From:
Steve Austin
Date: 2002-02-18 22:03:00 UTC
Subject: Any with NO health problems?
Unfortunately no one dies from old age, so if they die and
are
"old" we don't feel as bad, or it is not unexpected they
will eventually get some illness.
So, adrenal ,insulinoma, cardiomyopathy, kidney failure,etc
can happen at any age, but will also be a cause of death
of some older ferrets. Without necropsy or a vet diagnosis
of what actually caused the ferret to die, we can only guess.
Sometimes it may be debilitating arthritis and pain, or
problems eating and wasting.
Also old age may be different to different people,
6 years may be old to some, 8 or 9 to others.
All but one of my ferrets over 4 have some sort of health
issue, one is only a skin growth, but still the odds are
against me :( It makes me more cautious in taking in
too many ferrets, I know that when they turn a certain
age I may have many illnesses at once, a huge vet bills,
stress in nursing them, or caring for them, but I know
my limits, everyone has their own set limits.
Don't get discouraged, your ferret may live a long
life before developing anything, but play the odds and
save money now- just in case.
I also agree with another poster, some seem to get
many health problems and cost a lot in medical care, and
others don't get that sick.
Patty
I'm relatively new to ferrets and have mostly rescues so my
own experience doesn't count, but a person I know from a
chat board has over 35, has been in ferrets for many, many
years (I think she's second or third generation) and she has
some health problems but most die of plain old age. I'm
hoping to get one or two of them myself.
Cay,
Princess and the naughty boys