Since early yesterday, he’s been acting odd. No longer will he play nice with everyone, but he’s mean. NEVER before has he bitten – or attempted to bite – anyone. Yesterday though, he gnawed on my sock and jumped up and tried to bite my leg. He’s very fidgety- always moving and jumping and trying to bite. Then he’ll roll around on his back and gnaw at his stomach and (I guess?) genital area.
If I try to pet him or rub his stomach he gets very protective and will stare at me while I do it. Then he’ll jump up and down and snap his jaw, roll around on the ground and bite at himself.
Is he neutered?
I’ve had a few ferrets, and they always acted this way, but one was very funny about being touched on his belly when he had a urinary tract infection. Might as well take him to the vet.
How old is he? If he’s just a baby he might just be going through is terrible twos. One of mine never grew out of it. He was crazy! Lost him a few weeks ago to pneumonia and it broke my heart.
Ferrets are very sensitive. Bandit was very gentle with me but he’d gnaw your leg off. He was a notorious attack biter…and resorted to being sweet until someone picked him up, then CHOMP!
Smokey is the opposite. He loves everyone, and only gives love nibbles and licks. But he adores socks, and doesn’t like to be touched on the belly. He’s been through hell with ECE, now he’s half bald, but I still love him.
Enough yammering on…take him to the vet. If it’s nothing, that’s great, but at least you know something. I can’t help but think if I’d taken Bandy to the vet when he first started acting funny, he’d be alive and dook dooking today.
They have a very strong smell if they aren’t neutered. It’s only a light musky scent if they are. They are also usually FAR more aggressive. It’s also harder to buy, and more expensive to get one that hasn’t been neutered.
Well, I’ve owned three ferrets (though two have now passed) and they all have had a thing for socks and old shoes. Everyone who owns them says the same thing- they won’t leave shoes and socks alone. My personal theory is that they have an enemy or prey that smells like feet. As far as I can tell, many ferrets are ticklish at the belly- none of ours liked being touched there.
Claudia has always been jumpy and nippy (she’s named after the Interview with the Vampire character for this reason) but only bites at herself as part of grooming. If it looks like it hurts, call the vet and ask him it’s odd before you make an appointment.
