Message Number: SG6210 | New FHL Archives SearchFrom: whiteweasel@earthlink.net
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2003 15:06:42 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] RE: Tiredness Old age or illness
Message-ID: <8016906.1065208002510.JavaMail.root@skeeter.psp.pas.earthlink.net>
Hi, Jen, and everyone else,
> I will have to get back to you on the type of blood tests done To
> be honest I was so glad he thought Taz was just getting older
> and starting to slow down.
I read somewhere that ferrets who have no health problems don't
slow down until their 9th or 10th year (8-9 years old). I think we
see so few ferrets with absolutely no problems that it's hard to
know if that's accurate.
>From what we know Podo and Kodo had no health problems until
their 8th year. Now 9 (in their 10th year) Kodo has slowed down
tremendously but still has occasional short bursts of energy. Podo
hasn't slowed down and has been acting like a young ferret since
insulinoma surgery 14 months ago.
I wouldn't assume a ferret is going to slow down at a given age.
Look at people. Some folks are vibrant in their 80s or even later,
while others seem old in their 60s. I think ferrets age at
different rates as well. I let our vet decide on what kind of
medical care is appropriate. We did surgeries with great success on
eight year old ferrets. I judge "great success" as good quality of
life a year or more later.
All the best,
Caity and the non-stop nine
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.