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Living
With An Elderly Ferret
By L. Vanessa
Gruden in "Paw Printz," January - February, 2002
The joys - and
hardships - of living with a furry senior citizen.
Lying on the floor, in a
shaft of sunlight, was a thin, sparsely furred little form. For one
awful moment, I thought, “oh no, is she…?” But with a stretch and
a soft “gurk,” the little body rolled over to let the hot sun warm
her belly. Six year old Bear was perfectly happy. Such are the
nerve-wracking moments you may experience as the owner of an elderly
ferret. But owners who love these gentle survivors insist the pleasure
of their company is well worth it.
How Old is
Old?
A ferret is considered “late
middle aged” at 4 to 5 years. A ferret is elderly at 6 years of age.
An animal that reaches 8 - 9 years old is quite old. But what if you don’t
know how old you ferret is? Even many vets are unsure how to age a
ferret.
Experts determine a ferret’s
age by looking carefully at their two long, upper canine teeth. (You’ll
need to scruff them to get a good look.) A ferret under 1 year has
bright, solid white canine teeth. At 1.5 to 2.5 years, you will start to
see the tip of the tooth beginning to become a little yellowed, and
almost translucent. At 3 - 4 that translucency will be more pronounced
and continue farther up the tooth. By 6 years old the tooth may be
distinctly yellowed all the way to the gum, and you may begin to see
that some of the small teeth in their bottom jaw are missing. If you can,
compare your ferret’s teeth to another ferret of whose age you are
sure, and you will see the differences.
Physical
Changes
There are definite physical
differences between an older ferret and a youngster. An older ferret
sleeps far more, and plays for a much shorter period of time. When a
ferret becomes very old, he or she may sleep almost all the time.
Elderly ferrets lose muscle
tone and may feel frail when you lift them. They may rarely run and no
longer be able to climb. Ann Baker Salafia, an experienced ferret owner
who lives in Fairfield, Connecticut, says “I could put plants on the
top of their cage if I wanted to!” She notes, however, that she still
wouldn’t dare put a plant on the floor - not a plant she wanted to
keep, anyway!
Like older people, an older
animal’s hair may thin, although I like to say, “We lose it on our
heads, they lose it on their back ends.” Their skin, especially if
they’ve lost fur, may become dryer and more sensitive. Tails may go
bald. They may begin to develop dental problems and have trouble eating
hard food. Arthritis may set in, causing difficulty standing and walking.
They may go blind or become hard of hearing. Between the ages of 4 to 6
is when you are most likely to see serious illnesses, like adrenal
disease, insulinoma, or heart disease, develop.
I can’t emphasize enough
how important YOUR knowledge and commitment is to helping ease your pet
into a comfortable old age. Recognizing a physical change that might be
a disease symptom is the most important first step. Learn as much as you
can, and save medical articles! Though your ferret may not have a
particular problem right now, eventually they will become ill, and this
information will be invaluable.
Adjusting for
Disability
You need to match your pet’s
housing to their physical ability. Previous articles in this series on
living with deaf and with blind ferrets discuss ways to make handicapped
animals’ lives easier. An elderly ferret’s environment needs careful
planning. Carol Levy, co-founder of the Concerned Ferret Owners club now
living in Tupper Lake, New York, says living with an elderly ferret is
“an on-going learning experience.”
They may no longer be able to
climb cage ramps. They may not be able to climb into a favorite basket
and may have a lot of trouble walking on slippery floors. You may need
to arrange their cage so everything the oldie needs is on the ground
floor, and make sure it is easy to enter. Look for very low baskets that
are a little “scratchy” - an older animal may have trouble
scratching an itch, and something they can rub against feels great.
Infant play mats provide extra padding for them to sleep upon. Throw
rugs will help them walk steadily, and don’t put too much distance
between those important food, sleep, and litter spots.
While you’re at it, make
sure those rugs are washable! An older animal’s weaker hindquarters
may make it very difficult to stand upright when eliminating. They may
very well begin to use those easy to stand on rugs. I use large pieces
of rubber-backed bathroom carpeting. It can be cut smaller if needed,
and cleans well in your washing machine. (To avoid ruining the rubber
backing, let it air dry or use a cool dryer setting.)
Even if your oldie is
determined to use the litter box, he or she may have trouble getting
into it - or making it there in time. Make sure your litter box has a
short side - cut it down, if you have to - and put more litter boxes
wherever they live. I use flat newspapers for litter - if the animal is
very old, placing paper toweling on top gives them more leverage. Be
forgiving of your oldtimer; they can’t help their “mistakes,” and
we can only hope if we become old and incontinent, someone will treat us
with similar patience and kindness.
Levy mentions that older
ferrets are far more sensitive to heat and cold. While they enjoy
sleeping next to a radiator in the winter, care should be taken to keep
them cool in the summer. “They are more susceptible than young ferrets
to heatstroke,” and should not be kept in temperatures over 85 degrees.
She also mentions that natural light is wonderful for all ferrets, not
just elderly ones. If they must be in artificial light in your home,
purchase full spectrum light bulbs. “The ferrets go right to them,”
she says, “as if they can feel the difference.”
Warmth, light, and
cleanliness are just as important to an old ferret as it is to an older
human. Please, don’t house an animal that may have arthritis in a damp
basement or, worse, outdoors. Would you make Granny live in a tent or in
the garage? If so, I hope she hits you with her cane! An elderly animal
can’t tell you when they are uncomfortable - YOU must think about
their comfort.
Emotional
Changes
An elderly ferret’s level
of energy is hugely different from a kit. At the Ferret Association of
Connecticut shelter, we have two separate shelter rooms. One is for the
young animals. The other, warm and sun-filled, is the “Old Lady Room.”
