Marti Smith <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>My question, is it normal for a ferrets weight to be at a pound
 
It can be.  I've known perfectly healthy females from 3/4 lb to more than 3
lb, males from 1 1/4 lb to more than 5 lb.
 
Cindy C. Sooy <[log in to unmask]> asked:
> Is it possible for microscopic tumors to cause the insulinoma signs?
 
I'm under the impression that even a "large" insulinoma nodule is about the
size of a pinhead, and it's quite possible for the symptoms to be caused by
one or more invisibly small (or at least, impossible to find) nodules.  Of
course, if a vet or someome more knowledgeable contradicts this, forget I
said it.  :)
 
Megan & Ferrets in the Sun <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>I run a small ferret rescue and today picked up a little girl that had
>her vulva swollen to about the size of an acorn.
 
Three possibilities I know of.  Either she's in heat (either unspayed or
with ovarian remnants), she has an adrenal problem, or she has an infection.
If looks healthy otherwise, the infection is probably the easiest to rule
out, if only by putting her on antibiotics for a week or two and seeing if
it helps.  The U.  of Tennessee adrenal panel can help diagnose that, if
you're concerned about exploratory surgery.  Your vet is of course the one
to judge the best course of action.
 
swamp <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>For = Family = Weasel, sub-family Mustelidae
>Good Sauce = Genus Species = Putorius Furo (binomial nomenclature)
 
I believe the genus is Mustela, species either putorius (subspecies furo) or
furo.  (Bob Church has commented about the difference between those two
designations and possible political and social implications; see the Natural
History FAQ.)
 
joseph michaud <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>PS.  I'VE READ A LOT ABOUT THE RECIPES FOR DUCK SOUP (I HAVE ABOUT 5 NOW)
>BUT BEING NEW TO FERRETS AND THE FML I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S FOR
 
It's for feeding sick or underweight ferrets, to help them gain weight and
get adequate water and nutrition, especially if they're unwilling or unable
to eat their regular food.  Some people give a little bit as a treat to
healthy ferrets, which also gets them used to it in case they ever need it
when they're sick.
 
Juliana Quadrozzi - GA Dom. Ferret Assoc. <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>Usually you find 2 tattoos (2 dots, & the 2nd isn't always easy to see)
>which indicates it's a MF frit.  I don't know why, but too many pet
>stores & vets tell you the tattoos indicate that it's been spayed/neutered &
>descented.
 
The tattoos don't *necessarily* mean anything at all.  MF does tattoo two
dots, one when the ferret is spayed/neutered and one when it's descented;
they do it for their own convenience, since kits heal so fast you can't even
see a spaying scar after a couple of days.  However, nothing stops other
breeders from using similar or even identical tattoos, whether they alter or
descent their ferrets or not.  So while the dots make it a good bet that the
ferret is both from MF and altered and descented, it's not certain.
 
--
- Pam Greene
Ferret Central <http://www.optics.rochester.edu:8080/users/pgreene/>
            or send INDEX FERRET in email to <[log in to unmask]>
[Posted in FML issue 1825]