Ferrets Quarterly - Winter 2020 - Issue No. 1

A publication of MARSHALL PET

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GAVYN AND EVA A L I F E S AV I N G B O N D

SO YOU WANT A FERRET? W H AT Y O U N E E D TO K N O W TO B R I N G YO U R B A BY F E R R E T H O M E

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS S TO R I E S F R O M O U R FA N S

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FEATURES

From developing the best practices for breeding to developing the freshest and highest quality nutrition to creating a catalog of products to fulfill all aspects of the ferrets’ lives and behaviors, the ferrets have guided our efforts. Our company of ferret enthusiasts work to engage and educate every household that chooses a ferret to be part of their family with the knowledge we have learned.

AMANDA ALTMAN Editor

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GAVYN & EVA

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SO YOU WANT A FERRET?

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EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS

A heartwarming story of a boy and how his ferret saved his life.

Photo Credit: Goss & Hermeyer Photography ©2018

If you’ve never owned a ferret and want to, this quick guide will help get you started.

AAltman@MarshallPet.com T

800. 292. 3424

MARSHALL PET PRODUCTS Wolcott, NY 14590 Monday – Friday 8am–4pm

Stories of ferrets and the humans that depend on them.

www.MarshallPet.com E

T 800. 292. 3424 ferrets@MarshallPet.com FB @MarshallPetFerrets

ABOUT OUR PHOTOGRAPHER Meet Dietra Jo DeRose who is also known as The Ferret Whisperer. She has been working with Marshall Pet for eight years providing creative photography with ferrets. You will see her work throughout the magazine and featured on pages 10 and 11. The names of all of her ferrets are country music stars and they are the subjects of Dietra’s whimsical photography along with her spaniels, Ruby & Maxwell.

Follow Dietra on Facebook @pawprintsbydietra

REGULARS 6

FROM THE VET

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NEWS FROM THE HQ

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ASK A FERRET

10

DIETRA’S BUSINESS

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#FELFIEFRIDAY

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#FEATUREFERRETS

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LETTER FROM the PRESIDENT

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elcome to our inaugural issue of Ferrets Quarterly. For many years we have wanted to develop a magazine that brings the ferret community together. FQ’s goal is to be your lifestyle publication as a ferret owner. We will address everything you need and wanted to know to keep your ferret happy and healthy.

With this being the first issue, we thought it was important to give you some helpful information if you’ve never owned a ferret and are thinking about getting one. This quick ferret profile and list of items you would need to take your ferret home can be found on page 9.

And because we are launching at the height of cold and flu season, we’ve provided you with some helpful information on staying healthy this winter on page 6 with our Ask the Vet column. But the stories I am most proud to publish come from our customers. I recommend spending some time with the cover story and the emotional support animal stories on pages 12 and 13. Get your box of tissues out because the ferret-human bond in these stories is simply touching and you may shed a tear or two.

For those of us who have shared our lives with ferrets for a long time or are just getting started, this magazine will be a wonderful resource. Marshall’s has been breeding and caring for ferrets since 1939. Through our journey the ferrets have taught us quite a few things, and we want to share as much of our knowledge as we can when it comes to taking care of and being a guardian for these wonderful pets. We welcome your input and feedback to make each new issue that much better. Thank you for your support. Enjoy!

With Best Regards,

Peter Reid

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GAVYN

AND

By: Miranda and Sonja

EVA

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Harlow, Gavyn and Quinn holding Possum, Eva and Taz

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n October of 2014 Sonja smuggled a ferret into her home despite the promise she made to her husband. Their lifestyle left little time to care for a dog or cat, but Sonja had had ferrets in the past and knew the bond a ferret would share with her family would be priceless. Having been raised with animals, she fully understood the vital role that pets play in a household and the children’s development. Her grandchildren visit often and she wanted that bond with an animal for her family.

When the ferret was brought home, Gavyn (6 years), Harlow and Quinn (4-yearold twins) went crazy for her, and she was named Eva after their favorite character in their favorite movie, Wall-E. Eva quickly became part of the family and everyone was smitten.

Eva was a daily part of the family’s lives. The children took on the responsibility of caring for their fuzzy friend from playtime to pooping. Taking a swim in the pool (nonchlorinated, of course), playing hide-andseek in the living room or just watching a movie with Eva by their side was a common sight. With only one ferret and three kids, their one-on-one time with Eva began to get competitive. So much so that the children started to set a timer and Eva was passed from child to child like a hot potato every eight minutes.

Gavyn’s bond with Eva was strong.

