>From:    Bob Rudich <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Food for thought
>>... Has anyone feeding ferrets a hgh-bulk diet developed ECE, and if so,
>>how bad was the occurance?  I have no data, but my gut tells me there could
>>be a correlation.
 
>A shocker, but I have to disagree with your premise.  First, ECE seems to
>have started in the Eastern US and spread slowly
 
Not sure how slowly counts as slowly.  About 3 years coast to coast.
Probably less.
 
ECE is hard to blame on low fiber diets.  The only ferrets that exhibited
any symptoms in our colony were those that brought it in.  They were fed a
diet that would have been higher in bulk than those that didn't get sick.
 
Now if you want to talk about the OTHER problems - maybe.  The cancers and
all.
 
>I fear that the likely answers to this question are more likely to track the
>cancer in foreign ferrets issue.  A while back it was widely held by some
>that foreign ferrets got NO cancer, it was a US thing.
 
At the same time as the cancers arose in ferrets in the US we went from
"cheap grocery cat foods" to high quality foods.  The areas outside the US
are now going to the "better" foods.  Definitely speculative and anecdotal.
Wouldn't even say we believe there is a connection.  Just something to think
about and maybe study.
 
>The US has more widescale experience with ferrets as house pets and there
>is clearly a great deal of variation in diagnostic and treatment skill here
>(in owners and vets).
 
This we firmly agree with.  Still get questions from folks about the hair
loss thing.  Well thats usually an easy call with the experience of the past
dozen years or so.  Before that it would not have been known to be adrenal
cancers.  Wouldn't be remembered as such but just some unknown disease.
 
>From:    Anonymous Poster <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: CDFA,  Alert/CrestlineCaCa,Plumbing, [KW,lanceCa]
>So I Take great offense of any bashing of these very important
>organizations.
 
Strongly agree here.  CDFA is still fighting the fight - just differently.
CFL is fighting that other fight.  Support BOTH.
 
>Boing a light just went off- I don't of any other pet owners, but ferret
>owners who consider ferrets -KIDS.
 
Actually most types of pets have folks who call them their kids and far from
all serious ferret folk consider ferrets their kids.
 
>From:    Maria Matijasevic <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: ferret carry bags
>hi!  can anyone reccommend a good ferret carry bag?
 
Two best choices are Warm Fuzzy sacks and leads or the bags from
FARI/Holly Cyr.
 
WarmFuzzy Rescue /harnesses
C. & Shirley Hertzog
RD 2, Box 2118
Fleetwood, PA  19522
610-926-9087
[log in to unmask]
610-916-3020 call 1st
 
Holly & Moe Cyr
181 Stony Ln
N. Kingstown, RI  02852
401-294-6309
 
>From:    John Keahey <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: HELP! NEED Help with breeding
 
Send more specific questions to us privately.  We'll send the preliminary
breeder FAQ we put together.  The answer is way too long for the Digest..
 
bill and diane killian
zen and the art of ferrets
http://www.zenferret.com/
mailto:[log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 1914]