Tag Archives: ferrets

Talking Cats, Ferrets, and Writing with Ed Lynskey

I’ve never met my next interviewee in person, but we’ve had an acquaintance via writing that’s spanned a few years now. Back when I was editor for the now defunct EWG Presents, he submitted a couple of stories that I published. Unbeknownst to him, I’ve followed his burgeoning career. (Which I always knew was going to take off one day. He’s quite talented!) But after I interviewed Jeff Cohen, Ed wrote me and informed me we had another love besides writing in common: pets. Thus, an interview was born… Courtney Mroch: What kind of things do you write about? (Genre, … Continue reading →

Shopping the Sales: Cool Christmas Clearance for Other Pets

I only have a cat and a dog, but I know other Families.com members consider species other than canine and feline family too. Since I presented cool Christmas clearance for dogs and cats, and don’t want to leave anyone out, I went bargain hunting for small pets, fish, and reptiles too. I picked the following deals based on how they appealed to the consumer in me. (Meaning, if I thought it was a novel or functional item for a fair price that would appeal to me if I had such a pet, I included it.) Small Pets: If I was … Continue reading →

2006 Ends With Wacky Animal News Stories

Okay, is it me, or have there been some really wild animal stories lately? Who Stole the Little Piggies?: One of the more bizarre stories has been about the parents in Benton, Louisiana, who were arrested after their baby daughter’s toes were gnawed off. (There’s a lot wrong with such a statement, isn’t there?) It gets better: the mom insists the family’s ferret did it; the dad blames their pit bull puppy. The baby went to the hospital, the parents went to jail, and the animals got quarantined. The baby is now in state custody, the parents are still in … Continue reading →

Even Ferrets Get The Flu

As the weather cools, we have to start thinking about flu season… and not just for humans. Ferrets can actually catch influenza too! Although a human can catch the flu from a ferret, ferrets are far more likely to catch the flu from their humans. So if you have flu symptoms, be careful around your ferrets! Ferrets can actually catch most strains of influenza that infect humans — including influenza A and B. If you have symptoms of the flu, you should try to limit your contact with your ferrets to keep the disease from spreading. If a ferret does … Continue reading →

Adrenal Disease in Ferrets

American ferrets may suffer from a common disorder known as adrenal disease. Ferrets in other parts of the world may also develop adrenal disease, but it seems to be most common in the United States. Adrenal disease actually refers to a variety of conditions. The most common condition is adrenocortical hyperplasia, which is a proliferation of adrenal gland cells. Other types of adrenal disease may be the result of benign or malignant tumors. The adrenal gland produces hormones; adrenal disease usually means over-production of these hormones. The most common symptom of adrenal disease in ferrets is hair loss. The hair … Continue reading →

Ferret Care: Vaccines and Vets

If you are thinking about adding a ferret to the family, it is important to know that ferrets are susceptible to both the rabies virus and the canine distemper virus! These two viruses often are fatal within a month of infection, but can be prevented with vaccinations. Rabies in ferrets is often contracted through contact with an infected animal. A ferret who spends any time outdoors may come into contact with a rabid raccoon, bat, fox, or stray cat or dog. There is only one approved rabies vaccine for ferrets: Imrab 3 (from Merial). This is a yearly vaccination that … Continue reading →

Ferret Basics

Since the 1980s, ferrets have become a popular family pet choice in the United States. A 1997 survey by the American Veterinary Medical Association found just under a million pet ferrets in residence in the country. The domesticated European ferret came from wild polecats and spread across the continent by Roman soldiers. Early explorers brought the creatures to the New World — legend has it that Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain sent ferrets across the Atlantic with Christopher Columbus! Historians see evidence of ferret-like animals in ancient Greek and Egyptian writings. Modern domestic ferrets weigh anywhere from one and a … Continue reading →