From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2002-01-19 16:20:00 UTC
Subject: Re: re: Is this waardensburg
--
Like Dr. Williams i suspect that we might be seeing two separate
mutations there, and either might have its own possible risks to
consider. Sure would not make sense to sell such individuals without
tracking a few generations first for health and longevity problems
(which doesn't sound as likely with the huge number of offspring you
mentioned). While it's a "Buyer Beware" situation, the ones who
might really suffer are the ferrets if there are health or longevity
hazards involved.
Alicia, if you mean that you are seeing eyes which may be one color
on the right and a different color on the left then rather than it
being a neural crest disorder that might instead be an aortic arch
defect -- a genetic defect of the same early cells that differentiate
into cells that form the aorta and a number of other structures. One
consideration with such individuals where head coloring are strongly
NOT bilateral is that there can be a high chance of there being a
defect also of the aorta or some other circulatory defects that can
be extremely dangerous, if my reading serves.
One thing that has recently given me pause is a discussion elsewhere
of some "bulldog" ferrets -- normal sized bodies, short faces, and
shortened limbs which they described as "bowed" -- NOT a good word to
hear in relation to joint health or joint stability. I worry that
some may have forms of dwarfism. Now, dwarfism is not necessarily a
huge health problem, but certain types are a real problem -- with
serious and often painful results. Having had a ferret with a very
painful form of dwarfism in the past this scares me; most people
would not have been able to keep up with her special needs.
There certainly are too many people out there who lust after whatever
looks different, or judge by pelage alone, rather than considering
the health consequences for the individual. That is too often how
some genetic forms of health-reducing features increase in a
population. That is what happened with panda and blaze ferrets and
now so many lines have some of that component that the related health
problems are at risk of being widely-spread or are already widely
spread.
Hoping that a geneticist replies (or has replied and i just haven't
reached that post, yet) so that we can all learn.
---------
At 3:22 PM +0000 1/19/02, Ferret-Health-list@yahoogroups.com wrote:
While I do not profess to be the most learned breeder-- I have studied and
researched breeding & genetics in order to sort good traits in
ferrets. What I read of this breeder is much like those breeders of
shelties ( I own a pedigreed sheltie- so I have knowledge here) . When you
take a blue merle and breed to a blue merle you get extraordinary color
patterns, blindness, twisted tails and mixed colored eyes and other
genetic mutations.
This would be comparable to breeding a panda ferret to another panda
ferret. So yes, in my opinion , they would have the colmira genetic
markings and having a breed of two with active markers would pass along the
traits Less desirable as they are to kits. This is also often a problem
which can result form in breeding and line breeding of ferrets. Any more
learned ferret breeders please feel free to correct my understanding.
DO I think this is wise? ABSOLUTELY NOT! One cannot know what other
hidden genetic imperfections lie under the coat . This breeder in my
opinion is not using sound judgement or solid breeding practices -- but
sometimes folks do not consider more than the end means -- basically the
money gained form sale of an oddity.