Customer Reviews

Ferrets for Dummies

5 star:		(79)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I can't imagine owning my ferret Tycho without the aid of this book. When my ferret lost weight and began vomiting, I panicked and agonized over what could possibly be wrong with the little guy. After he calmed down and I calmed down, I grabbed this indispensable tome and began reading to see if I could figure out what might be wrong. It turns out that ferrets are some times susceptible to all manner of little bugs just like we are, and while they can be worrisome, do not actual long term harm. And that's all it was, a virus had nailed Tycho and weight loss was a common seasonal thing. A trip to the vet confirmed our what we had read. Tycho is much better, and so are we.

Kim Schilling's book is probably the best there is for owning a fert. She gives all sorts of insights into what makes them tick-how they play, what their body language means-something that taught us a valuable lesson during a thunder storm. Tycho was so frightened by the noise that when my wife picked him up and went face to face with him to sooth him, Tycho sunk his teeth into her chin, then did the same to me. We both missed his frizzed out tail and fur-something that told should have told us to stay away for a little while, but we didn't know any better until after we had read the book. It has a wonderful section on health, including numerous diseases and their symptoms. It covers playing, food, housing, even breeding, plus has a wealth of state by state resources, ferret shelters and contacts for the reader.

Only a dummy would buy a pet, any pet, without doing research into them first. Ferrets more than just about any other pet, need to be researched thoroughly before bringing one home for the first time. We had only read one book before getting Tycho, but we probably should have read more. Now that I have read `Ferrets for Dummies', I am a little wiser in the ways of carpet sharks. I love my ferret, he's a good pal to read with as he bounds around the bed nibbling toes or burrowing under blankets. It's gratifying to know that he thinks I've done a good job raising him with his numerous kisses.

Buy this book and understand what you're getting into. Ferrets are great pets, but they are a high maintenance pet. They require attention, care, and love. But you know what? You will get it all back and then some.

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.

Ferrets for Dummies is the only ferret book I have read that can be usefull to both new and old ferret owners a like. For new ferret owners and even first time ferret meeters,this book really helps the reader get to know the general personality of ferrets. Ferrets are a wonderful pet.......for the right person. Ferrets for Dummies helps you know if a ferret is the right pet for you before you go out and buy one. If first time ferret owners read this book before they went out and purchased a ferret, there may be less homeless and neglected ferrets and a smaller need for ferret shelters. This book helps explain what to expect from your ferret and how to care for it, from before your new pets arrival home until its final days!! I highly recommend this book to anyone interested or involved in ferret ownership.

True to the "...for Dummies" series philosophy, "Ferrets for Dummies" is a fine survey of all the basics you need to know in order to take care of ferrets properly. It even includes a touching chapter on how to deal with and survive the impending death of a ferret as well as the passing itself. I've read this chapter repeatedly after the death of several ferrets.

The only two changes I would make to this book are (1) more details regarding the cancers that, unfortunately, most ferrets will eventually develop (specifically adrenal gland tumors and insulinoma), and (2) overall a more serious tone. The tone of the writing veers away in a couple of spots from solidly informative towards silliness, but I've found that this is characteristic of almost all the "....for Dummies" books so I suppose that is a critique of the editor and publisher more than the author. Also, this "homespun" style probably makes the text more palatable to beginners and the curious. I volunteer for a local ferret shelter and have fostered numerous rescued ferrets, and have no hesitation recommending this book either for those getting involved in the same thing, or those who simply wish to have a single pet ferret and know nothing about how to go about it.

Until a more advanced book comes along that really delves into significant detail regarding ferret care, "Ferrets for Dummies" is pretty much the definitive book on the subject. Keep it on your bookshelf as a reference, and read it in conjunction with some of the many other ferret care books available to get a really rounded view of what is involved in taking care of ferrets.

This book is not just for dummies - it is great for everyone! Kim Shilling has done an excellent job in fine detail on complete ferret care! This is a book that is suitable for beginners as well as for long time ferret owners. It is informative and humorous. It is a must for any ferret enthusiast's collection. A breeze to read and entertaining, as well. Stuffed full of good and correct information! I am a ferret breeder and lover and consider it a top-notch resource.