He became more protective of his time with Eva and started to become violent and combative with his sisters. When Gavyn held Eva, she was completely relaxed and calm. She would lie with him and never once tried to leave his side. Gavyn was just as calm and was comforted by her loyalty to him.

But a calm Gavyn wasn’t the norm.

Gavyn would cry, scream and do just about anything to get out of having to eat. No amount of coaxing, rewards or punishments

could force him to nourish his body, and he was facing severe health threats.

Aside from his refusal to eat, Gavyn seemed to lack the ability to self-regulate or manage his emotions. He became verbally and physically violent with his family.

Mealtimes were a constant battle. Gavyn’s teachers told his parents that military school was the only solution for better focus and compliance. His future seemed bleak and his family felt helpless.

One thing they did know was holding Eva was his happy place. Eva would curl up and lick his face and nuzzle in for a nap. Gavyn would just be in that moment with his ferret. Nothing else seemed to matter. Fearful of what might happen to Gavyn if anything happened to Eva and fully aware that with three kids Eva may be over-loved, Sonja contacted the local ferret rescue, which had a lost ferret that needed a temporary home. She eagerly said yes and welcomed Scamper into their home in June of 2017.

Earlier that year Gavyn started treatment for an eating disorder called Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). His defiance and acting out were merely a function of his severe malnutrition.

Eva was a huge part of Gavyn’s therapy. Having Scamper made time for Eva to focus on Gavyn. He relied on Eva to help him through his extreme anxiety surrounding eating and food. She helped him to step away and regulate his emotions.

In Sonja and her family’s opinion, Eva’s role in Gavyn’s treatment was essential.

Since then the family has lost Scamper and welcomed Possum and Taz. Gavyn fights his battle with ARFID every day, but he has gained the skills to better manage his daily life. Eva and his family remain an ongoing part of his daily therapy.

Gavyn hopes to raise awareness for ARFID and how ferrets can be an excellent emotional support animal.

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FROM THE VET A ferret’s respiratory system is very similar to ours and is susceptible to the same bacteria and viruses as humans.

Here’s some helpful information to keep you and your ferret healthy this winter.

What should you do if you think your ferret is sick?

How do you know when your ferret is sick?

• Sneezing, wheezing, a change in breathing • Watery eyes • Runny nose • Change in appetite • Change in stool consistency • Change in behavior How can you protect your ferret and you from spreading germs?

your hands! This one seems simple but is • Wash often forgotten. Before and after you handle your ferret you must wash your hands.

• Do not handle your ferret when you are sick! a superior immune system with dietary • Support supplements.

ALWAYS consult a •licensed veterinarian Support the prescribed •treatment from your primary veterinarian. We recommend: » Fresh water daily » Ferret Rx® » Uncle Jim’s Original Duk Soup®

What kind of preventative care can you provide a healthy ferret?

« Probiotic 11® Food Spray for gut health » Furo-Vite® Chews and Paste to supplement picky eaters

• Disinfect your ferret’s home often.

Ferrets are very susceptible to temperature as well!

• Make sure their room is not too hot or cold • Never place their cage in direct sunlight or in way of a draft • Never place their cage in front of a heater or fan

A couple of ways to give your ferrets a cozy winter

• Fleece blankets and bedding in your ferret’s space • Replace your ferret’s bedding warm out of the dryer • Use warm water to mix your ferret’s dinner soup

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NEWS FROM HQ

We are very excited to launch our inaugural issue of FQ to provide all of our loyal customers with a comprehensive resource for all things ferret! Part of what we do here is listen PAUL to our customers and work to respond with solutions that best fit the lifestyle they have created with their family pets.

In the future I will keep you updated on retailer partnerships, ongoing promotions and news from the tradeshow floors. But in this special issue No.1, I would like to set the expectation that we are here for you, our ferrents. That our knowledge and experience in supporting a healthy ferret lifestyle is available to you.

I encourage you to engage with the #featureferret, #felfiefriday and #askaferret hashtags on our Facebook page and, as always, you can reach out via email at Ferrets@MarshallPet.com. There is never a stupid question and, rest assured, you are not alone in any challenge you have. As the sales and marketing director of Marshall Pet Products, thank you for your support and, most of all, for welcoming our animals into your homes as family pets.

Retailers and distributors, we will be at the Global Pet Expo 2020 in Orlando at booth #2025. In May, we will be able to visit with our customers in Europe at Interzoo in Germany at booth #7-510h. Visit us to see our new product lineup, take a photo with a ferret or simply say hi! Looking forward to seeing you there.

