Dark-eyed white ferrets, white-toed ferrets, and those that have a "blaze"
(a white stripe on their head) are often deaf.  I have a light cinnamon
blaze that is deaf and even though she gets along well, I wonder about the
breeding practices she came from.  Do breeders knowingly risk deafness in
order to achieve certain colors or markings?  I love Fannie and resent the
possibility that someone didn't care whether she could hear.  I'm not
complaining because she is healthy and has a wonderful personality but I
want breeders to know that hearing matters to ferrets.
 
A deaf ferret is at several disadvantages, and some can be life threatening.
It's sad that a deaf ferret will never enjoy the love in a human's voice or
the companionship in another ferret's dooking.  But much worse, it could be
killed due to deafness.  It's more likely to get into a disastrous biting
situation because it has taken longer to learn not to bite, it startles
easier, or it's afraid of humans who thump or hit back.  Another
life-threatening situation is not being able to hear someone calling it home
when lost outside the house.  There are more disadvantages and all testify
to the fact that hearing does matter.
 
Alice Barrett
Farrah and Fannie
[Posted in FML issue 2220]