From:
TROFEO91@aol.com
Date: 2002-12-09 02:19:16 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] RE: Common Health Problems of Ferrets
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <bb.2aa7c79e.2b2557a4@aol.com>
In a message dated 12/8/2002 8:08:43 PM Eastern Standard Time,
williamsdvm@comcast.net writes:
> <<Let's not jump on the Dept. of Agriculture too hard - gntle education
> works SO much better...>>
Yeah, I know (she says sheepishly). I could play much nicer if they weren't
so inept.
<<Remember that we want the Deot. of Agriculture to be experts on corn,
soybeans, and cattle. Ferrets come under their purview in some states only
because they are "farmed" animals.>>
Oh, hey, Michigan's better than that. Ferrets are part of the MDA "Animal
Industry Division".
> <<<Michigan currently boasts one of the brightest ferret vets working in
> their diagnostic lab, Dr. Matti Kiupel. When vets send their cases into the
> state, and it gets to him, you know that he will make the right diagnosis.
> He donesn't however, have anythng to do with this web page.>>>
This really surprises me. Is this vet with the Dept of Ag or with Michigan
State University??? I have been involved for a number of years with MSU's
yearly Vet-A-Visit, which is an Open House put on by the vet students. I
(with members of the now defunct GLFA and now with members of the Midwest
Ferret Fellowship) worked/work with the vet students in presenting an
on-hands ferret exhibit. If he's with MSU, he's their best kept secret
because we ferret people seem to be the only contact the students have with
ferrets. They learn more from us than they do their instructors. We have
been offering our assistance with MSU (in the way of surgical candidates) for
years. If he's with the Dept of Ag, they don't let him out much, do they
(I'll have to say "hello").
> <<My suggestion - use the contact link on the page, and offer some
> additional sources of infomation that may haelp them expand their available
> information on this species....>>
I did that last spring. At the time, they were formulating an Advisory
Committee to discuss legislation involving rescues, breeders, pet shops, etc.
I offered my assistance to be part of that committee to represent ferret
rescues but no one contacted me. I learned later this Advisory Committee was
comprised of 5 Animal Control officers, several state vets, 3 pet store
owners and 3 Humane Society reps. They didn't contact ANY rescue groups.
Thanks for your input, Bruce. Your opinion is greatly valued. But hey, you
didn't comment on the Common Health Problems. Do you agree? I would expect
Adrenal Disease, Insulinoma, Lymphosarcoma, Helicobacter & Splenomegaly would
be the Top 4.
Take care
Dee Gage
owner/operator, West Michigan Ferret Connection
acting president, Midwest Ferret Fellowship