Triangle Ferret Lovers Newsletter

Issue 20, July/August 1997

Table of Contents

1. Gastric Ulcers & Helicobacter mustelae
2. When is the next TriFL Meeting?
3. July 19th Meeting Notes
4. New Ferret Game! from Sherri Murphy
5. Door Guard Design by MO' Maggie
6. Ferret Event Schedule
7. Club Yard Sale on September 6th & 7th!
8. Re-Wording Old Sayings...
9. Newsletter Address

A stressful event or condition may cause H. mustelae to flare up and become a problem, after which removing the stress will not clear up the disease on its own. H. mustelae appears to be able to cause two distinct syndromes in the stomach of affected ferrets - chronic atrophic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. Chronic atrophic gastritis is a common finding in ferrets over four years of age. It is suggested that treatment of gastric ulcers in ferrets should be combined with concomitant antimicrobial therapy for Helicobacter mustelae.

Immediate treatment is necessary for a ferret with vague gastrointestinal signs including grinding the teeth, inappetence, loose stools, intermittent vomiting, weight loss, and periodic loose stools. Not all ferrets will show all these symptoms. Ferrets can develop ulcers on their own in times of stress. You must take your pet to a knowledgeable ferret veterinarian.

Because Helicobacter is shed in the feces of infected animals, it is very easy for cleared animals to become reinfected. Therefore, all ferrets in a household need to be treated. Rumor has it that a company on the east coast is developing a blood test for Helicobacter mustelae, i.e. your vet could diagnose this infection from a blood sample rather than an invasive biopsy of the stomach.

1. Officer & Chair Reports: [Interim] President - In light of NC rabies law, we need an Education Chairperson to help the general populous understand that ferrets are not dangerous, wild animals, and to assist ferret owners with addressing lawmakers on changing their status to "domestic" with a 10 day quarantine in bite incidents. As a non-profit club, we cannot address lawmakers, but you as individuals can. Know where your ferrets' rabies certificate is, and keep it handy at all times. The club library is in the building stages (4 books donated so far - bring more!). Members may check-out a book for one month.
2. VPs - TriFL business cards are being prepared for our use at fundraising and educational events. Dave will try to arrange a speaker or get information from another local pet club about the complexities of having a Ferret or Pet Expo '98.
3. Treasurer - Currently awaiting each Chairperson's report as to monies they expect to spend and receive for club activities so that a 1998 budget can be prepared. (Membership, Fundraising, Activities, Education Chair's please advise.)
4. Membership - Nicole followed up on the distribution of the ferret "Information Packs" to local pet stores (17). As of publication date, members will receive a 15% discount at Sear's Pet Store @ Crabtree Valley Mall. Each Pet Mania is offering a 15% discount off ferret products only (no ferrets, cages, or kitten food). You must show your Membership Card with current expiration date! Membership cards are available at each meeting.
5. Fundraising - Leslie presented a quick & easy money maker: You can purchase from the club a box (qty. 36) of chocolate candy bars for $15 (42› ea), you then resell for $1 each to co-workers, family, friends if you have any, etc. and keep the proceeds. If you are willing to purchase a box, contact her @ 217-8420. Previously ordered Pocket Pet T-Shirts with club logo will be available at the August meeting. The cost of each shirt ($13) is due upon receipt or earlier.
6. Activities - Hillsborough Hog Day and Festival for the Eno were great educational opportunities, although we lacked volunteers to properly man the booth. We are applying for booth space at the August Cary Lazy Day Festival. Call Shari @ 231-3222 if you can help out. Leslie has volunteered to be an Activities Sub-Chair to coordinate efforts in organizing the Ferret or Pet Expo '98. If you have experience selling booth space for vendors, local retailers, organizations; advertising, media contacts, locations to rent, etc., please call to give your input.
7. Guest Speaker Topics: Adrenal Gland Tumors, Vaccination Schedule and Reactions, Ear Mites, Flea Control by a veterinarian; Rabies law by an Animal Control Officer. If you have other ideas or want to arrange a speaker, contact Cindy @ 403-1649.
8. Experienced ferret, cat, a dog owner Leslie Dunn has started VIP Pet Sitting Service. Call for rates @ 217-8420.

(Note: I received word last night that one of our area vets has removed a swallowed penny from *two* different ferrets (blockage surgery). Please do NOT allow your ferrets to play this game or supervise *very* closely!
Thanks, Shari Gunter, TriFL Newsletter Editor, 14 Aug 1997)

Pepper showed me a game he loves - digging in the penny jar! He sticks his front half in the can and digs like crazy, flinging pennies out behind him. Eventually he tips the can over and digs them all out (to the very last one) into a pile on the floor, then plays in the pile, diving through it, gliding over it, moving them under the printer cart. When I started putting them back into the coffee can, he got really mad, mock-attacking my hands and trying to stop me from taking them. When I collected them all, I gave him the can again, and away he went...dig, dig, dig. It's cleaner than dirt [excluding the germs] and noisier than dirt - he loves it! So get a coffee can or an ice cream bucket and start saving your pennies for fun times ahead.

