From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2003-11-09 17:37:47 UTC
Subject: She won't go into season
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-Id: <6EA5B892-12DB-11D8-B25D-000A95CD182C@mac.com>
I have some questions after reading your note. Why do you want to
breed and what is your background with breeding?
Have you checked into the genetic problems which can happen in ferrets
and checked the history of these lines to make sure that they don't
have them? One grouping which comes to mind contains neural crest
related disorders which can at times be outwardly seen in unusual
spotting, white heads, or a white head blaze. These can cause
deafness, jaw malformation, intestinal problems and more. At least one
line which had strongly non-bilateral head coloration had circulatory
malformations and resulting early deaths. Juvenile cataracts are seen
as genetic malformations. The angora ferrets have been known to at
times have skull or nasal malformations. There certainly are others.
Secondly, if you have done so have you also already learned about the
possible complications of pregnancy, nursing, and infancy so that you
are ready to jump in the right way if problems arise?