I need to know as much as possible about ferrets?

Question

Ive read sites ect but I need to talk to owners and know your personal epxerences of them. I love the little things but are they really as medicly needy as they seem? I know that they need vaceines and they are prone to certen diseases, somthing I can handle.
I know that they dont stink horribly if you take good care of thier hygene :)) and that they arent vicious or bitey if you train them. i need to prove to my mother that she would love the little fur balls (she really would) but she needs enough to give them a chance. Please share your ferret storys :)

Answer 1

i had a ferret for 9 yrs. about the expected life expectancy. smokey died of a mass in his abdomen.
as far as vaccines go, go to a vet that knows about them. they now have vaccines just for ferrets. they used to give cat vaccines.
yes, there are diseases, get the book, Ferrets for Dummies, will tell you all about stuff.
Hygeine? yes, they stink. but i have found that the more you bathe them, the more they stink. because they will produce more of the hormone that makes them stink. they have several scent glands in their body. when they are neutered or spayed they remove some, but they have some near their head too, and they don't remove those. it's neccessary to spay and neuter. a female that isn't spayed and goes into heat will die if she isn't mated. that is all explained in the book. a male will just hump anything that moves.
biting can be controlled as long as it's socialised very much! and it depends on the ferret too. smokey would bite everyone but me. and even then, he was an ankle biter. i now have another ferret that was rescued from deplorable conditions. but she's a total sweetheat because she was allowed to run free in an apartment, as gross as it was, but her owner treated her like a baby. she loved her very much. she doesn't bite at all. and is very very friendly. i really feel bad because now this ferret is in a cage now. but her conditions where she lived were deplorable. she had fleas, it was unsanitary, and she pooped wherever. gross!! but "survivor", as we call her, is by far, much sweeter than smokey was. and maybe that's because she's female. i don't know.
just get the book, research, and if your mom says yes, then get your ferret from a reputable breeder.
and you can always contact me if you have any questions.

Answer 2

They can be medically needy. it's not always the case but it's possible. th first one I had wound up with an Enlarged spleen thatneeded to come out then Passed on of Lymph Failure about a year and half later (she was about 6 or 7). the biggest thing is keeping the cage clean. Bathing them when theyneed it (the sometimes smell a bit aftr a bath as it dries out thier fur and the oil glands try to make up for the bath.

Answer 3

well, if you are gonna get ferrets, then you need to be prepared to pay for any vet care that they may need. ferrets are prone to cancers, and things like insulinoma. make sure they're fixed, or they will need more medical care. my male ferret died of jaw cancer, and we couldn't save him. but anyways, i still love the little guys!! here are some helpful sites, if you still need information:

http://www.mdferretpaws.org/health/index.html

http://www.hugawoozel.com/ferretcare.html

good luck!!

p.s.- i told my ferret story on your other question :)

Answer 4

websites & plenty of books is the best way to learn about your chosen animal. the rest, you pick up from experience.

Answer 5

Wikipedia is always good.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferret

If that's not enough try these sites:
http://www.ferrets-ferrets.com/
http://www.ahc.umn.edu/rar/MNAALAS/ferret.html