{"id":88108,"date":"2022-04-22T12:06:55","date_gmt":"2022-04-22T12:06:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/"},"modified":"2022-04-22T12:06:55","modified_gmt":"2022-04-22T12:06:55","slug":"what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/","title":{"rendered":"What to do if a ferret bites you?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_17 counter-hierarchy counter-decimal ez-toc-grey\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"display: none;\"><i class=\"ez-toc-glyphicon ez-toc-icon-toggle\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/#What_to_do_if_a_ferret_bites_you\" title=\"What to do if a ferret bites you?\">What to do if a ferret bites you?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/#Do_ferrets_have_a_strong_bite\" title=\"Do ferrets have a strong bite?\">Do ferrets have a strong bite?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/#How_hard_can_ferrets_bite\" title=\"How hard can ferrets bite?\">How hard can ferrets bite?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/#How_painful_is_a_ferret_bite\" title=\"How painful is a ferret bite?\">How painful is a ferret bite?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/#How_do_you_deal_with_a_ferret_that_bites\" title=\"How do you deal with a ferret that bites?\">How do you deal with a ferret that bites?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/#Do_ferrets_bites_hurt\" title=\"Do ferrets bites hurt?\">Do ferrets bites hurt?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/#Is_it_normal_for_a_ferret_to_bite\" title=\"Is it normal for a ferret to bite?\">Is it normal for a ferret to bite?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/#What_is_the_bite_force_of_a_ferret\" title=\"What is the bite force of a ferret?\">What is the bite force of a ferret?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/#Do_ferrets_like_to_bite\" title=\"Do ferrets like to bite?\">Do ferrets like to bite?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/#Can_ferrets_break_your_bones\" title=\"Can ferrets break your bones?\">Can ferrets break your bones?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/#What_do_I_do_if_my_ferret_bites_me\" title=\"What do I do if my ferret bites me?\">What do I do if my ferret bites me?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/#What_happens_if_a_ferret_bites_you\" title=\"What happens if a ferret bites you?\">What happens if a ferret bites you?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/#Why_do_ferrets_bite_hard\" title=\"Why do ferrets bite hard?\">Why do ferrets bite hard?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/#How_do_I_get_my_ferret_to_stop_biting\" title=\"How do I get my ferret to stop biting?\">How do I get my ferret to stop biting?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/#Do_ferrets_bite_their_owners\" title=\"Do ferrets bite their owners?\">Do ferrets bite their owners?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/#Do_ferrets_grow_out_of_biting\" title=\"Do ferrets grow out of biting?\">Do ferrets grow out of biting?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/#Why_are_my_ferrets_biting_me\" title=\"Why are my ferrets biting me?\">Why are my ferrets biting me?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/#How_do_you_discipline_a_ferret_for_biting\" title=\"How do you discipline a ferret for biting?\">How do you discipline a ferret for biting?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/#How_hard_is_a_ferrets_bite\" title=\"How hard is a ferrets bite?\">How hard is a ferrets bite?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/#Will_a_ferret_bite\" title=\"Will a ferret bite?\">Will a ferret bite?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/#Why_do_ferrets_bite_you\" title=\"Why do ferrets bite you?\">Why do ferrets bite you?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/#How_do_I_train_my_ferret_not_to_bite\" title=\"How do I train my ferret not to bite?\">How do I train my ferret not to bite?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/#Can_ferrets_bite_your_finger_off\" title=\"Can ferrets bite your finger off?\">Can ferrets bite your finger off?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/#Why_does_my_ferret_come_up_to_me_and_bite_me\" title=\"Why does my ferret come up to me and bite me?\">Why does my ferret come up to me and bite me?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-to-do-if-a-ferret-bites-you\/#Is_it_normal_for_ferrets_to_bite\" title=\"Is it normal for ferrets to bite?\">Is it normal for ferrets to bite?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_do_if_a_ferret_bites_you\"><\/span>What to do if a ferret bites you?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>If you are bitten or scratched by a ferret, you should:<\/b><\/p>\n<li>Wash the wound with warm, soapy water immediately.<\/li>\n<li>Seek medical attention if:  <\/li>\n<li>If you were bitten by a ferret you don&#8217;t know, report the bite to animal control or your local health department.<\/li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_ferrets_have_a_strong_bite\"><\/span>Do ferrets have a strong bite?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>A frightened ferret can certainly bite. And, of course, a ferret that has been abused may bite, too. For a ferret, hard biting can be seen as their attempt to yell at you. Whatever is going on inside their heads, they definitely feel strongly about it if they bite you hard.