Hello friends! I am your first stop for customer service at the Marshall Pet Products HQ. It will be my job to address reoccurring issues I see coming our way or help you to find your fur-ever friend. I have spoken to many of you over the phone and have communicated with many of you via email. It is truly a pleasure to connect with our ferret guardians to help them provide the best for their family pets.

First, I’d like to echo Paul’s sentiment that we are here for you, to help you and your pet live happy, healthy lives together. If there is anything we can do better, please don’t hesitate to call us directly at DENICE 1-800-292-3424, email us at Ferrets@MarshallPet.com or PM us on our Facebook page. We are listening!

Second, I’d like to let you know that we can help you find your fur-ever friend! I constantly get requests for help finding ferrets in a specific area. If you have no luck finding an address on our interactive ferret map on our website, let’s work together to get you what you need. We try to keep the map as updated as possible but, as you can imagine, inventory moves quickly. Simply reach out and we will do what we can to help.

It is our goal in this publication to give you a resource for expert information and provide a place for the community to engage. After you have read through this first issue of FQ, we’d love to hear what you think! Give us a shout on Facebook, Instagram or the website contact form. And a friendly reminder to all Marshall ferret owners, please register on our site at www.MarshallPet.com.

Hi! I think a simple introduction is in order... I am the purchasing manager and director of product development for Marshall Pet Products. I will work to keep you updated on new products being released, products that are being discontinued and changes to existing products that I know you all love.

In this issue, I am very excited to announce the release of two new products that we’ll be exhibiting at the Global Pet Expo in March 2020.

Our 24-inch Ferret TIFFANY Swimming Pool is FINALLY in production. Time was taken to test the product and revise features to provide you with the best possible product for your ferrets! This pool is made from a high-grade durable material that will stand up to your pet’s fun. It conveniently folds down for effortless portability allowing you to set it up anywhere with no inflation necessary. While they love splashing in the water, this product is an amazing dig box... just fill with your favorite dig box filler or our Pop-N-Play™ Ball Pack. And if your pet doesn’t like the traditional bathtub, use this instead!

MSRP $29.99 Also introducing the Betterview™ Ferret-Proof Door Gate — available soon. You first saw it at the Global Pet Expo 2018 when we were testing the waters on this concept. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and we haven’t seen much in terms of alternatives on the market today. This strong metal frame is filled with a durable clear plexiglass so that there are no holes or gaps where your ferret can escape. It is tall enough to keep most ferrets from jumping over. And it is adjustable up to 36 inches wide so it will fit most door frames. This product will become available this summer. MSRP $99

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Ask a FERRET How do I teach my ferret not to dig in the food bowl?

Kimberly Marie Please help with litter box training!

Laura Gedutis LeBarron

My ferret hates getting his nails clipped!

Aaron Lee I’ve got one quick and squiggly ferret that hates to be groomed. Do you have any tips or tricks to getting our ferret to stay still while we take care of him?

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errets’ nails need to be trimmed about every 4-6 weeks (mark your calendar as a reminder). The most important thing to remember is to only clip the very tip of the nail; never clip the pink area. However, if you do, apply a styptic powder quickly to stop it from bleeding.

Ferrets do not want to sit still.

There are a couple of ways that we’ve found that help. We encourage you to test each of them and see what you feel most comfortable with.

DISTRACTION: Distract your ferret with something that will keep him busy and interested. Try putting a little salmon oil or Furo-Vite® on his belly. While he is focused on licking, clip his nails.

SCRUFFING: Scruff the back of your ferret’s neck with one hand and clip his nails with the other. This grip is not hurting your pet, much like it doesn’t hurt cats. It keeps them still and available to clip with little struggle.

HARNESS & LEAD: Some people just need to get a little control on their ferrets to allow them the space to do this. Make sure your harness is tight enough where your little Houdini won’t escape.

With all of these methods, allow your ferret to get familiar with what you are doing. Allow them to connect with you before you start. Present the clippers to them to sniff and taste. Then start your grooming.

We rescued two Marshall ferrets from an abandonment situation. They are a year-old female and a 9-month-old boy. Both adjusted very well to our home and were box trained very quickly. In the last few weeks, both ferrets have started going outside the box on one of the shelves in their cage.

Neither ever goes outside the cage. They do still use the box most of the time.

Any suggestions on breaking this bad habit?

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n a perfect world ferrets would come home from pet stores litter trained. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. I understand that your ferrets use the box most of the time, but we recommend reinforcing the litter training to help break the bad habit in their cage.

HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR LITTER TRAINING YOUR FERRETS: When starting to litter train, limit your ferret’s area to a small section such as his cage or a playpen. The playpen makes it very easy for you to reach in and quickly place the pet into the high-back litter pan if you see the ferret starting to back up and go. The round shape of the playpen is a great training tool because it eliminates the temptation of backing up into a corner. It also gives you an open top in which to quickly move a ferret into the high-back litter pan.

If your shelf in the cage has a corner, this may be the temptation for them to use it. Deter your ferret from using that corner with corner deterrent springs or crumpled up newspaper. If your ferrets can’t back up there, they will not feel comfortable relieving themselves there.

Repetition and praise is key.

Keep close observation of your ferret while litter training. We recommend the book Ferrets for Dummies as a great reference tool.

My female ferret (6 months) constantly digs the food and water out of the bowl. This wastes food and makes a mess.

I used to keep her separated from my other two ferrets (both 3 years old), because they were picking up her bad habits. Recently, I put them back together and replaced their dish with a bottle feeder, but the dry mess still continues. What should I do?

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ou can try reducing the amount of food in their bowl. If you restrict your pets to just the amount of food for a single meal, they will be less likely to dig or play in it. You can also try separating them just to feed them. Only do this if you have to, as ferrets should have access to food and water at all times. I understand that busy schedules may make this hard, but once she is trained, you should be able to go back to leaving the food and water in their cage as recommended. Remember, ferrets are playful and get bored quickly. Provide them with enough toys to keep them busy during nap breaks in their cage, and interact with them as much as possible outside the cage to keep them entertained.

Do I need to purchase different food for my baby ferrets?

Julia Roman Smith We’ve got two older ferrets and have raised them on the Marshall Premium Diet. We are getting a baby in the next couple of weeks. Is there a special baby food for ferrets?

N

o Julia, there is not. While we do recommend that you stick with the Marshall Premium Diet, you cannot feed a baby ferret a dry diet. Their teeth cannot break down the pellet. All of their food should be a mushy consistency. One part food to three parts water will allow them to get the nutrients they need for those little bodies.

You will do this until your ferret is finished teething and all of their adult teeth have come in, at about 14 weeks. When your ferret can chew the pellet, begin to wean them off of the mushy diet by adding less and less water at every serving until none is needed. Senior ferrets should be fed this mixture as well. This will keep your ferrets hydrated and your food supply will last longer.

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So you want a ferret?

By: Denice

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hether you are adopting a ferret from a pet store, shelter or rescue, here are a few things you will need to consider for your new family pet.

Baby ferrets are playful, mischievous and cuddly. They still have baby teeth and may nip a bit until they are finished teething, at about 14 weeks old.

These unique pets are perfect for people who live in smaller spaces. While some owners have elaborate play areas and rooms for their ferrets, they don’t need much more than a cage to keep them safely napping while you are gone and daily supervised exercise.

While they sleep about 18 hours a day, they will need exercise to expend their energy. (Sleep hard. Play hard.)

Ferrets can be litter trained! (Stay tuned for tips and tricks in the next issue.)

Ferrets love to steal treasure and stash it where you can’t find it. Socks, jewelry, sunglasses… you name it. If it is left at their level it becomes theirs.

You will need to ferret-proof any area where your ferrets are allowed to roam free. Make sure that all door cracks are not large enough for a ferret to escape, that they cannot get hurt climbing into/on/around any of the furniture and that your barricades are secure.

Owning a ferret is a decision that should NOT be taken lightly. The average life span is 8 years. Every ferret deserves a fur-ever home.

When you bring your Marshall ferret home, they will need:

• • Cage » Warm bedding they can burrow in Marshall Premium Diet

» Nail Clippers « Ferret Shampoo

» A hammock to hang in » High-back litter pan » Dust-free or newsprint pellet litter » Water and food dishes » Toys

« Cage

• Harness & lead • Bell collar • Ferret shampoo • Nail clippers • Ferrets for Dummies book

» Bell Collar

Marshall Premium Diet

DID YOU KNOW? Ferrets are social creatures. They live in family groups called a business. Many believe in ferret math — once you have one ferret you will quickly have many more.

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EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS F

errets are not commonly thought of as emotional support animals, but their kind hearts, social nature and silly personalities actually make them incredible therapy pets. The ferret-human bond is a relationship like no other. While we know that ferrets can make you feel better when you are blue, they sometimes can quite literally save someone’s life. Just as Eva saved Gavyn’s in our cover story, these are stories from our #FeatureFerret requests on Facebook that display the undeniable connection these ferrets and their owners share.

