Ferrets for Dummies
by Kim Schilling
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Book Summary Information
Author: Kim SchillingEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2000-10-05
ISBN: 0764552597
Number of pages: 416
Publisher: For Dummies
Book Reviews of Ferrets for Dummies
Book Review: Outdated
Summary: 2 Stars
I first reviewed this book after I had read it and owned 2 ferrets for about a month, and happily gave it 5 stars. But after 7 months of happy fuzzy parenting, I realized I badly needed to revise my review.
The Good:
- an entertaining read, no trouble going cover to cover, genuinely funny writing and jokes
- lots of info to get you ready for ferret ownership
The Bad:
- Outdated - namely, the primary treats mentioned in this book - raisins and cheerios - are now universally considered very bad for a ferret's health, you might as well be feeding them rocks. (see the links provided at http://forum.ferret.com/tm.asp?m=30331 )
- Another result of being outdated - many of the websites and companies referenced in the book no longer exist.
- Many common ferret health problems are not mentioned. In my short time as a ferret owner, I have seen them go through a prolapsed rectum, patterned hair loss, and 'abnormal' behavior, none of which were mentioned in the book. A little research and help from friends and vets eventually taught me that none of these problems were uncommon for fuzzies, leading me to believe that the book should have at least mentioned them.
- No poop chart. Though it might sound gross, I think any long time ferret owner will tell you they have needed a poop-chart at least once. Ferrets poop - a lot, and it's one of the quickest ways to diagnose a health problem (just google "ferret poop chart" to see what I mean), but this is conspicuously absent from the book.
- Scruffing. This is when you hold your ferret by the extra skin above its neck. The action is mentioned throughout the book, but never once described clearly or safely. There is a picture of a ferret being scruffed, but the details of the method are left unclear. How something so essential can be missed is beyond me.
- Poor organization - while for the most part the book is organized reasonably well, there are some key areas that really need improvement. a simple list of toy ideas is essential in any ferret book - toys that every ferret should have (dig box, dryer hose tunnel, etc) are not mentioned anywhere. The index is also weak, making information hard to find - "poop, runny" might be listed, but not "diarrhea".
- Disconcerting. This is a minor complaint, but the author mentions hiccuping and tail wagging as extremely rare behavior, but I have yet to meet a kit who doesn't wag its tail when excited, and both of my ferrets had hiccups within the first month. Things like this make me a little uneasy about how much of an expert the author really is.
Conclusion:
- I would still recommend having and reading through this book, but I would strongly strongly advise against using it as your only instructor before buying ferrets. I found online ferret forums to be a far far better resource than this book - the combined wisdom of thousands of ferret owners turned out to be better than the musings of one (I don't know why I was surprised by this). The usual problem with forums would be that there is *too much* information, that you need to know what you are looking for, making them a bad first source of information, but ALL the major ferret forums I found out there have all the essential information instantly identifiable and accessible, even more so than this book.
- The book could be great with a new edition. For now, don't rely on it.
Summary of Ferrets for Dummies
Slinky, lightening fast, mischievous, and smarter than many people you know, ferrets, like their otter cousins, are the merry pranksters of the animal world. Ferrets are also inveterate thieves who?ll steal just about anything that isn?t nailed down and spirit it off to their hidey-holes. But, as most ferret owners will tell you, the thing those fuzzy little balls of energy are best at stealing is your heart. Hmm. cunning, mischievous, light-fingered ? sounds like a recipe for disaster in a pet. And the truth is, coexisting with a ferret can be a challenge ? one you?d better be certain you?re up for, before you commit to bringing a ferret into your home.Ferrets For Dummies lets you take a long, well-informed look before leaping into the fabulous furry world of ?ferts.? This fun, entertaining book fills you in on everything you need to know to successfully adopt, nurture, live with, and love a ferret. You?ll discover how to:
- Choose t he right ferret for you
- Ferret-proof your house
- Understand your ferret?s special needs
- Train your ferret to be well-behaved
- Feed your ferret properly
- Select safe and creative toys
- Manage ferret odors
- Integrate your ferret into your life
- Breed ferrets
Ideal for first-time and veteran ferret owners alike, Ferrets For Dummies is a gold mine of advice, guidance, and tested-in-the-trenches tips on:
- Deciding if a ferret is right for you and vice versa
- Finding your ferret and introducing him or her into your home
- The care and feeding of ferrets
- Health issues, concerns ,and treatments
- Ferret psychology and sociology
- Breeding ferrets for fun and profit
- Recipes your ferret will love
Your ferret is a smart little guy, and you?ll need to stay two steps ahead of him. This fun and informative book shows you how to handle your furry tornado?s playful energy and boundless curiosity, so you can live happily ever after together.
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