I have one whole bedroom for my ferrets (19). The have the run of the room. To keep them out of the rest of the house, I put quarter round a fraction of an inch outside the doorstop. The doorstop is the piece of wood that, when you door is closed, it rests up against. This is to the hallway on my inward opening door. The gap is just large enough to slide a piece of plexiglass [Home Depot/Lowe's] down to "close" the door. The plexiglass is 20" tall in my case, if your ferret jumps you can run vinyl tubing [or PVC pipe or cardboard tube] over the top. This is easy and doesn't look too bad. You could also use masonite/hardboard instead of plexiglass. To keep them from digging at the carpet, I cut a piece of masonite to fit into the doorjamb, under the plexiglass.

        STAR* Ferrets, P.O. Box 1714

        Springfield, VA 22151-0714

        STARFerret@aol.com



Aug 9-10 Exotics & Family Pet Showcase, Edison, NJ 215-721-7199.

Aug 10 The Oregon Ferret Assoc. Fun Match, Clackamatte Park, Oregon City, Oregon  10AM to 4, 

         503-557-8369, (503) 231-0887.

AUG 22-24 Small Mammal Vet Conference, Baltimore, MD 1-888-FERRET-1.

AUG 30 Tristate Ferret Connection Ferret Extravaganza, Cincinnati, OH 513-733-5982 or 

         Ferret@one.net.

AUG 31 Ferret Frolic & Olympics, Seattle, WA 206-232-1228.

AUG ? Pet Expo, Broward Co. Convention Center, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 305-666-5944.

SEP 6 PA Ferret Show, New Stanton, PA 412-861-8482.

SEP 6 FACT Ferret Fun Picnic, Hartford, CT 860-247-1275.

SEP ? Big Apple Ferrets Show, White Plains, New York 212-388-8652, 1-800-FERRET2.

SEP 27 Baltimore Ferret Club Show, Annapolis, MD 410-448-1281.

SEP 27 NHFOC Ferret Awareness Day - 603-424-3231, 603-424-2539.

OCT 4 National Ferret Fiasco, Legion of Superferrets, Croydon PA 215-946-2747.

OCT 4-5 Exotics & Family Pet Showcase, CHERRY HILL, NJ 215-721-7199.

OCT 11 Atlanta, GA, Georgia Domestic Ferret Assoc., 770-442-5917.

OCT 18-19 Milwaukee Family Pet Show, West Allis, WI 800-946-4611.

OCT 18 Greatest Ferret Show on Earth, DuPage County Fairgrounds, IL - GCFA, (708) 442-8650.

OCT ? Fall Frolic, FARI, RI 401-294-6309.

NOV 1 Susquehanna Valley Ferret Club, New Cumberland, PA, 717-939-0625.

NOV 1-2 Exotics & Family Pet Showcase, YORK, PA  215-721-7199.

NOV 15 Fall Harvest Ferret Expo '97, Frederick, MD 1-888-FERRET1.

NOV 22 Ferret Show, Wuppertal, Germany 0202-551704 or fax - 0202-554045.

NOV 22 & 23 Boston Pet Expo.

NOV 29-30 Exotics & Family Pet Showcase, Ft. Washington, PA  215-721-7199.

NOV ? Renaissance, GLFA Fall show, MI - call between 5 & 7 pm - 313-676-9138.

NOV ? Pet Expo, Long Island, NY - 800-886-8000.

JAN 24 FML 10th Anniversary Gathering in Orlando, FL.  More details in the next newsletter!  Let's carpool!

Lo' and behold - TriFL is stealing (ferret-style) their money making idea! The Club Yard Sale will be held on September 6th & 7th. Please donate a few saleable items...rummage through your storage closets, locate gifts you've received and don't like, books, furniture, rugs, records/tapes/cds, electronic equipment, kitchen appliances, baby furniture, bikes, lawn and garden equipment...you name it, will take it! This is your opportunity to quit being a rat pack and be involved in a wonderful cause. Post this notice or your own at your office or church bulletin board.

TriFL plans on renting a self-storage unit near the Fairgrounds for easy and quick transport Saturday morning. Besides donations, we need volunteers for Crack-O'-Dawn/Dusk set-up and break-down. Please call Jim @ 217-8420 or Shari @ 231-3222 to arrange pickup of your donations, volunteer schedule, or general information. Thanks for your help!

TRIangle Ferret Lovers

4001 Cummings Circle #1-B

Raleigh, NC  27613

This web page is maintained by Pam Sessoms. I can be reached at: pjdutche@email.unc.edu.

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