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MACIE JANE

RACHEL KING

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his is Cheetos.

My husband got him last Christmas.

He is our support animal because my husband travels for his job about 70% of the time.

He keeps me company when I am alone and is great stress relief for my husband when he is home. I send him pictures and videos of the cute things Cheetos does when my husband is away.

We love our little man!

I

have three ferrets, but this boy is special.

He’s my first ferret, my heart ferret, my literal best friend. My boyfriend got him for me to help me heal from a miscarriage. I was struggling mentally, which started to make my physical health decline. Sometimes I couldn’t eat for days at a time and shower even less than that.

I was a mess. My boyfriend took me to a Petco, and I went there with the intention of getting a guinea pig. I just wanted a little life to take care of. So we get to the pet store and started to walk past the ferret enclosure, and I’ll never know for sure why, but I stopped in my tracks and doubled back to the ferrets. This dude was just staring at me. There was something in his eyes that stunned me. It was like he knew who I was, and I knew him and had known him forever.

I asked the pet store employee to get him out for me. As soon as Willie was plopped into my arms, I knew he was supposed to be with me. We’ve been inseparable ever since. He’s my shadow. He follows me everywhere. Anytime I’m down, he knows exactly what I need. He constantly makes me laugh with his heathen antics, and he provides me with so much love and comfort.

As melodramatic as it sounds, without Willie, I probably would not have made it out of the hole my miscarriage left me in. He saved me.

He gave me purpose again. I like to think he was sent to me by my angel to watch out for me. He’s the most wonderful little soul I have ever known, and I feel so blessed to be his mama.

MINDY CORDER

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his is Delilah.

I got her two years ago after I lost my cat of 8 years. She has helped me go through the grieving process. Night is our special time to bond, where she lies on my chest and I rub her face and legs and she falls asleep on me.

I treasure every moment.

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#FELFIEFRIDAY

Ashley Teets Abbi Brown

Lori Cook Adler

Audrey Record

Aubrey Hadley

Sarah Warner

Jay Hufty

Jay Strum

Kendra Tine Snyder

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#FEATUREFERRETS SAVERIO SABLE

ASHLEY McGINNIS

This is my favorite ferret, Rita. She bonded with my son almost instantly. She is a very mischievous weasel but still very affectionate.

This is Rusty! He loves cuddles, food and naps! This was a couple days after he got his stitches out from having surgery. He is my baby. I’m not quite sure what I would do without him.

JAY HUFTY

SARAH PARRILLA

This is Edgar and Hakai. We brought them home about a year ago after our other boy passed away. Edgar is small and likes to try to steal snacks. Hakai is what the vet describes as a “thick boy” who likes to give kisses and sleep. Both like to help Mom cook. We even made our own pretend show Ferret Fraiche. They like to try to game with Dad, too. We recently got leashes to go on walks, and in the winter they love to dig in the snow.

This is my beautiful Daisy Dook, adopted from the Humane Society of Charles County, Maryland, four years ago this month.

My stepmom paid her adoption fee as a Christmas gift. I walked over to the cage and it was love at fert sight. She came right to me. Later she started showing signs of adrenal disease. She got an implant more than three years ago. Just recently our vet diagnosed her with insulinoma and started her on some medication. She will be 7 years old this month is still going strong. She is smart, curious and a great climber. She will quickly climb up the attic pull-down steps if given the chance.

STEVE RICHIE

This is Spitzer; he demands outside time and chicken. He thinks he is a dog and loves routine. He attempts to climb trees and play-fight the neighbor’s dog. But best of all — Spitzer NEVER BITES! He never bites feet or anyone. He has been trained using Marshall products and could be trusted with a newborn baby. The only risk would be stealing the baby’s pacifier, toy or blanket.

Spitzer loves meeting people and runs off leash. No harness for this guy! However, once he did end up jumping into a river that I assumed was quite deep. Being in Ontario, Canada, it’s still quite cold in April, especially for swimming! My heart stopped as soon as I saw him leap into the mysterious reflection, and I jumped in after him only to realize the water was only one foot deep. Somehow while grabbing and tossing him out, I ended up losing my balance and was fully immersed in the cold, shallow river. Of course I had an audience of around 10 people for this ordeal.

But he does come when called for the most part. And he loves car rides with his head out the window. People at traffic lights smile ear to ear and always ask, “What is that?”

I reply that he is a Pokémon and carry on my way. Children’s jaws usually drop when I give them that line. He’s my crazy little man and I wouldn’t trade him for anything.

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