To Cindy Riskin:
 
        Cindy, let's get that lump taken off and examined before we get all
upset.  As I have offered to others on the list, I would be happy to examine the
tumor for you once it is removed.  I look at ferret tissue on a daily basis,
much more than any other veterinary pathologist I know of in the country.  I'll
be happy to process and look at the tissue for no - no charge- if your vet would
like to send it to me.  He can send it to:
 
        Dr. Bruce Williams
        Department of Veterinary Pathology
        Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
        Washington, D.C. 20306-6000
 
        The same offer is extended to any other list member who needs tissue
(either autopsy or biopsy) examined.  Because the AFIP is keenly interested in
the diseases of ferrets (from a diagnostic standpoint only - NO ferret research
is done here), we are accepting ferret tissue from private practitioners and
individuals.
 
        At any rate - we need the biopsy results back before we can discuss this
situation further.  There are a lot of benign tumors in the skin of the ferret,
also---
 
To Robert Updegrave (and intersted other parties)
 
Re: Marshall Farms
 
        There has been a lot of rumors going around recently concerning Marshall
Farms ferrets.  I'm not sure where they got started, but let's try to put this
subject to bed.
 
        Sure, Marshall Farms ferrets develop tumors.  So do ALL ferrets.  We
don't know why ferrets develop most tumors - we knwo that they are most likely
to develop them between the ages of 4 and 6, but not why.  But it is certainly
not Marshall Farms' responsibility when a ferret that they sold two years ago
develops a tumor...
 
        To my knowledge - there are no inherent "defects" with Marshall Farms
ferrets. Occasionally, ferrets will have extra toes, as will dogs or even
people.  This is more a fact of life than anything else.  I don't consider this
a "defect", although Marshall Farms prefers to sell these animals rather than
use them as breeding stock.  I consider that far better than just euthanizing
them.    What other types of "defects" have people heard about?
 
        Don't get me wrong - I know that Marshall Farms is the biggest breeder
of laboratory as well as pet ferrets.  I don't condone laboratory research on
ferrets, or other animals for that matter and I don't do any.  But I have never
seen any problems with Marshall Farms ferrets that I could relate to Marshall
Farms.
 
        I have a Marshall Farms ferret.  He is over 7 years old and perfectly
healthy.  I would have no worries about getting another Marshall farms ferret
from a health standpoint should the opportunity present itself again.
 
 
Bruce Williams, DVM
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[Posted in FML issue 0629]