From:
"Karen McCabe"
Date: 2010-03-18 18:34:38 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Health Question
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "sukiedaviscrandall" <sukie@...> wrote:
>
> We've noticed that the ones we have adopted from
> shelters who were older than young kits were more
> prone to many health problems, especially endocrinological
> ones.
>
> Now, we do NOT think that has had anything to do with the
> shelters from which we got them. We think that those ferrets
> were paying for living through some rough times BEFORE
> they wound up in the shelters, so it would never surprise me
> if rescue ferrets wind up more prone to things like adrenal
> disease and insulinoma, nor if families which preferentially
> adopt see higher rates than those with fewer adoptees.
>
My first two ferrets (Cocoa and Eabie) came to me at the age of 3 months from a shelter, they'd been purchased from a pet store two weeks prior and quickly surrendered. My Tessa came to me at 3 months of age from a pet store (she was a gift to me). None went through "rough times". All three developed adrenal disease, Eabie also developed insulinoma, Cocoa developed cataracts, all three developed (and died from) lymphoma.
I don't believe we cause these diseases. I've seen that eluded to so often. "It must be something we're doing wrong!". People blame themselves. I think it goes much deeper then that. I believe it is inherent and I don't think it makes a bit of difference what we do in so far as what we feed, what type of lighting we provide, etc. Again, studies do show a genetic link.
As for shelter ferrets, yes, you will see these illness commonly in them. Most likely because most shelter ferrets are older with many ending up in a shelter *because* they are *already* ill with diseases that would have likely occurred in them regardless.
Karen McCabe
http://www.cinnamonsprite.net
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