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_hard_can_ferrets_bite\"><\/span>How hard can ferrets bite?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>A frightened stressed or untrained ferret can bite hard and break the skin. Ferrets have very thick skin and when they play they will bite in each other. Because a ferret has a thick skin these bites usually won&#8217;t hurt the ferret.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_painful_is_a_ferret_bite\"><\/span>How painful is a ferret bite?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It&#8217;s worth noting that the ferret&#8217;s skin is thicker and tougher than human skin, so <b>when ferrets nip at each other in play, they don&#8217;t inflict any real pain. But when they nip at a human, it can hurt.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_you_deal_with_a_ferret_that_bites\"><\/span>How do you deal with a ferret that bites?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Avoid reacting to a bite and simply turn or look away. Do not give any form of attention for the bite, but reward calm and gentle interactions. Ferrets often bite to tell their owners to put them down, so try to pick up on signals your ferret has had enough before they resort to the bite.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_ferrets_bites_hurt\"><\/span>Do ferrets bites hurt?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Because a ferret has a thick skin these bites usually won&#8217;t hurt the ferret. Contrary to ferrets, humans have much thinner skin and a ferret that bites with the same force as it would do with another ferret, will usually break the skin, hurt and might even bleed.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_it_normal_for_a_ferret_to_bite\"><\/span>Is it normal for a ferret to bite?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Small nips or gentle play-biting is normal for ferrets. It is when the animal bites hard that something is awry. A ferret may bite because it simply was never taught not to bite. Perhaps it was not properly handled at the breeder or pet store.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_bite_force_of_a_ferret\"><\/span>What is the bite force of a ferret?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Electromyographic activity was also recorded during biting while a bite-force transducer placed between the carnassial teeth registered forces ranging from <b>1.5 to 48.8 N<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_ferrets_like_to_bite\"><\/span>Do ferrets like to bite?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It&#8217;s worth noting that the ferret&#8217;s skin is thicker and tougher than human skin, so <b>when ferrets nip at each other in play, they don&#8217;t inflict any real pain. But when they nip at a human, it can hurt.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_ferrets_break_your_bones\"><\/span>Can ferrets break your bones?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Nipping, also known as biting, is a common behavior for ferrets. They bite for different reasons, and young ferrets do not even realize that biting can be hurtful. You must train a ferret that biting is for toys, not people.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_do_I_do_if_my_ferret_bites_me\"><\/span>What do I do if my ferret bites me?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Electromyographic activity was also recorded during biting while a bite-force transducer placed between the carnassial teeth registered forces ranging from <b>1.5 to 48.8 N<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happens_if_a_ferret_bites_you\"><\/span>What happens if a ferret bites you?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>A frightened ferret can certainly bite. And, of course, a ferret that has been abused may bite, too. For a ferret, hard biting can be seen as their attempt to yell at you. Whatever is going on inside their heads, they definitely feel strongly about it if they bite you hard.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_do_ferrets_bite_hard\"><\/span>Why do ferrets bite hard?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Germs can spread from ferret bites and scratches, even if the wound does not seem deep or serious. <b>Ferret bites can become seriously infected or spread rabies, especially if the ferret is unvaccinated and has had contact with a rabid animal. Young children are especially at risk for bites from ferrets.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_get_my_ferret_to_stop_biting\"><\/span>How do I get my ferret to stop biting?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Hungry ferrets may bite to grab whatever might be food. And ferrets may bite when they resent being caged up for long hours; a bored ferret is usually a biting ferret. The solution is to play more often with your ferret  more handling leads to fewer tooth marks, not more.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_ferrets_bite_their_owners\"><\/span>Do ferrets bite their owners?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>If you are bitten or scratched by a ferret, you should:<\/b><\/p>\n<li>Wash the wound with warm, soapy water immediately.<\/li>\n<li>Seek medical attention if:  <\/li>\n<li>If you were bitten by a ferret you don&#8217;t know, report the bite to animal control or your local health department.