Hi, everyone,
 
I read the post about Franky, who may need adrenal surgery, and his owner
who says she can't afford it.  I am not going to attack her personally.
She may not have been aware of just how high maintenance ferrets are when
she got hers.  I sure didn't know either, and unless you know about a list
like this or a local club, chances are you aren't going to figure that part
out in advance.  Oh, both of the major ferret magazines cover the illnesses
fuzzies get, but is that what you see first when you look at them?
 
My roommate and I own eight ferrets.  None are over two years old.  In
the past year and a half, six have had vet visits other than routine
vaccinations.  That's six out of eight, folks, and I don't think that's so
unusual.  We've had one life threatening situation (intestinal blockage),
one surgery (for an adrenal gland abscess), one badly sprained leg,
giardia, other undiagnosed tummy trouble, an eye infection, ear mites,
unexplained sudden weight loss (lab work is tomorrow), and severe allergy
attacks.
 
Adrenal disease is common in older ferrets.  So are insulinoma and
lymphosarcoma.  A ferret, according to most things I've read, is considered
geriatric at four, yet typically lives to be eight.  Folks, these are
costly pets.
 
I love my ferrets.  They are worth every penny.  I'm also a well paid
network engineer, and my roommate is a network administrator, so we can
afford to give our ferrets the absolute best.  We spoil them rotten, and
treat them like the kids we don't have.  We get lots of love in return,
too.
 
My point: there are new ferret owners on this list, people considering
adding to a business (ferret math), and maybe a few people who were
fortunate enough to find this list before getting their first fuzzies.  I
can list all the joys my ferrets give, but the post would be longer than
the whole FML.  The question is, though, can you afford it if one or two of
them needs expensive medical care?  If you can't spend a thousand dollars
or more if something should go wrong, you really out to think twice about
adopting that cuddly weasel or buying that oh-so-cute kit in the pet store.
 
Think about it, please.  Don't put yourself in the position of having to
watch a beloved family member get sick and possibly die.  Ferrets steal
your heart.  They do become beloved family members.  So... what can you do
for your family?  If the answer isn't "whatever it takes", don't add to
that family.
 
All the best,
Caity
 
(mine:  Adric, Kerr Aven, Nyssa, Romana, and Pertwee)
(his:  Tenchi, Ryo-Ohki, and Lady Ayeka)
 --
Caitlyn Maire Martin
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
http://www.caitys-world.com
[Posted in FML issue 2791]