This is a must-own for ANY ferret owner, new or old. Its packed full of all sorts of great information and is a good book to keep on hand for those questions that pop up.

I bought this book about 3 months before i adopted my first two ferrets and i found it an invaluable resource to have on hand. I even lent it to my mother-in-law so that she could read it and learn more about these critters in case she needed to babysit.

From information on cages to vet visits and common diseases, this is the bible for ferret owners. There's even a section in the back full of recipes that are fun to make and were adored by both my ferrets.

This is not one of those books that only newcomers to the world of ferrets needs. I honestly would reccommend this book to new and old ferret owners...even if you only had to use this book once, its worth its price in gold. I can't stress it enough, if you're interested in ferrets, BUY THIS BOOK.

This book has it all. And the most sound advice about everything to do with ferrets. From how to pick one out that you can be compatible with to common ailments and some ways to help protect them from these ailments. One of my favorite sections is the diet and recipe section. Every ferret owner should have this book. It was my third ferret book purchase in seven years. I wish they had had this when I first got my critters.

Ferret medicine/ailment/care information changes constantly as new studies come in. More ferret specific items are available as well. If you are currently a ferret owner you MUST have this. If you are thinking of getting a ferret, you may want to get a smaller introduction type guide first. Then if you decide to go forward purchase this book. Otherwise, if you know that it's a fuzzy little carpet shark that you want, this is the book for you. Also, be sure to keep updated on the latest version, and or a ferret magazine for the health and wellfare of your fuzzy spaz critter.

WARNING: Never, ever consult an older ferret book. The information in these older books (about 7-10+ years or so) can actually harm your ferret. (Ferrets should not be left in a cage with a collar on, ferrets should not be given cedar shavings as bedding, and ferrets should not be caged in a 2'x2'x2' cage as some of these books would have you believe). If your old book says to give your ferret cedar shavings for bedding, then either throw that book away or keep it for the cute photos. Get more up to date information. Your ferret is worth it!

Thank GOD for Ferrets for Dummies! Ms. Schilling has owned pet ferrets for many years and it shows! But what's even more helpful is that she writes about ferrets from the perspective of an adoring owner as well as a foster mom to ferrets awaiting new homes. She doesn't hold back and lets the reader know that ferrets aren't for everyone. Because of that, both the ferrets and the readers win! There's nothing sadder than a ferret in an uninformed home! On the flip side, if after reading Ferrets for Dummies you believe a ferret or two or three is for you, you will be well prepared! Bravo to the author for discussing those issues which many ferret fanatics (myself included) try to brush under the table.....such as odor, litter box woes and problem ferrets! Ms. Schilling was not only able to tackle the difficult issues with style and grace, but also with a great sense of humor - essential to any ferret owner! I can't say enough about this book! It's the best! I know many people who decided that ferrets were DEFINITELY for their household after reading Ferrets for Dummies! And there were a few that decided ferrets might not be the best pets for them! Wonderful! Matching the right pet with the right family is what it's all about! I hope Ms. Schilling keeps on writing!! She has a fan in me!

I've had my ferrets for 3 years now, and I STILL refer to this book often! Ferrets for Dummies has some of the best health advice, care and tips overall and is a great ferret behavior manual. I cannot stress how important it is to read a book such as this BEFORE you bring ferrets into your home. For me, I found this book about 2 months after my first fert and it answered so many of my questions.

The Dummies series of books overall is a great way to get any information on an endless amount of topics (from taxes to computer games!), but I never thought a Dummies book on ferrets would impress me so much. I've read other ferret care guides, and they're not bad, but no where near as comprehensive or trusted.

Great starter guide for new owners, great reference for veterans. I leave this book out when I have ferret-sitters and they love it too!

This book is my ferret bible. My only suggestion is to expand the medical and physiological sections into a separate book and to make it much more comprehensive, especially to distinguish more between the disease symptoms. (Medical articles are also my favorite from the ferret mags, though.) Yes, it is little too cutesy at times, but so are most ferret owners. I find it a wonderful resource, written in the perfect voice and style for its audience. Everyone who owns a ferret should purchase this book and keep it on a shelf in the ferrets' room, right next to their first-aid kit and copies of all their important papers.