From:
WOLFYSLUV@aol.com
Date: 2004-06-04 19:45:25 UTC
Subject: Re: Blind Ferrets
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <ce.4ef6b7f0.2df22b55@aol.com>
I've met blind ferrets before and I never realized that they were blind.
They used smell and other senses I guess to guide them. I remember one that
was even good at going outside to new environments. He played and jumped in
the fall leaves like he didn't have a handicap at all. Oddly enough this
animal was also deaf. You'd never know it. He lived in a multi ferret house hold
just fine. How he was up introductions, I have no idea.
My own personal experience with a blind ferret has not been so typical at
all. But my ferret went blind after having a normal life. What happened was
he was eventually picked on (and still can be). He startles very easily,
even at my hand touching his head ... unless I make sounds for him to hear me.
He actually noses in the air and "acts" very blind. But this is all not
typical from what I hear from others. Maybe others have ferrets who have always
been blind, I dont know. I'd sure be intersted in this behavioral as well as
health topic as well.
Can black eyed whites be more apt to acquire blindness and what can make
a ferret blind. From best estimations, this animal was 4 (3 at the youngest)
when he began to loose his site.
Wolfy
http://wolfysluv.jacksnet.com