From:
"Tony"
Date: 2011-08-13 23:45:53 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Spaying a female ferret (pet)
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, Sukie Crandall <sukie@...> wrote:
>
> What causes ferret adrenal disease in the ones who get it -- because many never get adrenal disease -- is ultimately that the Luteinizing Hormone levels wind up too high for too long. That has many, many studies behind it, and it is documented in other species as well.
>
Thank you all for your comments on my assertive statement re spaying.
This is a subject that does require airing more often.
My comments are as follows
1. I did not say that all spayed ferrets would get adrenal disease.
2. I did not say that spaying was the only cause.
3. I agree with the above statement by Sukie.
4. The best option right now is Suprelorin not surgery.
During the few years I have had ferrets (12) they have always been caged as dusk turns to full darkness, in an unlit room with sleeping boxes with only small entrance holes. I do know that they get up in the night to potty and snack.
None of them were from the same breeding stock and with a high proportion of hunting (not pet) background (75%).
My vet says he is seeing increasing numbers of adrenal ferrets as the pet side of ferrets increases (UK) as opposed to working stock, The importance of this is that working ferrets are rarely neutered, if ever, being managed by a mixture of breeding and using a 'jill jab' to terminate seasonal fertility changes. This the opposite of pet ferrets who are always neutered.
Do not think that working ferrets are fed different diets in my experience they are fed mainly kibble with the occasional rabbit in some cases, you do not want your workers to think that all rabbit is food.
It is possible that as the pet side of breeding ferrets strays into striving for color changes (genetic changes of course) as opposed to hunting stock where all are pure bred polecat and of course albino, that some of these changes may be involved also in adrenal disease. I have no way of knowing if this is so.
Of course you all know that you can't change the natural color of a ferret in isolation but you have no way of knowing what else you are changing.
If you think that albinism is also a genetic change, yes it is but not by human design but a chance occurence several hundred years ago, maybe longer. There is no evidence that albinos get adrenal problems more,or less, than other ferrets.
I stand by my original asssertion that neutering is the primary cause of ferret adrenal problems.
Tony, Sugar and Suki.
In memory of Sally and Sue.
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