Dawn writes:
>I am sure that you all have either read or seen the Petsmart Posts on
>the FML.  After reading yesterday's post, I contacted Mr. Jim Davis at
>623-587-2513, Customer Service Manager.
>
>Mr. Davis has replyed that they will, in light of previous experience
>and contacts by several rescues, only sell babies that are 12 weeks and
>old, the babies will be fixed (descenting is not a necessity but they
>are doing it anyway), fully vaccinated for both distemper (2 shots) and
>rabies.
 
If these ferrets are 12 weeks old look for FULL adult dentition and for
very overt things like the tails no longer being short.
 
Okay, let's be wild and let 6 weeks equal 42 days, 7 weeks equal 49 days,
8 weeks equal 56 days, 9 weeks equal 63 days, 10 weeks equal 70 days, and
11 weeks equal 77 days.  You get the picture.  Now, compare that with the
below table of typical eruption times for ferret teeth:
 
Upper:
 
***50 days*** (just over 7 weeks): Canine -- the conical shaped tooth
***53 days*** (7 and 1/2 weeks): Molar 1 -- the tooth at the back
   which has a bit of flatness to it
***60 days*** (8 and 1/2 weeks): Premolars 2-4 -- the slicing teeth
   at the sides of the mouth
 
Lower:
 
***50 days*** (just over 7 weeks): Canine and Molar 1
***60 days (8 and 1/2 weeks): Premolar 2
***67 days*** (9 and 1/2 weeks): Premolar 3
***74 days*** (10 and 1/2 weeks): Premolar 4 and Molar 2
 
So, the adult teeth typically come in at JUST OVER 7 (SEVEN) WEEKS of
age (or one month and three weeks) through to ALMOST 11 (ELEVEN) WEEKS
of age (or two months and three weeks).  This is well documented and in
veterinary texts (which is what my source is).
 
Forgive me for pulling up an old note of mine from James Fox's vet texts,
but figured it would save people time looking it up or searching through
past FMLs.
 
-- Sukie (who is not a vet)
Protect yourself:  http://www.antiphishing.org/
Smile:
http://tingilinde.typepad.com/starstuff/2004/11/festivus_approa.html
Think:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=753&e=1&u=/nm/
20041118/sc_nm/environment_mountains_dc
[Posted in FML issue 4702]