From:
"john rich"
Date: 2004-08-31 09:03:05 UTC
Subject: EARLY SPAY/NEUTER/DE-SCENT
To: "FERRET HEALTH LIST" <FERRETHEALTH@SMARTGROUPS.COM>
Message-ID: <31564808.1093949978803.JavaMail.nobody@strontium.smartgroups.com>
Hi. I have a question, which has been hearsay to me for a while, but I wond=
ered if this were true, or even a suspicion by ferret wise owners. The usua=
lly short life span of Ferrets in the U.S., I have been told, is partially,=
if not wholly, due to the young age at which kits are spayed/neutered/de-s=
cented, with the accent on the `de-scented` part. In most pet stores, the g=
eneric info. sheet on Ferrets says the life-span of Ferrets is 10 to 12yrs.=
. ! Posing this question to my Vet, she could not dis-agree, because, as sh=
e said, certain hormones and `other` natural nutrients passed on to the kit=
s from their parents, whether by `Mother`s milk`, or just the natural order=
of things, was missing. I was told the shorter life span, (usually young a=
s pet`s go), was unique to this country. I have had & still have fuzzies si=
nce `92, and consider myself a GOOD ferret home provider, i.e.- good food, =
vitamins, vets visits, etc., and currently am treating my 3rd Adrenal ferre=
t, `Lukey`, and have never had a ferret live past 6yrs.(10 fuzzies over the=
years). Is there any truth or evidence about this observation? Friends in =
England have told me of theirs living to be 10yrs.+. Is the `time is money`=
greed of certain breeders, hence the young age/procedure, hold true?? All =
answers are welcome, but I pose this question with Dr. Sue in mind!! thank =
you. john; Tyler, Lukey, Ruby,-the GANG, and last but not least, Brandy, m=
y 12yr.old `pound hound` since puppyhood!!!. jdr. doodle1bug@peoplepc.com[M=
oderator's Note: When responding to this, keep in mind the FHL rules which =
state, in part: "This list is not Consumer Reports. Opinions of various fe=
rret health related practices is allowed. Opinions of specific breeders, sh=
elters, ferret owners and pet shops is not. Political topics are not allow=
ed."