From:
Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2003-07-31 04:45:17 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] RE: Repeated request: the health problems of
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
rescues (Barb Clay may beable to to use this info right now.)
Message-Id: <20030731004517.0b664c1b.whiteweasel@earthlink.net>
Hi, everyone,
Keith and I have done perhaps two dozen rescues in the past five years,
generally when asked by other rescuers who were overloaded or when
someone contacted us directly. Most were adopted out or, in a couple of
cases, went to a shelter, two died, and two were adopted by us at age
seven or so.
In ferrets four and older we=B4ve seen adrenal disease in the majority of
rescues. Far too often it been left untreated for a very long time. =
This was the case in both ferrets who died. One, a five year old
female, came to us almost totally bald, emaciated, and with a hugely
swollen vulva. After some blood work and tests our vet felt surgery was
in order. She died on the table. The other death, in an eight year old
male, was due to issues probably caused by untreated adrenal disease as
well.
The two seven year olds we adopted were diagnosed with insulinoma within
one year. Most of the ferrets we have rescued were between six months
and five years old, so I have to wonder if we would see more insulinoma
if we had gotten more older ferrets.
The majority of rescues had ear mites. Many had fleas.
Many rescues were on incredibly poor diets such as cheap cat food. One
previous owner thought grape soda was a good treat for ferrets. Others
were given dried or fresh fruit in quantity. Most weren=B4t in our home
long enough for us to judge how big an impact diet had in their health
problems. I do have to wonder if our two seven year old rescues that
stayed with us developed insulinoma in part because of the sweets they
were fed.
Many rescues who were kept caged for extended periods without play or
otherwise neglected had behavioral problems: either they were terribly
afraid of everyone and everything or else they were biters. Some became
trusting very quickly and their behavior improved. Others did not
improve while they were with us. =
Podo, one of our rescues that stayed, was timid and fearful for MONTHS
after coming to us. He is now one of the most playful, gregarious
ferrets you could ever see, and he loves to wrestle with the ferrets he
once ran from. He also became very affectionate towards Keith and
myself. I don=B4t believe Podo was ever neglected, but I do believe the
change of environment and separation from both the previous owner, and,
as we learned later on, two other ferrets, was hard on him.
Those are our experiences from an admittedly limited number of rescues. =
I would probably do more, but Keith is worried about health risks to our
now older ferrets and also about becoming too attached to more of them.
All the best,
Caity