From:
Joanne D'Amico
Date: 2003-01-08 02:59:26 UTC
Subject: re: European Blood Lines
To: FHL Ferret Health Digest <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <3E1B940E.21083BF6@bellsouth.net>
I haven't had any ferrets from European blood lines, but I searched for
a breeder known for healthy stock here in the U.S., with blood lines
traced back several generations. I travelled to another state to acquire
two beautiful (intact) 4 month old females and waited until they were 6
months old to neuter. Both developed adrenal tumors at about 5 years of
age, (Sugar was bilateral, Taz started with one on the right and the
other a year later), Taz also developed IBD at a young age (following an
ECE infection), Sugar developed cardiomyopathy. Both were under the care
of experienced ferret vets, had regular check-ups, vaccinations, lived
indoors, ate Totally Ferret from the day they came home. Out of about
20+ ferrets between me and my best ferret buddy, I saw no difference in
the later spays vs the early spays, other than that they developed the
adrenal disease a bit later than most of the others. However, I had one
badly neglected and abused albino MF male (early neuter) that I rescued
at age 4 yrs, who had been kept in a filthy cage outside in an open
shed, and fed Alley Cat cat food, who did not become adrenal until he
was 6 years old. Sadly, so far the only ferrets I have had that did not
become adrenal, died early due to one of the lymphoma-lymphosarcomas
.... like most ferret owners, I would do most anything to assure my
ferrets health - wish we had some answers.