Hi, all,  Spoke with several folks at the Morris Animal Foundation (45 Inverness
Drive East, Englewood, CO 80112-5480) which has done such a great job of funding
many ferret health studies and was shocked to learn that the amount in the
rabies shedding time fund for ferrets is a LOT smaller than I thought -- only
about $7,500.  The problem is that when contributors to the rabies vaccine fund
were asked how they wanted their moneys reapplied very few asked for the
shedding fund for even a percentage of their donations.  There weren't any
proposals n shedding period at that time and the rapid advances in cancer
research and other health issues were simply given priority over shedding time.
 
Now the Morris Animal Foundation has SEVERAL shedding time proposals before them
(including the one from Kansas) and these are going through several months of
peer reviews (There are over 300 proposals for a range of species health studies
to be reviewed, but money specified for one type of animal or even one type of
study for one animal will NOT be spent elsewhere.) to see which are well
designed to have the best chance of helping our critters with the most bang for
the bucks given.   They need money, folks, and they need it badly if they are to
be able to fund even one of these studies in 1994.  If you can send out even $5
or $10 (or more if possible) make out your check to the Morris Animal
Foundation, specify that this is to be dedicated to ferret rabies shedding
period studies (The Foundation is EXCELLENT about following donors' wishes.) and
send it to them at 45 Inverness Drive East, Englewood, CO 80112-5480.  Would you
rather use your credit card?  I haven't tried that yet, but their phone numbers
are 1-800-243-2345 and 1-303-790-2345.
 
What is this all about you ask?  Well, until the shedding time is known even
vaccinated ferrets will be put down when there is any doubt, and some states
behave as if IMRAB which has tested well in ferrets is not yet trustworthy.
 
IMRAB vaccine against rabies is actually used in a number of animals; it was not
developed specifically for ferrets, but has been extensively tested for use in
them with excellent results.  Yet, the work isn't done till we have the shedding
time down hard and fast.  When exposed to rabies, and before the vaccine kills
it off many mammals have a period in which they can transmit the illness.  That,
and because vaccines do not always work, are why innoculated cats and dogs which
have been exposed are held in isolation and watched carefully by vets for a
while.  We know in cats and dogs which do not develop the illness how long they
must be held to be safe.  We don't know yet in ferrets.  The Morris Animal
Foundation  hopes to get enough in donations from owners and breeders to
actually fund at least one in 1994.   Does anyone have any suggestions how we
may be able to get major breeders to donate even 50 cents or a dollar for each
ferret sold to supplement what we owners send?  This is VERY IMPORTANT for our
critters and for their sales.  If the money exists and one or more proposals are
well planned and can be afforded they will go through final review in July, and
we will be helping many ferrets.
 
Ah, yes, Meeteetse is now famous.  What happened was that she developed a great
affection for the voice of ATC's science reporter (no one else) and she insists
on getting up to the speakers to nose-bump and kiss them.  We wrote in a
desciption, they liked it, and her tale wound up on the air.
 
BTW, canola oil was mentioned as being given to a ferret; I'll have to check in
Fox's book but I recall that monosaturated oils are not really safe for them.
Check on this.
 
Pam, look in your personal e-mail for corrections/suggestions about your new
owner FAQ.  There are some errors you'll want to fix before anyone gets it, but
over all you did a truly marvelous job and learned a heck of a lot more solid
information in a short time than we did in our early ferret months (or our first
year or two).  I also love the conversational design of it -- it's so very
readable and non-threatening -- that was a great way to do it.
 
Laura, I know that you are very busy, but Bruce has a huge amount to do with
disease related questions and you have the background to do a bang-up job on
basic health concerns, diet, accidents, pointers, and the like.  Would you be
interested?  We need a vet or accomplished vet student to tackle these.
 
        Sukie, Steve, Meltdown, Ruffle, 'Chopper, Spot, and Meeteetse
 
[Posted in FML issue 0663]