Hi - first a brief introduction as this is my first posting here.  I'm
Tanya, the e-mail address belongs to Ted, my husband and our super dooper
gorgeous bouncy totally crazy ferret is Orville.  He is a sable ferret and
is about 6 months old.  He is from the Fredericton SPCA, hence the 'about'.
Who could resist a ferret that has caught your cold??? (I volunteer there
regularly)
 
First, Orville is due for his neuter NOW.  We shall be going away in about a
month.  (Whilst we are away he will be looked after by a very nice family).
Is it a good idea to wait until we return until to get the neuter done?  I
don't know how much trauma he is going to suffer with both the neuter and
moving to new surroundings.
 
Second, when we were at the vet for his vaccinations she mentioned having an
annual CBC (?) done to check for tumors.  Is this necessary?  In issue 1034
Dr Williams suggests to Amy that 5 is a good age to start having this done.
Orville appears to be a completely healthy ferret.  So, what do I do?
Second opinions please from any of the vets subscribing to the FML.
 
Finally, the vet said he has an irregular heart beat.  She didn't think it
was anything to worry about.  Is this common in ferrets?  Since Orville is a
'rescue' ferret I know nothing of his breeding history or anything.  Sorry,
that was almost finally - one last thing - Orville hasn't grown a winter
coat (well, I don't think what he has is a winter coat).  Is this because he
lives inside a nice warm apartment with only occasional forays into the cold
white world outside?
 
Thanks to all of you who make the FML possible and to the vets who so
willingly give advice on it.
 
Tanya, Ted and Orville
Bartlett at [log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 1065]