mindy
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Ginny
Jul 4, 2010 9:40:22 GMT -4
Post by mindy on Jul 4, 2010 9:40:22 GMT -4
I don't know if this is in the right section, sorry.
Since Fred passed last night I would like some advice on how to help Ginny through her grief. I snuggled her a long time last night. We both laid down together and just cuddled.
This morning she wasn't really interested in her food but she did run though her tunnels a few times with me. But then she just laid down on a bed and curled up.
I am just so sad for her.
I will spend as much time playing with and cuddling her as possible.
I think that I will move her cage out to the living room so she will have more company. I feel so sad thinking of her all alone in that big room.
I will keep the ferret room and that is where we will go for play time.
Ginny is very social and loves to be with me but I can't be in there all day with her.
What should I do?
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Ginny
Jul 4, 2010 17:11:48 GMT -4
Post by Johnny and Demon on Jul 4, 2010 17:11:48 GMT -4
A friend of mine got the same problem when his little girl passed away ; her boy was sooo lost without his little sister. So she tried to play double time with him, you can tell he was enjoying that, sure like Giny is enjoying her playtime with you, but you simply can not be there always. So my friend bought a couple of pannels (play pen) to give Buck (her boy) more view of the house. At first he was enjoying it, and started to eat a bit more .. then he got bored (ferrets are smart, as you already know, they learn quickly every corner of their cage). So she kept buying new toys every week to keep him chalenged and she found different games to play with Buck. She put a bit of ferrettone in his food. She totaly change his room, try to place the toys in different places, add new toys, pay more games etc. Things worked well for him for the rest of his life. They are both in heaven now. R.I.P. Fred
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mindy
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Ginny
Jul 4, 2010 17:16:13 GMT -4
Post by mindy on Jul 4, 2010 17:16:13 GMT -4
Thank you.
We totally cleaned the ferret room today and moved Ginny out to the living room so she can get out more often for cuddles and play and be more involved with the rest of the house. She had a blast playing with the feather toy on a stick with me and had lots of fun having my husband chase her around the house while the dogs were in their crates.
That is the plan now. To have Ginny out interacting with us as much as possible.
It is going to be some work getting Brom to leave her alone but he was trained not to bother the cats so I am sure that he will leave her alone (in her cage, I won't have them interact together) quickly.
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Ginny
Jul 5, 2010 0:25:59 GMT -4
Post by airy on Jul 5, 2010 0:25:59 GMT -4
I think you made the right decision bringing the cage into the living room. I think the distractions of a new environment would be good for her, especially watching your dogs and cats. Im sure she is heartbroken, but if she were to stay in that room that she shared with Fred, I bet she would be utterly grief stricken having to live with the reminders of her companion. That poor lil darling. My heart breaks for her. i am no ferret expert, but IMO, I think you are doing everything right regarding Ginny.
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Ginny
Jul 5, 2010 5:51:28 GMT -4
Post by Tressie on Jul 5, 2010 5:51:28 GMT -4
Hi Mindy,
You may not be ready this soon to open your heart and home to another ferret but in my experience and from what I know the best solution for Ginny is to get her another ferret companion.
Hugs, Tressie
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mindy
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Ginny
Jul 5, 2010 13:31:36 GMT -4
Post by mindy on Jul 5, 2010 13:31:36 GMT -4
This is not going to be popular but I don't plan to get any more ferrets. I LOVE ferrets so very much but I just can't go through the heartbreak again (after Ginny). I don't have enough time with them, it is too short and too sudden.
We just had a play date with 2 of Melanie's ferrets and it seemed to go ok. Ginny played for a little while and then had a little nap. We are hoping that play dates all the time and lots of extra attention will help her through this.
I am sorry that I just can't do it. It just breaks my heart. I know that is what pet ownership entails but these little guys are just too short lived for my heart to handle.
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Ginny
Jul 5, 2010 18:11:48 GMT -4
Post by Tressie on Jul 5, 2010 18:11:48 GMT -4
Hi Mindy, I certainly do understand the heartbreak. That's great that Melanie is nearby. Regular play dates will help Ginny through her grief. The occasional sleep-over would as well Tressie
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mindy
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Ginny
Jul 5, 2010 18:21:49 GMT -4
Post by mindy on Jul 5, 2010 18:21:49 GMT -4
Thank you Tressie.
We plan to have play dates all the time. Hopefully they will help her. She will play with me but she doesn't really want to eat. I guess she is used to the mushy kibble. I will keep it up with her but I hope that she will go back to the regular kibble again soon.
Ginny will have a sleep over at Melanie's on Friday night. She will be in her own cage because Melanie has a girl that just doesn't like Ginny but I am thinking that just being close will be better. Ginny is not a fan of female ferrets, I think she thinks she is "the boss". She was the same with Maia (Hermione). Melanie's ferret, Mittens, is also of the same mindset so when they get together it is not too good. But, she gets to play with Melanie's other ferrets so it works out well.
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TayLa
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No FerRet LefT BeHinD
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Ginny
Jul 5, 2010 19:06:39 GMT -4
Post by TayLa on Jul 5, 2010 19:06:39 GMT -4
GiNny hAz thA beSt Mommee n Dadd n tha wHOLe wOrlD... lv TayLa n' AbbY
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mindy
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Ginny
Jul 5, 2010 19:16:55 GMT -4
Post by mindy on Jul 5, 2010 19:16:55 GMT -4
Thank you
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TayLa
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Ginny
Jul 9, 2010 22:41:22 GMT -4
Post by TayLa on Jul 9, 2010 22:41:22 GMT -4
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mindy
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Ginny
Jul 10, 2010 17:35:41 GMT -4
Post by mindy on Jul 10, 2010 17:35:41 GMT -4
Thank you Ginny is having a sleep over tonight until Tuesday. Melanie's ferrets are here enjoying the air conditioner She is doing pretty good. Before we left to go out of town yesterday she was playing away by herself in her room so maybe she will be fine without a friend. She is still only eating mushy food though. I have to find a way to get her to eat her kibble again. There is one of Melanie's ferrets that is not really doing that great with her so we are having rotating shifts out of the cage.
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