From:
ferrethealer@aol.com
Date: 2002-01-19 14:32:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Digest Number 564
In a message dated 01/19/02 12:02:43 AM Eastern Standard Time,
Ferret-Health-list@yahoogroups.com writes:
I found a breeder who is promoting 'bobtail' kits - in fact their
hob threw
100 kits last year and the bobtail remained true to the
litters....my
research on Waardenburg shows that the primary symptoms of the
genetic
disease are the white blotches and deafness (the hob is a panda)
but also
includes osteoarthritis, neural tube defects, gastrointestinal
disorders,
limb defects, etc. I believe that because the hob is a panda color
and also
has the bob tail that this ferret has Waardenburg syndrome.
This concerns me greatly. As both a shelter and long time
enthusiast, I hate
to see these types of defects perpetuated in the breed. What would
you say to
a person who is knowingly breeding ferrets with this significant
genetic
fault? My research has shown that it is known to be a dominant
trait and its
horrifying to me to know that someone is breeding in a large
enough capacity
(300-500 ferrets in the facility) without fully understanding the
consequences of indiscriminate breeding. Comments?
First you need to be certain that this hob actually has the
syndrome. If he does, you need to point out, politely, to the
breeder the problems with this syndrome, emphasizing the fact that
she is producing a large number of ferrets that could have painful
problems. If she cares about her kits, that should do it. If not,
not much that you are going to say will make a difference.
Be sure the hob has it, however. If he has thrown that many kits,
and none of them are showing problems, perhaps he has a different
mutation altogether.
Dr. Ruth
*****************************************
Save lives - spay or neuter your pet.