Ferret Lingo

Yes, it exists!
For those new to the ferret world, you have undoubtedly heard other ferret owners and enthusiasts speak of feeding their little carpet sharks duck soup, or of their hobs, jills, sprites, furkids, digboxes, n-bones, ferretvite etc, etc, etc....

Here is a quick guide to help you grasp "ferret lingo" so that you too will be able to "speak ferret" with the best of them!

Adrenal: A ferret with adrenal disease. For more information on this or various other ferret diseases, read "Ferrets for Dummies" by Kim Schilling.








Ferret suffering from advanced adrenal disease.

ADV: Aleutian's Disease Virus. Debilitating and incurable disease originally spread to ferrets by the Aleutian mink. Awareness of this disease is spreading in Canada and the United States. Ferrets can be carriers without showing signs themselves. For more information on this or various other ferret diseases, read "Ferrets for Dummies" by Kim Schilling.

Bib: Ferret pattern (see previous entry "Checkered Ferrets" for detailed description and photo)

Bonded: Two or more ferrets that have been together so long that they are virtually inseparable. Separating a bonded pair is NOT recommended as one or more of the ferrets may become depressed and refuse to eat following separation.







Bonded pair of ferrets

Carpet shark: Ferret (because they like to glide along the carpet and sometimes attack toes)

Cheweasles: Edible rubber textured chew treat for ferrets. Similar products include: Superchews by Marshall and Edible Chew treats (also by Marshall)

DEW: Dark Eyed White - ferret colour (see previous entry "Colour Me Ferret" for detailed description and photo)

Digbox: Container filled with dirt, sand, rice, beans or similar for ferret to dig in (see "Toy Tips" for more information on digboxes and other great ideas for ferret entertainment!)

Dook: Sound made by ferrets when they are happy. Here is an example (approximately 30 seconds in)



Duck Soup: High protein diet for sick ferrets; contains no duck, but a mixture of baby food, soft cat food, soaked kibble and other ingredients. Named after the creator's ferret "Duck", there are now about a million different recipes with each recipe claiming to be the best.

Ferrents: Ferret owners (or ferret parents)

Ferretvite (also known as Furovite): ferret vitamin supplement and treat. The best stuff (with taurine added) comes in a tube and has a molasses-like colour and texture.

Ferretone (also known as Furotone): ferret coat supplement and treat. This is an oil that most ferrets go nuts for!

Foamy Fries: edible foam - textured chew treats for ferrets.




Ferret enjoying foamy fry edible chew treat




Furkids: Ferrets

Fuzzbutts: Ferrets

Fuzzies: ferrets

Giggle: See dook.

Guardhairs: Coarse outer hairs on a ferret's coat (see previous entry "Colour Me Ferret" for detailed description)

Gib: Altered male ferret

Happy Dance: Sign of a happy and playful ferret. The ferret hops and flips about with its mouth open. Really good example of a happy dance can bee seen approximately 30 seconds in.

Hob: Unaltered male ferret

Hood: Ferret pattern (see previous entry "Checkered Ferrets" for detailed description and photo)

Jill: Unaltered female ferret

Marshall ferret: ferret from a large ferret mill in the United States. Ferrets are generally known for their laid back temperment and can be identified by two blue dots tattooed into one of the ears.

Milled ferret: Ferret from a large ferret mill such as Marshall as opposed to a private breeder. Some claim that milled ferret are more prone to cancers and other diseases common to ferrets, but it is more likely that this is due to the small ferret gene pool in North America.

Mitt: Ferret pattern (see previous entry "Checkered Ferrets" for detailed description and photo)

nbones: edible ferret chew treat intended to help keep your ferret's teeth clean.



Nbone chew treats for ferrets.





Rat tail: May be a sign of Adrenal Disease in ferrets; swelling of the adrenal glands causes, among other things, the ferret to lose the hair beginning at the base of their tail. This disease is serious and any ferret exhibiting signs of the disease should be taken to a knowledgeable ferret vet for treatment immediately. For more information on this or various other ferret diseases, read "Ferrets for Dummies" by Kim Schilling. Hair loss beginning at the END of the tail, however, is probably NOT adrenal disease. This pattern of hair loss (assuming that it does not progress up the ferret's back) is associated with tail acne (which can be treated by washing the affected area with anti-bacterial soap daily) or possibly related to heat. The hair on the tip of the tail may grow back during the next coat change, but this is not always the case.

Hair loss related to acne or heat. Notice how the baldness does not extend to the base of the tail.







Adrenal pattern tail baldness - hair is thinning on the tail, INCLUDING at the base.








Real Canadian Ferret: Like Marshall, Real Canadian is a large ferret mill. Ferrets from this mill are often considered to be larger in size than Marshall ferrets, and slightly more ranbunctious (though I have seen rambunctious Marshalls and laid back Real Canadian ferrets, so I don't buy into the stereotype). These ferrets can be identified by small X (for females) or Y (for males) tattoos in their ears.

Roan: Ferret colour (see previous entry "Colour Me Ferret" for detailed description and photo)

Sable: Ferret colour (see previous entry "Colour Me Ferret" for detailed description and photo)

Sprite: Altered female ferret

War Dance: See happy dance.

Woozel: Ferret

If you can think of any ferret lingo not on this list, or hear something a want to know what it means, please feel free to comment or e-mail me!