They love and destroy the "unbreakable" satin wrapped styro balls (Darn, what else can we use?)

Candy:

They don't finish candy canes, and you'll find them stuck to your carpet. For now, let's say we should avoid chocolate until we have a consensus on the FML about it! One report that chocolate doesn't look good spread all over the carpet either!

Electrical wiring:

Absolutely no bad reports! I guess there's so much to do with that tree that chewing is not fun enough. Using a ground fault plug may still be a good idea.

Bulbs/lights:

LOTS of reports of ferrets trying to chew/bite them. More fun when they are on or blinking. No breaking reported, but it seems to a common thing... Sorry, but I would leave the lower 3 feet of your tree in the dark!

Tinsel/garlands:

Reports of some "Flashy" poop found in the litter box. Cannot be good for the stomach! I would avoid tinsel. Some people suggested an alternative, but I'll let you use your imagination. (I got the usual "popcorn" garland... Sorry, but my ferret would eat this all the way to the top!)

O.K. Now we will leave that poor tree alone and talk about the other problems you may encounter shortly!

Holiday plants:

A lot of them are poisonous! Add to this all the digging. Basically, avoid them!

Stockings:

Don't forget your ferret. It's not what you put inside that is important... It's the fact that it's a good place to have a nap in, once it is empty!

Fireplace:

Pretty obvious, but visitors may leave it open for your pet to visit.

Guests:

Sorry, but you should lock them up during your parties (the ferrets, not the guests). Enough bad reports to justify it. Biting, chewing personal items, stealing, being sat on, stepped on, kicked around. You get the drift. They may not be able to sleep in your size 6 shoe, but your visitor may not like finding a sleeping ferret in his oversize ski boots!

Ornaments:

If you have really nice ones then you may want to hang them on things like chandeliers. They still look good, and they'll be safe!

Casualty reports:

Stuck turkey bones in the throat. (Two reports)

About this FAQ

This FAQ was originally created by Real Dufour, who was wondering about the danger of Christmas with ferrets. This is version 0.1 and it was created by compiling together all the messages given by members of the Ferret Mailing List (FML). Real wants to thanks everybody who replied to the original question! The FAQ was HTML-ized by Pam Sessoms.

How to Contribute

If you have an item to contribute to this FAQ, please send a note to:

pjdutche@isis.unc.edu

Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply! Although this FAQ is intended to be helpful, there is no guarantee that this information is accurate, and there is no guarantee that following the advice in this FAQ will keep you and your ferret safe during the Christmas season.

And what does the shelter need? Here’s my wish list, please note that I share donations with Ferrets with Soule shelter, so what you donate will help double the fuzzies!

Blankets/hammocks/sleep sacks and towels

Treats, treats and more treats.

Food - Totally ferret/Pro plan kitten chicken flavor/Mazuri/Pathvalley farms/8 in 1 Ultimate.

Laundry Soap

Toys toys toys.

Litter (yesterdays news or brand).

Paper towels and cleaning supplies. Ferretone, ferretvite.

$$$ for Vet costs, you can donate directly to Carson Valley Veterinary Hospital

775-782-3693

Logo Contest!

Okay, I need an artist because I have no artistic skills. Here are the thoughts for a logo… Since it is the Biggest Little Ferret Shelter, we’re thinking here… we need to have an arch, write the name of the shelter in the arch, then have a ferret or two or three or four running around or peeking around or something ferret like around the arch… get creative!

Deadline for submissions is Jan. 15^th of 2004. The winner will receive a free ferret, he he, just kidding, we don’t know what the winner will get yet, probably just recognition for donating a logo to a non-profit, no kill ferret shelter, along with lots of fame in the ferret world and possibly more requests for more artwork.

Special Thanks and fuzzy kisses to :
Ardith Raine who is responsible for my shelter name.

Tammy Weigel for her donations of sleep sacks and hammocks that she carefully sewed for the fuzzies.

Chris & Amber for their continued support with the shelter.

Dr. Cameron Ross for his continued compassion and health care towards our little shelter fuzzies.

Linda Soule of Ferrets with Soule for teaching me everything I know about these little critters and her undying patience with my 201 phone calls a day asking the darnest questions, and for helping me transport and care for the fuzzies that have their Dr. appointments.

Petco for allowing us to hold our annual ferret frolic at their store and for their continued support in our efforts.

Petsmart for allowing us to join them in their store and help educate the public about ferrets and ferret care.

Char & Dante for adopting special needs ferrets and for their continued support to the shelter.

The Northern Nevada Ferret Network and all it’s members for inspiring me to start a much needed ferret shelter.

And a belated special thanks to Echo and Michelle for doing all those things I don’t have enough room to list! THANKS!!!

Where should you take your ferret for their health care?

Dr. Cameron Ross D.V.M. at Carson Valley Veterinary Hospital

Cameron Ross, D.V.M
1390 Highway 88
Minden, NV 89423
(775) 782-3693
Member American Animal Hospital Association

If you would like to donate to the vet costs, there is an account set up under Northern Nevada Ferret Network, just call them at 775-782-3693.

Medical corner: Insulinoma; Islet cell tumors derive their name from their cell of origin. These neoplasms arise in the "islets of Langerhans" - a group of special cells in the pancreas which produce insulin (also giving rise to the term insulinoma). Insulin is a hormone which allows most of the cells in the body to utilize the glucose in the blood. The excess levels of insulin produced by these tumors drive the glucose in the blood into the cells of the body, causing a dangerously low blood glucose level, known as hypoglycemia. (In diabetes, the opposite is true - low levels of insulin production render the animal's cells unable to use glucose, and dangerous hyperglycemia results).

Hypoglycemic ferrets may exhibit a wide range of clinical signs. Weight loss appears to be a common finding in affected animals, and is occasionally the only sign. This is an excellent reason why you should periodically weigh your pet as part of a good preventive health program. Signs that are more diagnostic of islet cell tumors are episodic depression and lethargy, which in some animals manifests as stupor (apparent loss of touch with its surroundings), salivation, difficulty in using the hind legs, vocalization, and in cases of severe hypoglycemia, seizures.

Ferrets with blood glucose levels less than 60 mg/dl should be strongly suspect of having one or more of these tumors. There are a couple treatment options, please talk to your veterinarian.

The story of Zander…

Zander was rescued from CA a little over two and a half years ago, he and his two sisters were adopted to a Reno family. I was involved with this rescue but did not have a shelter at the time. Last Saturday, Zander had come to my shelter. His two sisters have crossed to the rainbow bridge and he is now adrenal. He will probably be a permanent resident since he has been from home to home.

Did you know?

A female ferret is called a Jill. A male ferret is a Hob. Baby ferrets are called kits. The expected pregnancy of a ferret is 41-42 days. Kits will open their eyes at only three weeks old. A litter is normally from 6-8 kits. An un-spayed jill will go into heat in the spring and summer. Possible problems? Toxemia, bladder stones, oversized kits. Jills should be spayed if not used for breeding. This is because dangerously high levels of hormones will build up in the bodies of jills during the mating season if they are not mated leading to illness and eventual death (Aplastic Anemia – complete loss of red blood cells). This can be overcome by mating with a vasectomised male or by hormone injection, but spaying is by far the best option.

These are hand made Christmas stockings, only $5 a piece and for each one sold $1 is donated to the Biggest Little Ferret Shelter. They are approximately six inches long by three inches wide. To order please contact Kitten at jupiternwndrlnd@yahoo.com Please send photo of your fuzzies. Or you can call Holly at 775-762-9312