>From:    Troy Lynn Eckart <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Ece, Vets & ECE, Distemper Vaccines
>The breeder of this kit obviously had ECE in their colony but bred anyway.
I know some shelter/breeder's that unfortunately do this.
 
>On the vet issue - Aren't we just as responsible if we take an ECE
>ferret in to the vets office?
 
This and the rest of the paragraph are very good.  There is no need to start
another panic in the ferret world.  Panics are only good for setting up
false leaders - someone can start a panic and show he is the only one who
can save the day.  We don't need this.
 
You are very right.  If you have a sick ferret and don't know exactly what
you have and what to do - take your ferret to the vet.  I know of no case
where a ferret got ECE at a vet.  I know of many from shelters and a few
from breeders.  Please don't panic.
 
>Fervac-D has only been USDA registered for a few years.  I'm curious to
>know what vets used before that and whether or not there were any reactions.
 
Most of the vets I'm aware of used FROMM-D.  As far as I know there are
reactions possible to any vaccine.
 
>I've used the same vaccine for 6 years, a 6 way Solvay product ...
>When Fromm-D went off the market one particular vet switched to Fervac-D.
>I no longer take ferrets to that vet for vaccinations.
 
Its probably not worthwhile to vaccinate a ferret against Parvo and the
other things in a six-way product.  Is use a product like this for my dogs
and puppies.  I would never use Fervac-D on them either.  If you don't want
to use Fervac-D, it is normally recommended to use a single use canine
distemper product such as Galaxy-D.  I've heard this many places and from
many vets including Dr. Williams here.
 
It is shame the hysteria over a vaccine caused you to drop a vet.  With all
the vaccinations using Fervac-D that I'm aware of - many many thousand - I
am truly aware of only three reactions.  Two mild and one serious but with
epinephrine the ferret was fine.  All three of these vaccinations were given
at the same time by someone who gives fewer vaccinations than other local
breeders who have never had a reaction.
 
>From:    aylasaur <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Colors of summer, Ferret Bloodlines
>Also, is there some sort of FAQ on breeding ferrets?
 
The single best resource on ferret breeding is the "Breeder's Digest"
published by Vickie McKimmey.  Call her at (703)777-2112.  $10 for
4 quarterly issues I believe.
 
The normal problems that people attribute to a small genetic pool are the
breeding problems many have had.  I know of several very experienced
breeders who have not had a successful litter in a couple years.  But I
also know a couple breeders who are breeding large numbers of litters.
We've had no false pregnancies in almost three years - 17 straight hits.  I
don't have the answers.  We brought in ferrets from Sweden, Engalnd and
have German backgrounds.  I honestly do not see much difference between
these and the American lines.
 
>I heard from Marshall Farms that they have apricots -- beige undercoat,
>apricot guard hairs
 
Marshall Farms does not use the same color names as any other ferret
organization in the country.  For example they call Chcolates "Siamese".
This sounds like a cinnamon/champagne.
 
>What are the chances that we'd find enough BEWs to have a decent
>line or two going?
 
Slim.  Dark Eyed Whites appear to be a combination of extremely volatile
genetics including dilute or partial albinism, roaning or fading,
Waardensburg - panda/blaze, and black mitt or silver.  A litter that
contains a single DEW will probably contain other patterns (blaze, panda)
and even sables.  We had a litter with two that had a blue eyed sable and a
blue eyed white.  Same parents next litter was a sable mitt and a spotty
sable panda.
 
>From:    "Irena Arthur (OPS|schwanke)" <[log in to unmask]>
>I realized that I would have to digest a living frog.
 
Not really trying to be mean but I didn't think eating living animals was
part of the program.  Wow!  Just kidding.  Really.  Good luck on this Vet
quest to both you and Katrina.  My grandfather was a vet and he was a very
good man.  Most of the vets I know are very hard working dedicated folks.
We need more good vets who understand ferrets.
 
>From:    "HARRISON,REGINA,MS" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: some random things
>On inbreeding in wild species
 
Inbreeding does not cause defects.  Inbreeding only allows a quicker route
to homozygous animals.  This means as many genes as possible matching.  If
you double up desirable genes you get a better animal.  If you double up
undesirable genes you get a worse animal.  It is extremely important that a
breeder understand Mendelian genetics before any line (in) breeding is
attempted.  There is no difference between wild and domestic animals as to
how this works.
 
>I could spout about tribes and powwows at great length
 
There appears to be some connection between ferrets and Native-Americans.
Chuck Scaggs who is president of the North American Ferret Association is
Cherokee, as is another list member here.  And at least one breeder I know.
Not important just curious.  Maybe its just that the Native-Americans I know
outside of ferrets have never reveled that to me.  Just interesting.
 
>From:  aylasaur <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Collapsible cages?
>Is there a manufacturer out there who makes collapsible cages for ferrets?
 
Check into the Midwest Cages mentioned very frequently on this list.
Dog Outfitters had the best price last we checked.
 
>From:  Annie Wright <[log in to unmask]>
>First, please tell me why Humane Society fo U.S. is against ferrets?  Is it
>because the disease that they have and what kind?  ... same as dog and cat?
 
Same reason they really are not in favor of any domestic animals.  They are
not any more anti-ferret than they are anti-cat.  They want all domestic
animals neutered/spayed and want no more breeding ever.  Some folks see
this differently though.
 
>If Galaxy-D shot is better performance and safer, why USDA don't certify?
 
Galaxy-D is NOT known to be a better performer nor is it known to be
safer.  No testing has ever been done of the safety or effectiveness of
this product in ferrets.  It is up to Solvay the manufacturer of Galaxy-D
to make the effort.  So far they do not consider the ferret market worth
any expenditures.
 
bill and diane killian
zen and the art of ferrets
http://userwww.qnet.com/~killian/zen_home.htm
[Posted in FML issue 1540]