Mile High Ferret Club: Ferret Health Fair

1. Mile High Ferret Club: Ferret Health Fair • Ferret First Aid Kit • Regular veterinarian’s phone number • ______________________ • Emergency veterinarian’s phone number • ______________________ • Directions to both facilities: • _______________________________ • _______________________________ • _______________________________ Mile High Ferret Club

2. Mile High Ferret Club: Ferret Health Fair • Ferret First Aid Kit • Nutrical (high calorie paste) • Bandage Materials • Gauze • Medical or kinesio Tape • Vet wrap • Telfa pads • Antibiotic Ointment • Eye wash or drops • Thermometer (normal ferret temp= 100 to 104 0F) • KY to lube thermometer • Syringes in different sizes • Flush wound • Feeding • Medications • Peroxide (once open, short effective disenfectant, replace after opening) • Quick stop (blood clotting powder) • Tweezers • Cotton balls Mile High Ferret Club

3. Mile High Ferret Club: Ferret Health Fair • Ferret Manicures • Frequency of clipping: every 2 weeks • Approaching nail trimming: • Scruff method • Distract method • Sneak attack • View ferret’s nails (long, curving, dagger like) • Back nails tend to be shorter • Nails are white, the quick or vein is easy to see • Cut just to the quick • Cutting into the pink or blood areas is painful Mile High Ferret Club

4. Mile High Ferret Club: Ferret Health Fair • Ferret Manicures • Trimming Ferret nails • Take your thumb and first finger and hold the paw close to the toes with your thumb on the bottom of the paw • Use the gentle pressure of your thumb to spread the toes • Clip as much of the white nail tip off as you can, leaving some white after the quick • Make sure you are using proper cutters and sharp cutters • Replace every year or sharpen yearly • Avoid twising the nail as you cut • Cut up the radius of the nail Mile High Ferret Club

5. Mile High Ferret Club: Ferret Health Fair • Dental Health • Gum disease or periodontal disease occurs with great frequency in fuzzies • Signs of periodontal disease: • Loose teeth • Discolored teeth • Stinky breath • Red, inflamed or receding gums • Drooling • Mouth ulcers • Difficulty eating or playing with toys • Tartar and plaque buildup • Refusal to let you touch teeth or gums • Lymphoma changes the pH in the mouth • Varying diet to include soft, hard food Mile High Ferret Club

6. Mile High Ferret Club: Ferret Health Fair • Dental Health • Teeth colors, what does it mean? • Grayish or greenish discoloration is tartar • Tartar buildup leads to tooth decay, icky brown on the tooth and close to the gum line • Decaying teeth can lead to serious infections, removal is recommended • Gum appearance • Smooth, moist and pink • Whitish, gray color, your fuzzy is very sick, visit to a vet a must! • Ulcers on the gum or inside of the lip falp is a common sign of insulinoma • Make sure to plan yearly dental exams with vet and have tartar removed Mile High Ferret Club

7. Mile High Ferret Club: Ferret Health Fair • Dental Care • What to brush with • Invest in a cat bush or use a piece of gauze wrapped around your finger • You can try cat toothpaste • NEVER use human toothpaste, ingredients in human toothpaste is considered poisonous to fuzzies • How to brush • Lift the gum and gently wipe the teeth with the dry gauze or toothbrush • Gently go over the gums • Pay particular attention the gum line • Attempt every 2 weeks • Always reward with a treat! Mile High Ferret Club

8. Mile High Ferret Club: Ferret Health Fair • Ear Cleaning • What is normal? • Normal ferret earwax is light brown or reddish brown • Can be pretty stinky • Ear Mites • Dark brown or black discharge • Ferret tens to scratch relentlessly • Not sure, take your fuzzy to the vet and have the wax cultured Mile High Ferret Club

9. Mile High Ferret Club: Ferret Health Fair • Ear Cleaning • Supplies: tons of q-tips and liquid ear cleanser • Purchase from vet or pet store. Use solution for kittens if needed • Cleaning • Start with a few drops of the cleaner in the ear, massage the ear and donn goggles. • Fuzzy will do half the cleaning by shaking his/her head • Dip cotton swap in room temp or slightly warm ear cleaning solution • This is a two person operation • Use a circular motion, making contact with the inner walls and crevices while gently pulling the top of the ear upward • Repeat with moistened versus dry swab in circular fashion • Repeat until the swabs are clean • Warning, never reuse a dirty swab and never place used swabs into the cleaning liquid Mile High Ferret Club

10. Mile High Ferret Club: Ferret Health Fair • Bully Behavior • Personal Notes Mile High Ferret Club

11. Mile High Ferret Club: Ferret Health Fair • How to stop Biting • Personal notes Mile High Ferret Club

12. Mile High Ferret Club: Ferret Health Fair • Ferret Evacuation Kit • Think first aid kit and temporary home • Additional pet carrier • Bag filled with the following: • Blankets, a sleep sack, toys, treats • Filtered water bottles • Ferret food, nutrical, baby food • Copies of ferret health, shots, contact information • Harness Mile High Ferret Club

13. Mile High Ferret Club: Ferret Health Fair • Feeding a sick Fuzzy • Personal Notes Mile High Ferret Club