> From:  CT Hart <[log in to unmask]>
 
>  How old does a ferret need to be before some of these genetic problems
>  begin to surface?  Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the information
>  exchange that happens here, but reading this mailing would give a person
>  second thoughts about owning one of these adorable creatures.
 
You should generally start looking out for geriatric problems at about
4 years.  And, you are absolutely right.  We do tend to dwell on the
morbid side of ferret ownership.  But, obviously we all have an
enormous amount of fun with our little furries, or we wouldn't be
owners.  We used to have a lot of "cute" stories on the list, I don't
know what happened.  I hope everyone realizes that although we do
discuss serious stuff here, this isn't just a forum for medical and
care information.  If your ferret has particularly cute habits or did
something funny yesterday, let us know.
 
Also, we say what we do about convenience ferrets because we want
people to own happy healthy ferrets, so we would prefer that you
buy whole ferrets and let them become sexually mature before you
alter them, and buy from breeders who breed for health and longevity
instead of trying to get funky colors.  We are not trying to
send those of you who already own convenience ferrets to an
early nervous breakdown.  But, also, owners have to be aware of
the special problems of their own pets, so convenience ferret owners
need to be aware that just because their ferret is only 3 or 4 doesn't
mean that they aren't already experiencing geriatric problems.  One
of our major goals is giving you information so that you can get your
ferret diagnosed as early as possible if something SHOULD happen.
We are NOT sayint that it is DEFINATELY going to happen, just because
you happen to own a convenience kit.
 
Case in point, I am fully aware of the problems with Marshall Farms.
This Christmas I went on a rescue and picked up a lovely little
12 week old albino girl with the 2 blue dots in her ear.  I fell in
love and adopted her 2 days later on Christmas day.  So, although I
would never go to a pet store and buy a Marshall Farms baby, I don't
feel so strongly about it that I kept it from bringing Popcorn
into our family.  It saddens me a little to think that fate may
have shortened her life span a few years by giving her the wrong
parents, but I will treasure every second I have with her until that
time comes.  And, there's nothing obviously wrong with her at this time.
In fact she has one of the prettiest coats I've ever seen on a ferret.
 
>  All this constant talk about feline food...  Doesn't anybody use
>  "ferret food"?  There are several brands sold in Colorado, is there
>  something I should know about using this stuff?
 
There hasn't been a whole lot of research put into ferret foods.  There
are one or two that are pretty decent on the market, though.  Purina makes
a good one, but you have to have it trucked in in 25 lb bags.  Purina's
Mini Friends Ferret Chow (in plastic tub) has too much corn in it,
and has been known to cause prolapsed rectums in kits - aside from
that it's O.K.  Kaydee (or is it Kaytee???), in white cardboard cannister
with really ugly ferret on the front, is about the best that is
easily available.  But, I've seen some that are downright awful,
I don't remember the name but there's one that comes in a clear
plastic bag that is made from fish.  NEVER give a fish based food
to ferrets!
 
The reason that I don't automatically recommend ferret food is that
it usually tastes very bland, and ferrets generally don't like it
nearly as much as the more flavorful cat foods.  Also, almost every
pet store in the country carries Iams, Science Diet, and/or Pro Plan.
It's much harder to find a pet store that carries Kaydee ferret food.
 
[And some vets consider ferret food to be a ripoff.]
 
>  - We all know the hazards of feeding a carpetshark milk, but does anyone
>    actaully know why?  Are "lactose-free" products okay for them, or are
 
We discussed this a while back.  I'm not sure that we ever really
answered the question.  I've heard both lactose and butterfat as being
the possible culprits.
 
>  - Does anyone know a good vet in the Colorado Springs area?  I've a vet
>    I feel pretty good about up in Fort Collins, but I need to find one
>    down south here, just in case.
 
Here are the names I have listed for CO, try giving them a call to
see if they can recommend anyone:
 
  Colorado Ferret Rescue      Rita Yaroush             (303)444-7364
                              PO Box 11216
                              Boulder, CO  80301
 
  Colorado Ferret Contact     Kevin R. Craig           (303)795-3414
                              930 East Phillips Lane
                              Littleton, CO  80122
 
>  - I read something here awhile back that mentioned "declawing" - is this
>    a common practice?  My old roommate's declawed cat seemed perfectly
>    healthy and happy, what is the general belief about this in terms of
>    our little friends?
 
Ferrets do not have retractable claws, nor do they sharpen them.  So
declawing is ABSOLUTELY UNNECESSARY!!!  Declawing is considered
as ferret abuse in all the ferret groups that I know of.  Declawed
ferrets are not allowed in shows, and if you are a member of a group
and declaw a ferret you would most likely be banned for life.
 
(if you adopt a ferret that is already declawed, they might consider it
a handicapp and allow you to show the ferret.  But I'm sure you would
need considerable proof.  Don't quote me on that, though, it's just
speculation.)
 
> From:  [log in to unmask] (C-Shell Super User)
 
> has slightly more vitamin A.  Actually, Ferretone has *MUCH* less vitamin A
> (something in the magnitude of 3 or 4 zeros difference).  The old limits that
 
My (admittedly fairly old, it may have changed) bottles have the following:
 
Ferretone (per fl. oz.):
A - 8939 IU
D3 - 1539 IU
E - 61.6 IU
 
Linatone for dogs (per fl. oz.):
A - 8800 IU
D3 - 700 IU
E - 8.8 IU
 
So, unless they've changed formulas, ferretone actually has MORE of the fat
soluable vitamins!
 
I would be overjoyed if ferretone did cut back on A, D, and E while keeping
the fatty acids.  If they did change, someone please type in the new
values!
 
- 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 0452]