Chris, yes, I would be happy to do pieces on nursing (as in medical nursing, not
feeding, of ferrets), and on behavior. The medical data will, of course, have
to carry the disclaimers that 1. I am not a vet and the last word on any
treatments should be sought from experts, 2. That veterinary medicine for
ferrets is changing at a shockingly rapid rate so any of the information on
details of treatment may have changed since the sheets were written, and because
of this rate of change the best vets for ferrets are likely to be those who
correspond freely with others in major veterinary hospitals, clinics, and other
research and data compiling locations.
[I'd very much like you to take a stab at this.]
I have NO experience with breeding so would prefer that someone else handle
that.
Others could help me by sending information they have about recent developments,
personal experiences, veterinarian/researchers with whom their vets freely
consult, nutritional data, etc. Sources of the information are requested. Was
it something you heard, read, saw in a scientific paper, by whom and with what
institution are the writers affiliated?
Behavioral observations are also requested from all. The one thing we have
noticed most about ferrets is the wide variety of personalities so we all have
varying experiences. Would you like part of a behavior section to be games and
funny stories? Should training be within behavior? As I recall Katy is really
great with training tricks and I recall some others are, too, so may be training
should be separate?
Will begin after the nasal/sinus surgery is done. Would anyone like to
proof/give comments after first versions are done but before I post to all for
their responses?
Regarding the ferret which is difficult to age: teeth will give a truer picture
than coat since coats respond to so many variables, such as prolonged heat which
can be fatal, infection, dry skin, some cancers, etc. What is the animal's
musculature like? A well muscled animal is likely to be younger since mammals
tend to lose muscle weight as they age (You aren't imagining -- it IS harder to
stay in shape each year.). Is the skin taut as in a youth? Are the claws still
on the clear side, of are they starting to go more white and become more
brittle, and finally quite yellow with a much thicker aspect and even more
brittleness?
Anyone who doesn't get the New York Times will want to go to the library and
read the pigment article on pages C1 and C10 of the Tuesday, May 4, 1993 Science
Times section. It goes not only into pigments, but how many of the genes which
affect pigments also affect fetal development, inner ear development, blood cell
characteristics, and possibly tendencies toward obesity, sugar management
errors, and cancers. These are not simple problems (for instance in mice there
are now about 150 mutations involving 50 genes which are known, and human skin
pigment seems to involve at least 6 genes which act in concert.) and of course
in some cases what shows can be a direct effect of some gene(s), or complicated
or suppressed by other genes, or modified by environmental factors.
Still, it looks like pigmentation and it's patterns can be diagnositic of some
tendencies or disorders (as in the white forehead patch with Waardenburg's
syndrome which can limit hearing (and also can cause anemia in mice, and can
affect sexual development in mice IF what this piece is referring to as
"piebald" is the same as Waardenburg's which it sounds like it may be. If not,
are there any geneticists out there who know if the two are related phenomena?)
Do any of the surveys now being done attempt to find significant relationships
between coat types/patterns and disorders or tendencies toward some of the major
illnesses?
Noticed: among animals studied those which produce too much agouti peptide (all
yellow) have more weight problems, are more inclined to diabetes and to tumors,
esp. of the liver. (When a hair is striped the yellow portion happens when
agouti peptide slips into the receptors used by peptides which would otherwise
create production of melanocyte stimulating hormone and thus darker hair. It
sounds like AMOUNTS are very important controllers of how extreme results and
coats are.
Spot loves to play "hide and seek" or "Where's Spot?" but like Hjalmar did he
often leaves his rear hanging out . We can't see him if his head is covered,
can we? Unlike the others he seems to think that if he remains motionless we
will not see him. Do you know how invisible an albino is on a black comforter?
We humor him when he tries that trick. It's just too funny to do anything else.
Meltie is much happier and better smelling without her decayed tooth. Proplan
food certainly agrees with her big time.
Love to all, Sukie, Steve, Meltdown, Ruffle, 'Chopper, Spot, and Meeteetse.
Can also be reached: 1-908-580-0506; 172 Jamestown Road, Basking Ridge, N.J.
07920
[Posted in FML issue 0471]
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