From:
"Chris"
Date: 2005-11-13 11:29:21 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Health and Color Re: [ferrethealth] Digest 12 Nov 2005 17:06:30 -0000 Issue 1156
To: <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
> The breeders I am in contact with have not expressed that health issues in
the silvers are any greater than in the other colours - any speculations on
why
you're seeing that, Chris?** <
When breeders in my ferret club first produced fancies they did not
realise how short lived they were going to be. Lots of people bought them
(mostly other breeders) and produced more kits. By year 3 about half the
club members had these kits, that's around 100 owners. By then they realised
there was a problem and better selective breeding was done. I think we are
still seeing problems from the 80s as nearly all the fancies in our area are
related in some way even if only slightly.
I just don't expect to see heath problems in ferrets under 6 or to die
before about 9, until very recently nobody had seen adrenal disease in
Southern England. A few years ago we had as many veterans in the shows as in
other classes, that's not the way it is now. When we attended country fairs
nearly every owner had at least one veteran ferret for the public to handle
but for the last few years there has only been 2 or 3 from the 10 or 12
people running the display area.
It seems to me things are definitely worse, whether its due to food,
living conditions or breeding I don't really know. Dry food is very good
these days and living indoors cannot be that damaging to a ferret health can
it? I think in my area the main cause of the poor health/reduced lifespan is
down to bad breeding practises. People wanted big ferrets with pretty coat
markings whereas years ago working ferreters wanted small fit ferrets and
after the introduction of electronic underground tracking even colour was
immaterial. Now pet ferret owners are breeding their own ferrets and I don't
think the same degree of quality control is being used if you know what I
mean. Chris.
Wessex Ferret Club
www.wessexferretclub.co.uk
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