Fat-Ferret 857 Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 I was out with my father yesterday, He's a shooting man and as the pheasants are over now, He tagged along for a shot at a few bolters...After working along a lane, me netting one side and him shooting the other, We netted 8 and shot 5 on the first half of the lane, It takes a full day as the lane is very long, we had a ferret each side and just let them work in and out the whole way down, We stopped for a sandwich at 2 and my dad shouted from the other side of the lane he had both ferrets in the box, But then, there was one bouncing around the hole a few yards below me......... I went down and picked up what looked like a very young ferret, she seemed in quite poor condition, But upon inspection, she must be older than her size would suggest as her teeth as very bad, Her front teeth are slightly grey and look as if there rotting from the inside, and her back teeth further in are just rotting out, I brought her home and put her in a smaller cage with some warm milk and a little minced rabbit which she had drunk and eaten in a few seconds! A gave her a flea spray and a check over with the tick twister, So aside from that she looks fine... I checked her again this morning, she was fast asleep, but woke up quickly when I put a little more food in with her! Assuming nobody claims her I am happy to keep her, But what about the teeth? Why would a ferret have such bad teeth and will the vet be able to sort them out? Quote Link to post
Kay 3,709 Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 I have found with older ferrets there teeth do seem to go opaque , and a grey colour, no idea if the teeth on this ferret are rotting though Quote Link to post
Fat-Ferret 857 Posted February 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 I have found with older ferrets there teeth do seem to go opaque , and a grey colour, no idea if the teeth on this ferret are rotting though Am I right in thinking that its very tiny size and the fact it has a slightly shorter than normal looking tail, be a sign of an inbred ferret? Its tail isnt stumpy, It just looks a bit shorter than it should be! Quote Link to post
The one 8,588 Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 Sounds like a older ferret with bad teeth but the teeth cant be bothering her if she's eating okay Quote Link to post
Kay 3,709 Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 I have found with older ferrets there teeth do seem to go opaque , and a grey colour, no idea if the teeth on this ferret are rotting though Am I right in thinking that its very tiny size and the fact it has a slightly shorter than normal looking tail, be a sign of an inbred ferret? Its tail isnt stumpy, It just looks a bit shorter than it should be! No idea to be honest , i dont think being small automatically means in bred , they come in all shapes & sizes Quote Link to post
The one 8,588 Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 It would depend what you class as normal ? Quote Link to post
scothunter 12,609 Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 I would have to say its older than you think mate. bad teeth is a good sign of old age Quote Link to post
Fat-Ferret 857 Posted February 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 I would have to say its older than you think mate.bad teeth is a good sign of old age I didnt say how old I thought it was, I just simply said it was obviously older than it looked because it had bad teeth. Quote Link to post
Vissertje 0 Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 The cause of the bad teeth is probably kibble of even more likely canned food. She hasen't had enough to chew on. What the vet can do depends on the condition of the teeth. He can clean them or perhaps he'll have to pull some of them out. Hopefully that last part won't be nessecary. What you can do is give her a 'toothbrush'. Give her whole prey. including the bones and fur or feathers. Eating that will clean the teeth and keep them clean. My oldest (and one of my two first) ferret will turn 6 this spring. He hasn't got any plaque or whatsoever. That is due to the diet I feed them. Mine just eat a varied menu of whole preyanimals. No kibble or canned cat food to be found in my house Hope I've been able to help you out a bit. Good luck! Quote Link to post
MikeTheDog 153 Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 Sounds like you've found an old ferret. It's not unusual to see elderly ferrets with manky teeth, just make sure the gums are not inflamed/swollen or loose and that she's eating OK. Quote Link to post
Guest ferret feller Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 i had one that had been fed tinned all her life got her onto james wellbeloved and her teeth stayed the way they were when i got her and didnt detiriourate...... might be an assest when working so she cant kill down the warren Quote Link to post
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