Regular volunteers constantly remark on the “whole different feeling”
in each area. People always play with the youngsters first, exhausting
both. Then they move on to the oldies, where everyone is happy to sit
quietly with a little lap-warmer. It’s a calm, peaceful, and pleasant
place.
The two groups are separate
deliberately to avoid stressing the elderly animals. “They can’t
keep up with youngsters,” says Salafia. Young ferrets may play too
rough and upset the old ones. However, another quiet ferret can give
them the companionship many crave, as well as providing a warm sleep
buddy. Even ferrets that actively dislike others are, I believe, better
off with nearby company. A LITTLE stress can be beneficial; they may
still enjoy new things and new places. But watch carefully that their
activity or eating patterns aren’t disrupted by major changes in their
environment.
It is very difficult on an
elderly ferret to lose his or her home or be abandoned by their owner.
When a ferret over 5 enters the shelter, they look so sad and confused.
Worse, any underlying illness they might have often erupts out of their
distress and a previously healthy animal become ill.
Elderly ferrets become set in
their ways. Says Salafia, “They’ve decided what they do and don’t
like and won’t compromise.” You’ll be rewarded, though, for your
flexibility. “An older ferret is grateful for what you do for them,”
according to Salafia. Carol Levy agrees, “They really respond to your
love.” Elderly animals we’ve taken into the shelter bear out these
observations. For all the myths about “bonding with babies” that
people entertain, it’s my experience that no ferret will bond closer
to you than an older one for whom you care.
Cuddling is one of the
greatest charms of the elderly ferret. People inexperienced with ferrets
often tell me, “Oh, I want a baby I can cuddle!” Knowledgeable
owners laugh - HARD - at that comment. Like furry hummingbirds, baby
ferrets are On The Move whenever they’re awake. The last thing they
want is to be held. While each ferret is different, many will become the
cherished “lap rat” as they age. Little, elderly Bear will sleep on
my lap for hours, wrapped in a flannel blanket, while I write, sort
paperwork, or watch a movie. If I need to get up, I just put her on a
pillow and when I return she’s transferred, with nary a wiggle, back
onto my lap. How many young ferrets will do THAT?
A Time to
Commit
Elderly ferrets can be a lot
of extra work. Ann Salafia spends far more time with her older ferrets
than with her younger ones. Carol Levy also feels you must pay far
closer attention to any changes in their habits or physical health. In
the FACT shelter, while the youngsters live in a room on our first floor
offices, the “Old Lady Room” is located right off our living
quarters so the animals can get the careful monitoring they need. You
may find your own lifestyle restricted. An ill older animal may need
their medicine on a careful schedule. One who is having difficulty
eating hard food, or who has hypoglycemia or insulinoma, may need
regular supplemental feedings. I can never leave home for more than
eight hours without having a volunteer or sitter come in to feed ill
ferrets - and there were times, with a particularly ill animal, when one
had to be fed every 4 hours! If you work fulltime (and don’t have an
understanding boss like mine), this can be a serious problem. Salafia
adds that you must be more careful to find an experienced and careful
sitter to care for elderly animals in your absence.
Your vet should be carefully
chosen, also. Your veterinarian should be knowledgeable about common
diseases found in aging ferrets. When a ferret is 4 years or older, they
should be seen by a veterinarian at least twice a year, to help catch
any developing illness early.
The monetary expense of
caring for an elderly ferret can be hard. Levy believes “You can
expect a $400 surgery in your older ferret almost as a given.” I tell
owners of young ferrets, “Start a bank account for them now!” While
a ferret’s medical conditions are rarely as expensive as some other
pet illnesses, the bills can add up. Every so often, I receive calls
from owners asking, “Isn’t there a fund somewhere that can help me
pay vet bills?” No, there isn’t. YOU must have the forethought to
put a few dollars aside, or work out payment arrangements with a willing
veterinarian. (Most pet insurance plans do not cover ferrets.)
The Good
Stuff
There are experienced owners
who are “hooked” on older ferrets. Several of FACT’s Foster
Parents, who care for elderly animals in our Foster Program, say they
can’t be without an oldie in the house. They grieve when one passes on…but
within weeks (sometimes days!) they arrive on my doorstep, sheepishly
looking for another little cuddle bunny. They are brave and wonderful
people - but they also know that older ferrets can be the very best of
all.
Elderly ferrets often make a
number of adorable little sounds. Bear says “gurk” whenever she has
something to say, which is often. Like some human old ladies, ferret old
ladies sometimes have quite a talkative streak. They will “urk,”
chirp, or almost purr softly. Like Bear, your oldtimer may sit quietly
on a lap for hours, asking nothing more than your company.
The older he or she gets, the
less trouble your ferret will cause. Ferret-proofing becomes a breeze.
If you have barriers in your house, you can lower them. You may even be
able to get rid of your cage completely - your oldie is unlikely to come
chomping on your toes in the middle of the night. Nor are they likely to
start eating your sneakers. You can have plants again! And you may never
have a sock become Missing In Action in the few seconds between pulling
it out of a drawer and pulling it on your foot. Well…maybe never.
After all, they may be old, but they’re still ferrets!
Elderly ferrets can be sweet
and gentle beyond belief. Often, those of us who love them, love them
even more than those bouncy youngsters. “There’s so much YOU can do
to help them live longer and better,” says Levy. “You can really
make a difference in their lives.” Yet people are often uninformed or
oblivious to their delights. A friend who used to run a ferret shelter
once had someone call and want to “trade” an old ferret for two
young ones! I can’t think of anything sadder or more heartless than
someone who abandons their pet in its old age, after enjoying their
youth and vigor. Ann Salafia, Carol Levy, and I ALL agree - no matter
how much it may cost you, caring for your elderly ferret will be repaid
many times over.
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