Message Number: YG13547 | New FHL Archives Search
From: caitlynmaire@earthlink.net
Date: 2002-06-04 10:54:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Re: The Food Issue

Hi, Betty,

> But
> you would have to answer my question as to why ferret seem to have
> more bowel disorders than before...

Do they? That's one thing my ferrets have been blissfully free of, but
I do believe that there may be an increased incidence. I just would
like to see some numbers to substantiate that statement.

> Ask your vet that too.

I will ask him if he thinks there are more, yes.

> I would be very
> interested to hear how long he has been treating ferrets

Upwards of 20 years. I don't know exactly when he started, but I know
of people who have been going to him with their ferts since the '80s at
least.
>
> Depending on where you live in the world will also play a factor. Some
> areas are more prone to certain illnesses. Vets in those areas are
> going to see more of one thing than another.

Agreed. For the record, I live about 25 miles northeast of Raleigh, NC.

> I think more are caged than ever before. But then again,
> there are far more ferrets in people's homes than there were 20 years
> ago too. More ferrets are being bred for colour distinction and coat
> and size... not something we saw 20 years ago. Ferrets were early
> neutered back then, and they are still being neutered early now. So
> what is the difference?

My vet's opinion is that the biggest factors in increased illness that
we are seeing (such as early adrenal disease) are breeding and early
spaying/neutering. He has made himself very clear on those issues a
number of times.

FWIW, I have a lot of trust in our vet. He does think diet is
important, and we follow his recommendations in what we feed our
ferrets.

All the best,
Caity and the notorious nine