No matter where you live traveling in the heat of Summer can be deadly for a ferret! Even if you think that air conditioning in the car is sufficient, we will discuss a few items that you must keep handy when traveling.

1. Cool WATER preferably in a spray bottle, it can be spritzed over the ferret if the air conditioning is not cooling as it should, or if you should break down at the side of the road, then it will be a necessity!

 

2. WATER FROZEN IN A 2 LITER PLASTIC BOTTLE. If you are traveling in a cooler climate without air-conditioning, but it is too hot for the ferret, then the bottle can be placed next to the carrier or cage so that the ferret can lay next to it to cool off! In an emergency this will be a life saver! It can be wrapped in a towel and the ferret laid next to it.

 

3. Several FACECLOTHS that can be used in an emergency! If the ferret does suffer HEATSTROKE, DO NOT IMMERSE IN COLD WATER or put cold water all over the body, this will cause the ferret to go into shock and some of the major organs will be affected! Instead take the facecloths and soak in cool water and place them on ALL OF THE FERRET'S LEGS, do this until you notice the ferret cooling off, then give fluids to drink, dry the ferret off and get into air-conditioning as quick as possible.

 

4.NUTRICAL is an item to carry with you in case of emergency. In cases of shock you may want to rub a little, very carefully into the gums and rub the ferret's throat until it starts to swallow. This is an essential item to carry if the ferret has low blood glucose (hypoglycemia),just incase the heat is too stressful, this may cause a seizure and the NUTRICAL will help to bring the sugar level back to normal! BABYFOOD is necessary to have on hand in cases of hypoglycemia, right after the ferret has revived from the Nutrical follow with some Chicken Babyfood to help keep the blood sugar leveled off. Also if the ferret has suffered from being overheated, a little babyfood would be easier to digest and would put less strain on the already compromised system.

 

5. A CALMING REMEDY. Some ferrets do not travel well and need a little help to calm down, my recommendation is BACH'S RESCUE REMEDY, available at the Health Food Store! Usually if not available they will order it for you. A couple of drops put in the water bottle will greatly help, or you can try a couple of drops directly into the ferret's mouth. Another way is to rub a drop onto the back of each ear.

All these items are essential for travel with your ferret, don't forget that the ferret's natural body temperature is 101 and wearing a fur coat in the middle of Summer elevates the heat factor! Also ferret's have very limited sweat glands and therefore are not able to pant, as a dog does, to get cool. Before you travel PLEASE have ALL these items ready you never know when you may need them!!!