Reader's Column

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Where:
Santa Margarita Beach Club /
Fiesta Room

When:
December 12, 2009

from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Address:
22342A Avenida Impresa,

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA92688
Party Info:
- A White Elephant Gift Exchange - Bring a human or fuzzy gift (or both) wrapped and clearly marked "Human" or "Fuzzy." Gift(s) should be new and valued at no more than $20.00 each.
- Bake Sale
- Fun & Useful Ferret Items for Sale
- "Garage Sale" - Don't toss old or unneeded items, we can sell them and raise funds!

R.S.V.P. due to limited space available. Please RSVP by December 5th, 2009 to Dawn M.  at OCFerrets@yahoo.com, or call (949) 241-1189.

If you'd like to donate items or assist with the OCF Holiday Party, please contact Dawn M. at the  email address above. -Please remember, no ferrets are allowed at this event for their own safety!

The San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Ferrets Anonymous will be hosting their holiday potluck lunch on Saturday December 19^th at the Pasadena Humane Society at 361 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena CA 91105.  The doors will open at 11a.m., and lunch will be at noon.  We may have a vet speaker depending on her schedule or a movie with a ferret in it.  Please bring your favorite food dish for lunch. Drinks and paper goods will be supplied.  If you would like to participate in our ferret gift theft, please bring a wrapped gift that a ferret or its owner would like.  If you get lost or need more information, please call Claudia at (626) 327-2917.  

Still Have A Lot of Calendars To Sell - Who On Your Christmas List Could Be The Lucky Recipient?

Don't run the risk of disappointing friends, family or even yourself by not picking up the 2010 Legalize Ferrets Calendar.

Professional photos of our own ferrets, our own stories and 12 things you might not know about ferrets make it a worthwhile gift - but wait - there's more!

By purchasing the calendar you are helping to pay for the Environmental Impact Report that we hope will finally legalize ferrets in California.

Calendars are $12 each. 

Click here to view the entire calendar in pdf
Click here to order

First Question:
We had a bug go through our house last week.  Now I've noticed that at least one of our ferrets is sneezing, wet nose, and a fever of at least 101.4 (taken under his arm pit).  I'm hoping you know what to do.  Please call my cell phone at any time 24/7.  I'm very worried.  Thank you.
Sheryl

And the Answer:
In general, it is wise to go with common sense.  If people in the house have been sick, they should handle their animals only after washing their hands.  Do not cough/sneeze around the animals without covering nose and mouth.  Washing hands after handling the animals is important, too. 

Separate the ferret immediately from other ferrets (if any) in the household if it has a fever and is sick.

A temperature of >102.5 is a fever. A temperature of 101.4 is a normal temperature for a ferret.

If the ferret has a fever and is sneezing, they should take the ferret to the vet.  Call first to make an appointment and in case the vet office would like to show the owner and ferret to an exam room immediately upon arrival and not expose other animals and people in the waiting room to a potentially contagious H1N1 infection.  So far, the H1N1 virus has gone from people to ferrets and not the other way around.

The vet may prescribe antibiotics to discourage a secondary bacterial infection.  The vet may also want to give the ferret sub-cutaneous fluids.  The ferret can be coaxed to drink water with electrolytes or Pedialyte when it is back at home.

Coax the ferret to eat.  The owner may mix the ferret food with hot duk soup to make a warm gruel.  They can also tempt the ferret with a small amount of warmed chicken baby food on the wet food.  Giving Ferretone daily will also help. 

Clean discharge from the nostrils gently with a tissue and warm water as needed.  This will help to keep nasal passages clear. 

If the ferret is sneezing, but is otherwise in good health, separate the ferret from other ferrets in the home and monitor signs closely.  Supportive measures described above can be started as needed. 

Sincerely,

Marshall Pet Products

If you have a question to submit, please submit directly to ferrets@marshallpet.com

Mark at Wysong says he hopes to have a donation and affinity program lined up after the Thanksgiving Holiday - so hopefully next week we'll have something to report on!

I don't expect any wild, livestock-eating ferrets to suddenly appear.  But I do get nervous.  After all, we have a governor who parks his Porsche in the red zone, Maria talks on a cell phone while driving and now Arnold didn't pay his taxes.  He, like most of the politicians we've dealt with certainly don't seem to relate to the little guy.  One set of  rules for the elite, one set for everyone else.  How do we get the government to listen to little ol' us?  It will take a lot of serious grassroots effort.  - But we've got it!

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