From:
Claire Curtis
Date: 2002-03-18 23:06:00 UTC
Subject: Re: ferret longevity and disease
"nzweezul" said:
>... I have only recently started "lurking" on this list and
> have been totally appalled by the health problems you seem to accept
> as 'the norm' in the States.
Remember this is an extremely biased list. We all have computers, we
use them to the extent that we belong to an online discussion group, and
we are sufficiently vet-focused to subscribe to this list in particular.
Not only that, but those who post usually have ferrets with specific
medical problems.
To get a good idea of actual disease incidence, we would have to take a
census of ferrets, including the healthy ones who don't see the vet.
(Vet records would be of limited usefulness for this, since the
healthiest population may well be eliminated).
Ideally, we should start with the breeders, and follow up on what
happens to the babies. For the super size breeders, like Marshall Farms,
we might be able to go through the petstores -- I know my local petco
sells a heck of a lot more ferrets than the local ferret vet ever sees.
Some of these show up at the vaccination clinics, but I'm sure a lot
just go into homes and never even receive vaccinations. Do they live
long, healthy lives, or do they get diseases and die prematurely? We
just don't know.
Perhaps we could set up a ferret registry or club, and persuade breeders
(or dealers, like petco) to offer a free membership. Some sort of
coupons or discount could be offered, in exchange for being willing to
answer the occasional questionaire. Participation would still be
voluntary, and thus bias the data somewhat, but it might allow some
better long-term tracking of disease and mortality statistics.
Petco actually has purchasers fill out an adoption form; it would only
require a permission checkbox to allow them to share the purchaser's
information with a ferret registry or club.
Think something like this is worth brainstorming?
--Claire