<\/li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_ferrets_grow_out_of_biting\"><\/span>Do ferrets grow out of biting?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Avoid reacting to a bite and simply turn or look away. Do not give any form of attention for the bite, but reward calm and gentle interactions. Ferrets often bite to tell their owners to put them down, so try to pick up on signals your ferret has had enough before they resort to the bite.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_are_my_ferrets_biting_me\"><\/span>Why are my ferrets biting me?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Build trust with adult ferrets. <b>It will take a few months to train them to stop biting, but you need to be consistent, firm, and gentle with them. Adult ferrets bite much harder than kits, but still try to provide as much skin to fur contact as possible.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_you_discipline_a_ferret_for_biting\"><\/span>How do you discipline a ferret for biting?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Hungry ferrets may bite to grab whatever might be food. And ferrets may bite when they resent being caged up for long hours; a bored ferret is usually a biting ferret. The solution is to play more often with your ferret  more handling leads to fewer tooth marks, not more.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_hard_is_a_ferrets_bite\"><\/span>How hard is a ferrets bite?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>A frightened stressed or untrained ferret can bite hard and break the skin. Ferrets have very thick skin and when they play they will bite in each other. Because a ferret has a thick skin these bites usually won&#8217;t hurt the ferret.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Will_a_ferret_bite\"><\/span>Will a ferret bite?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It&#8217;s worth noting that the ferret&#8217;s skin is thicker and tougher than human skin, so <b>when ferrets nip at each other in play, they don&#8217;t inflict any real pain. But when they nip at a human, it can hurt.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_do_ferrets_bite_you\"><\/span>Why do ferrets bite you?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The vast majority of ferrets are friendly and lovable, but <b>some might irritate humans by nipping. And an occasional problem ferret might be labeled as a bad biter. But hope exists for such problem ferrets, because lots of love, training and patience can lead to reform!<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_train_my_ferret_not_to_bite\"><\/span>How do I train my ferret not to bite?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Germs can spread from ferret bites and scratches, even if the wound does not seem deep or serious. <b>Ferret bites can become seriously infected or spread rabies, especially if the ferret is unvaccinated and has had contact with a rabid animal. Young children are especially at risk for bites from ferrets.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_ferrets_bite_your_finger_off\"><\/span>Can ferrets bite your finger off?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Ferrets of any age might nip at people for other reasons, as well. <b>A ferret might accidentally bite your finger or foot when it meant to grab the toy the two of you were playing with. Or, sometimes ferrets will walk over to their owners and nip them on the ankles or toes to signal they want to play.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_does_my_ferret_come_up_to_me_and_bite_me\"><\/span>Why does my ferret come up to me and bite me?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>If you are bitten or scratched by a ferret, you should:<\/b><\/p>\n<li>Wash the wound with warm, soapy water immediately.<\/li>\n<li>Seek medical attention if:  <\/li>\n<li>If you were bitten by a ferret you don&#8217;t know, report the bite to animal control or your local health department.<\/li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_it_normal_for_ferrets_to_bite\"><\/span>Is it normal for ferrets to bite?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Hungry ferrets may bite to grab whatever might be food. And ferrets may bite when they resent being caged up for long hours; a bored ferret is usually a biting ferret. The solution is to play more often with your ferret  more handling leads to fewer tooth marks, not more.<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Table of Contents What to do if a ferret bites you?Do ferrets have a strong bite?How hard can ferrets bite?How painful is a ferret bite?How do you deal with a ferret that bites?Do ferrets bites hurt?Is it normal for a ferret to bite?What is the bite force of a ferret?Do ferrets like to bite?Can ferrets&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"spay_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-88108","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88108"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88108"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88108\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88108"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88108"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88108"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}