Buttercup's owner:
> the second paragraph for the cute story--I have just noticed that
> our young female (Buttercup, about 1 1/3 yrs) has a swollen vulva.
> Yes, she is a Marshall Farms convenience kit, but she is showing
 
Given her age and the time of year, I would suspect it is a
botched spay, or maybe even she was "missed".  This is the
time of year that females generally go into heat, and she would
have been too young last year.
 
I wouldn't completely discount an adrenal tumor.  But I sort of
doubt it, given her age.
 
Take her to the vet and have them run some tests.  If she is in
heat, you'll have to have her taken out or else she'll most likely
die of aplastic anemia.  (usually takes 2-3 months, not a panic
situation yet)  It could also be as simple as a vaginal
infection.  But you should definately have someone give her
a look.
 
> From:   <[log in to unmask]>
>         Well, first off I would like to discourage anyone living in the
> Seattle vicinity from purchasing ferrets from Doktor Pets at Bellevue
 
I've had several rounds with our local Doktor Pet here.  Every time
they say "Oh, I didn't know that, we'll fix it right away", but of
course, they never do.  They're just placating me to get me out
of there.  (But I've never been nasty with them.  Always very nice
and professional.)
 
Do you know that Doktor Pet actually has literature that they
hand out saying to use wood chips!!!  Yet another case of trying to
make a buck at the expense of our pets well being...  :(
 
Personally, I would never spend a dime in a Doctor Pet.  I would
rather go completely out of my way to go to another pet store than
fund their terrible practices!!!
 
>         We are going to be getting a playmate for Cleo soon we hope.  I am
...
> fallen a little behind-- I saw a silver mitt the other day and thought she
> was just adorable... I am wondering if the breeding it takes to get these
> marks makes much of a difference in the ferrets personality for better or
> for worse.  I am also wondering how Cleo will adapt to sharing space with
> another ferret-- is this even a good idea when she has been raised as an
> only-ferret?
 
I don't know that coloring really makes much difference with personality.
There are a few stereotypes (i.e. "albinos are mean" - well my Popcorn
is about as sweet as they come.  And I've met lots and lots of wonderful
albinos - no "mean" ones...), but they generally don't hold any water.
When it comes to the weird markings, you very often find genetic
flaws (i.e. many (most?) badger marked ferrets have a fused tail).
And, sometimes you will find that when any specific trait is specifically
bred for (with inbreeding) you can have problems.  (case in point:  Suki's
mentally deficient ferret - bred for a short face)
 
As a whole, I don't think silver mitts have any stereotypical problems
associated with them.  But, it ultimately depends on that ferret's
specific lineage.
 
As to whether Cleo will get along with a new ferret, it depends on her
personality.  If she is still young, she will probably enjoy company.
Elderly ferrets (especially females) tend to get very set in their
ways, and will NOT accept a new ferret.  Also, there are some
ferrets who just will not get along with anyone else, no matter
what you do.  But even those you can generally eventually find a
"soulmate" for if you try long enough.  If you go through a shelter,
they are generally very good about letting you bring your ferret
in to see if she likes (or at least "doesn't try to kill") the new
ferret.  Shelters will also take ferrets back if it doesn't work
out, unlike pet stores.
 
- Nancy
 
Nancy Hartman                                   CIS graduate student
[log in to unmask]                                U. of Delaware
        President and founder, Delaware Valley Ferret Club
          Owner of Percy, Bree, & Popcorn, the ferrets
 
[Posted in FML issue 0471]