From:
russiansmom@yahoo.com
Date: 2001-02-26 12:52:00 UTC
Subject: Who should test for ADV? (formerly Go to the Polls)
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Alexis & Jason Thonen"
<alexisandjason@h...> wrote:
>
> Should regular ferret owners also test for ADV or is it just
shelters? I am honestly very clueless when it comes to this.
>
> -alexis
That's a good question, Alexis. My answer is that I'm a "regular"
ferret owner. I've never been a shelter, although I had adopted a
few ferrets from local shelters. I also adopted some from private
breeders. One was a retired hob that had sired quite a few litters
(White Russian). I happened to know someone who had one of Russian's
sons. She has a shelter and she tested. She only had two that
tested positive, and one was Russian's boy. That made me test and I
had 4 that tested positive, as well as one that tested between
positive and negative.
I know several other regular ferret owners that have ADV positive
ferrets, as well as some who have ferrets that died from ADV. Of
course, they wouldn't have known that was what they had died from a
year or so ago. Now word is getting out and tests are being done.
It's my belief that *anyone* can have a ferret that tests positive
for ADV. Although Marshall Farms ferrets do not come from there ADV
positive, they often are kept at "clearing houses" with other
ferrets.
Judy