Q:"Is there any real difference between a ferret and a polecat?"
A: In separate trials, whack each one in the head and drop it in your
shorts and discover for yourself.
For the most part, no. But the same can be said for dogs and wolves, and
cats and wildcats. The vast majority of the animal's anatomy, physiology
and behavior is the same. Domestication only changes a few things so the
animal can put up with people better, such as a lack of fear of new
objects, fur coloration changes, and reproductive changes. I know it
is hard to believe that a minature poodle is probably more than 99.5%
identical to the wolf, but it is. In a similar fashion, the ferret is
probably more than 99.5% identical to the polecat.
Briefly, a short list of differences include changes in skull shape,
increased frequency of reproduction, changes in eyeball angle, vison
changes, lowered aggressiveness and other behavioral changes, increased
variation in body coloration, size and body proportions, body size changes,
decreased fear of humans, juvenilization, and albinism. There are lots
more, but you get the picture.
Q:"Do ferrets really kill babies?"
A: Not as many as drunk drivers, bombs, parents, or domestic dogs. A lot
less than pythons.
To paraphrase the NRA, "Ferrets don't kill babies; parents do." I know of
two instances in the last few decades where ferrets have been implicated
in killing babies; one in Oregon and the other in London. In both cases,
babies were left alone with the ferret, dogs were present and may have
contributed to the death, drugs and/or alcohol was involved (parents, not
ferrets), and the ferret was physically negelected. In both cases, had
the parents not been negligent, the incidents would not have taken place.
Ferrets are animals, just like cats and dogs, and danger does exist because
NO living creature is completely predictable. A couple of babies have died
and several children have been disfigured, but those are a tiny percentage
of the number of ferrets involved with children. Even if ferrets bit
people in the same frequency as dogs, because of their small size and
teeth, the damage is far less. Ferrets are very safe pets; still no
baby should be left alone with any animal.
Q:"My 10-year-old ferret just broke its hip. The vet says her bones are
ostyporotic. Is this normal?"
A: You're asking *ME* if something is normal? A dangerous idea....
It is my *OPINION* that osteoporosis is quite common in American ferrets,
based on the study of dozens of ferret skeletons of various ages. The
density of ferret bones from USA ferrets is about 1/3rd that of polecats
and feral ferrets, based on my research. The bones from USA ferrets are
about the same size as polecats and feral ferrets, but they are a lot
lighter, with more internal volume. In other words, they have less bone
per given area compared to feral ferrets and polecats.
There are several things that could be causing this, but in reality, it is
probably some combination of factors making the bone osteoporotic. First,
ferrets in the USA are typically neutered. Both estrogen and testosterone
are important in keeping bones strong and healthy and are lost when the
animal is neutered. Second, USA ferrets are typically housed in cages
preventing heavy exercise, and exercise thickens and strengthens bone.
Third, ferrets are prone to cancers as they get older, and many cancers
"suck" calcium out of the bone, making them thinner and weaker. Fourth,
USA ferrets are typically fed kibbles; a diet that might lack essential
fatty acids or bone-growth nutrients, such as Vitamin D. And fifth, bone
tends to get thinner as ferrets get older.
The fact is, the older the ferret, the thinner the bones. That simple.
But I think late neutering, bone in the diet, and lots of exercise seems
to make the bones healthier and denser. Of cource, thats an opinion, and
I haven't yet published data on my findings, so I may be wrong. But even
if I am, late neutering, exercise and bone couldn't hurt.
Bob C and 17 Mo' Dense-Butted Boneheads
[Posted in FML issue 2706]
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