From:
sukieferret
Date: 2002-06-20 17:31:00 UTC
Subject: Re: ferret disease research
Well, in multi-country discussions here it seems that the most common ages
for deaths may be from 7 into middle in the 8th year. Part of this came up in
the food conversation when we found that our guys on kibble are having
similar longeivty ranges to those on a raw diet. Our most normal range for
typical age-range at death falls into that larger category (some older and some younger); we are in New Jersey.
A critter with that sort of lifespan willhave to fit in the health problems that
longer lived critters have in 15 to 25 years, so part of the amount is simply
illusion.
We almost always adopt little ones (usually kits) who have been through
rough beginnings and still get a decent lifespan for them usually, though we
have not had as good success with some of the "fancies"in terms of longevity
compared to standards, white-bibbed, and albinos which all seem to live
longer here usually though albinos don't as consistently. I have heard of one
marked-white line that seems to be longer lived than normal but the breeder
was announcing it responsibly with futher tracking of later generations going
on, so don't know how that will work out.; in that case we'd make an exception
and be willing to get a fancy if it pans out.