I just got some ferrets that someone was giving away because they were moving & couldn't keep them. I went 2 pick them up, put them in the van with their penthouse cage. I saw that they were alive & pretty, said thanks exchanged info & left. When I got home & took them out they smelled horrible (even more than any ferret or the ferret I currently owned) like they had not had a bath. After checking them they were filled with flees, I bathed them dissinfected their cage & waged all their beddings. I can't believe someone would treat them that way. Their hair was matted & they were scratching like crazy even had bald patches. Well, I plan on taking them to the vet 2morrow 4 a check-up but I was wondering..my ferret is young, I don't know how old these are. Is there some way 2 tell. Their teeth are pretty long longer than any other 1-3 yr old ferrets I've had. It's the saddest thing, they fell asleep right after their bath. Just wonderin the age 2 know care & handling better etc. Thanks :)
2007-07-20 17:50:55 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
By the way, one is black and white and the other white with brown. I am also looking for names....more along the lines of lucky and second chances. I would post pics but their sleeping. Also anything I could put on them for the itch?
2007-07-20 17:55:15 · update #1
That is the saddest thing :(
i actually adopted a ferret today who seemed very depressed i felt so bad for him i could not live that little bugger at that pet store!
as for names these are some cute ones
Fausta- lucky/italian
Faustine- lucky/french
Fausto- lucky/spanish
Faustus- lucky /latin
Magar- lucky /Armenian
Maimun- lucky /Arabic
Tadelesh- lucky / African
Yuki- lucky /japanese
Milagra- Miracle/spanish
Mirari- Miracle/portugese
Pele- Miracle/Hebrew
Good luck!
2007-07-20 20:23:27 · answer #1 · answered by Beeg 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I found this + it just may help you out.
"There are four basic ways to age a living ferret; behavior, body condition, skeletal ossification, and teeth. You can add a fifth for male ferrets, the size of the base of the bacula.
* Behavior is the worst way to estimate age. It
can give you a rough guestimate, but nothing more. Unreliable.
* Body condition is just as bad. It is based on the idea that the body changes in tone and composition as it ages. Unreliable.
*Another way to estimate age is by the degree of ossification of the skeleton (you know, a bunch of bones with the ferret scraped off). (?) As the ferret ages, bones tend to grow together and fuse; each bone tends to do this at a specific time, so seeing the skeleton allows a pretty good idea of the age. (xrays can show you) Very reliable to a year of age.
* In males, the bacula can be used to estimate age. With ferret skeletons, you can easily see the size of the base of the bacula, or weigh it, and come up with a good estimation of the age. The bone grows slower than the rest of the skeleton, so size of the bacula helps to age the ferret. Also,
the ligament which attaches the bacula to the pelvic bone tends to ossify, making the base larger over time. In living ferrets, you can.... test the size of the base of the bacula using your thumb. The base is on the tummy side almost at the anus; just find the pelvis at that point, and press your thumb gently down. If your ferret is a male, you will feel
the bacula as a hard ridge running down the belly, and the base of the bacula as a bump on the ridge. In early neuters, the base of the bacula will only be about 1/3 to 1/2 the size of late neuters, and hobs will even be slightly larger. Very reliable if ferret history is known."
Did the previous owners have pets that were allowed outside ? this is probably how the fleas came into their house.
Good luck + pat on your back for taking them.
They are very lucky ferrets >^ .. ^ <
2007-07-21 01:20:32 · answer #2 · answered by toobingaddict 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Poor little guys. Look at it this way they are lucky to have you.
Hopefully the vet will have some idea about their ages. I like to use tea tree oil in all my bathing sessions with my pets. It soothes dry irritating skin and also moisturizes and is a natural source. It will also help with the smell initially!
2007-07-22 22:21:12 · answer #3 · answered by Jeff L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The vet should be able to tell. Poor guys, I'm glad they're in a loving home now.
We were blessed with a ferret for over 7 years & never once did she get fleas.
2007-07-21 01:00:41 · answer #4 · answered by Catkin 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well... If anyone can tell how old they are, I think it would be the vet... Just wait until tomorrow and unload your questions then =D
As for names, clover, hope, faith, chance...
2007-07-21 00:56:43 · answer #5 · answered by Cydney - 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