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26 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What family?
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Mustelidae
order - Carnivora - Smelly little theif |
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Descenting ?
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Illegal - removal of the scent glands or anal glands.
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How long do they sleep?
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18 hrs a day
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How much weight do they commonly loose during the summer months?
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40%
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Carnivorous - DIET?
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Deficiencies can arise if fed too much muscle.
Most use a commercial dry diet. Peaople used to use dried cat food. Give occasional egg or prey item - dead chick - ferret with LOVE this. Clean out enclosure regularly as ferret habitually stashes food. Need high fat or high energy diet - carbs should be low. Fresh water should always be available. |
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What is the Average lifespan or a ferret?
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5 - 8 years
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When do they become mature?
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6-9 mths
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How often do they come into oestrus?
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Reflex ovulators, seasonally monooestrus
Feb to september. |
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What is the gestation period?
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42 days
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when are ferrets weaned?
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8 weeks
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What is a male called?
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Hob - 1-2 kg
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What is a female called?
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Jill 0.5 - 0.9 kg
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TPR?
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Temp - 37.8 - 40 degrees celsius
Heart Rate - 200 to 400 bpm Respiratory rate - 33 to 36 breaths per minute. q |
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What is the dental formula?
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I 3/3 C 1/1 P 3/3 M 2/2
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Where is the ferret heart located?
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6-9th rib.
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Males?
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Testicular descent @ 6 wks old - then inguinal rings close.
Single acessory sex gland. males have an os penis. GREATER ANOGENITAL DISTANCE Males have an obvious prepuce on the abdomen. |
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Coat?
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Ferret skin tough - seasonal alopecia over summer - thick coat over winter.
Sebaceous glands can stain coat. |
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How should they be kept?
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Can be kept in a hutch outdoors over summer
outbuilding over winter. Avoid direct sunlight - heat stress. SOCIAL - Single or mixed sex pair or as a Harem on a larger scale. House ferrets should have a secure cage when the owner is away. Bedding - hay or straw, newspaper - torn. Latrine area/litter tray - cleaned out dailyyy! But the rest off the cage 1 or 2/ week Provide enrichment. |
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How long is coitus?
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3 hours - violent, neck biting,
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What formula can be used for hand rearing?
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Cat milk formula with ectra egg yolk.
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What happens if ferrets are not mated?
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Obvious swollen vulva - remains in season= oxygen toxicity.
Prolonged high oestrogen = oestrogen toxixity - > immunosupress, bone marrow supression, anaemia, an full body collapse, fur loss. This can be prevented by neutering, |
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How can oestrogen toxicity be prevented?
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Vasectomized males can be kept with females to keep them happy and having lots of sex.
NOT TO NEUTER FERRETS Use hormone replacement therapy if possible - JILL JAB, once each season. OR GNRH implants every 18-24 mths |
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Why should neutering be avoided?
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Can cause adrenal gland disease.
Neutered males are called Hobbles. |
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How are they handled?
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Support around the shoulders, and support their weight.
If 'biter' then grasp around the shoulders and stretch them out on a table for handling. |
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Vaccinations?
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Yearly for Distemper Virus - Nobivac DHPPi. Half the dog dosage. 1st given at 12-14 wks, and then annually.
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Pet passports?
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On DEFRA website. To avoid quarantine, a ferret must be micro chipped, rabies vaccinated, and have a pet passport, and treated for ticks and tapeworms.
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