Message Number: SG2849 | New FHL Archives SearchFrom: Joanne D'Amico
Date: Tue, 07 Jan 2003 21:59:26 -0500
To: FHL Ferret Health Digest <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Subject: re: European Blood Lines
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.
Send comments to Pam at pjdutche@email.unc.edu. Please note that this address is only useful for questions about the FHL archive. Questions about ferret health, or those intended for the FHL, should be sent to the Ferret Health List.