Let's also not forget that IBD-to-lymphoma may not be a cause-and-effect
relationship at all.  It may be that ferrets who are genetically
predisposed to developing IBD are also predisposed to developing
lymphoma.  Or it may be purely environmental and not genetic at all.
There are lots of possibilities.  But until the link is *proven*, that's
all they are - possibilities.
 
On the practical side, hypothesis or proof means nothing anyway.  You
don't put an IBD ferret to sleep because he's one day going to develop
lymphoma too.  No, you just watch his health like always, and if a
disease appears, you deal with it.  Proving such a link may help
researchers develop a cure in the future, but for now it means nothing
to us as caretakers.
 
And yes, as Minta mentioned, there has also been a hypothesis proposed
that ferrets who have had ECE run a greater risk of developing IBD.  But
it's important to remember that that link has not been proven, either.
 
roger & the wolverine wannabees
missing bear
[Posted in FML issue 4087]