A friend who is an epidemiologist was discussing with me how folks blame all
sorts of things on Marshalls (or on other sources such as additives) WITHOUT
having the data needed to even have a clear picture of what's happening and
he said, "Gee, the only thing I haven't heard attributed to MF is lymphoma."
Then a post appeared here blaming them for that, too, just a few days later!
If it was JL then there is good reason to expect a possible genetic link,
but JL happens with any number of breeders, so take that into account.
 
(We still have seen NO differences in the health of our Marshalls ones as
opposed to the health of ones from other breeders we've used of any size
(This is over around 15 years.), and can't recall private owners (with one
exception) who claim to have seen such differences, but there are those we
respect with shelter experience who say that MFs do not do as well in
SHELTER settings.) What we HAVE seen are fewer mentions of the exceptionally
long-lived ones (age 9 up to 15 seen over the years -- but very few of those
at any time and fewer than a handful in the 12+ group), though that could
simply be because there are so few of them to start with and now there are
so many ferret owners and so many of them new to ferrets.
 
We know that some folks here currently have some in the 9+ year old bracket.
Could you, PLEASE, identify the ferret(s), its background, its source, its
living conditions (food types, exercise, past serious illnesses which were
overcome, etc.), if age is approximate or if the birthdate is known, and do
so RIGHT HERE IN THE FML so that folks can get a feel for exceptionally old
ferrets?  We've had one in that category, but most of our's go very late in
their 6th year to mid-way through their 8th year.  The exception was a
retired breeder who survived spaying while in heat, a eye bitten through by
a male, and infected anal glads which had to be removed, going finally of
Sjogren's (SP?) syndrome which had us traveling entire days getting her to
her specialist and then back.  There were no good foods around here then and
she thrived on Meow Mix.  BTW, we have heard of the incredibly old from MF
as well as from other breeders, small or large.
 
In reference to the dirty ears -- get back to the vet and consider other
possible causes such as fungal infections.  Meltdown used to be prone to
those.
 
Who out there is in the British Isles?  I'd like to travel there (NOT
requesting rooms; can afford a hotel) some time next year.  Please, reply
to me personally.
 
Sukie
[Posted in FML issue 2100]