Hairballs

by Emilia
(Toronto)

My youngest furball Jack recently passed away at the all too young age of 2 due to an intestinal obstruction caused by a hairball. Please use a hairball remedy (like those for cats -ex. Petromalt) every week. All ferrets over the age of 2 can develop hairballs that either cause partial or full blockages.

A one inch ribbon one to two times a week can save a life. If only I knew this is such as serious and common issue, my angel would still be here.

You could even use vaseline (as long as it’s original vaseline with no additives). Alternatively people use a teaspoon of pure canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling), two times a week. You can mix the pumpkin with some duck soup. Start with a three day – three times a day treatment of the pumpkin, and then reduce to once or twice a week. You will be surprised at what comes out the other end!

It was too late for baby Jack, even with emergency surgery, but it isn’t too late for your stinkies.

 

Comments for Hairballs
Dec 05, 2009 Flax seed oil
by: Emilia

Hey JC,

How do you give your ferrets the flax seed oil? Do you give it to them mixed in with duck soup or alone?
Dec 05, 2009 Hairballs
by: JC

Very good advice & well taken. My Digger had a blockage not too long ago. Thankfully I was able to get him to pass the piece of rubber he ate. I used lax, & 1cc of Flax seed oil. I was lucky.
So sorry to hear about Jack.
Dec 04, 2009 condolences
by: Bonnie

I am so sorry about your little Jack!

In addition to using laxatives, another important thing is to groom your fuzzies regularly, especially during shedding seasons. A good brushing every day combined with keeping their bedding clean will help keep those hairballs to a minimum.

2 thoughts on “Hairballs”

  1. Iv been letting my baby boy Oscar Chew on pigs ears. I’m staring to worry. His poop isn’t ribbon like but I want to try pumpkin just incase. If he doesn’t like it Can I feed it through a syringe? An how often do I give it to him an for how long?
    P.s hearing about Jack broke my heart.
    I’m so sorry.

  2. Hi Jen
    Emilia, the lady who wrote the article about Jack, said “people use a teaspoon of pure canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling), two times a week.”
    There is a post about pure canned pumpkin written by another reader here, which you should find interesting …

    https://www.all-about-ferrets.com/the-wonders-of-canned-pure-pumpkin.html

    You’ll see that Ann syringed the pumpkin into her ferret but if you do it, please make sure to make sure it doesn’t go down his throat into his lungs. Syringe it into his cheek so he’ll swallow it himself.
    I’d recommend ditching the pigs’ ears and finding something softer for him to chew on as pieces of the ears would be difficult to digest 🙁
    Advice about treats from the AFA …
    “Acceptable food treats include a small amount of Gerber® or Beech Nut® chicken, beef, or turkey baby food (with no vegetables or starches; gravy is okay), cooked chicken breast (or other cooked meats), and freeze-dried 100% meat products. Table scraps are not an acceptable treat, nor are meats cured with salt, such as many jerkies.”
    I’ve seen ‘freeze-dried lamb liversnax’ advertised but wouldn’t recommend them as ferrets can only take small pieces of liver occasionally as it gives them bad diarrhea.
    I hope the pumpkin helps Oscar to get back to normal – great that you noticed it before it got very serious!
    Hugs to Oscar from his new buddies down under 😉
    Cheers
    ~Nona

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