Part 4: HEALTH CARE

9. *** Basic health care ***

   (9.1) Do I need to spay/neuter my pet?  How about descenting? Declawing?
   (9.2) What vaccinations will my ferret need, and when?
   (9.3) Can I vaccinate my own ferrets?
   (9.4) What kind of checkups should my ferret be having?
   (9.5) What should I look for when I check over my ferret myself?
   (9.6) Do I need to brush my ferret's teeth?
   (9.7) Is my ferret overweight (or underweight)?  What can I do?
   (9.8) Are ferrets really as prone to disease as it seems?
   (9.9) How do I contact Dr. Williams?  I hear he'll help with diagnoses.
   (9.10) What special needs do older ferrets have?

10. *** Problems to watch for and related information ***

   (10.1) What warning signs of disease should I look for?
   (10.2) Why does my ferret scratch so much?
   (10.3) What do I do for my ferret's prolapsed rectum?
   (10.4) My ferret's had funny-looking stools for a few days.  What's
wrong?
   (10.5) What is that huge bruised-looking or orangish patch?
   (10.6) My ferret is going bald (tail only or all over).
   (10.7) What are these little (black oily)/(red waxy)/(orange crusty)
          spots on my ferret's tail/skin?
   (10.8) How well do ferrets handle heat?  What about cold?
   (10.9) How can I get rid of these fleas?
   (10.10) How do I tell if my ferret has ear mites?  What do I do about
them?
   (10.11) Do I need to worry about heartworms?
   (10.12) Is there an animal poison control hotline?

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9. *** Basic health care ***