Karyn, No one knows anything firmly about predispositions to adrenal
diseases. Shelters reportedly have seen more adrenal diseases than owners
(from numbers Pam Grant has compiled) with proportionally more among their
Marshall's Ferrets. Still, there are NOT yet truly firm numbers on this
since no well designed formal study has been done (NOT a slam against Pam
who worked with what was available when she saw a need, so don't twist my
comments.). Most importantly for most owners there just plain are NOT ANY
numbers for ferrets IN HOMES. The numbers for those in homes for most of
their lives, those with a rough past before adoption, those with a rough
past and shelter time (or time in large pet store with many ferrets from
numerous sources) before adoption, those with exposure to other types of
animals or even to many humans, those with dietary considerations, and those
with shelter (or lg. p.s. as earlier) time but no rough past might each be
different, or there might be another critical factor all together. NO ONE
knows, because it's not known if there might be an illness which predisposes
ferrets toward adrenal disease, if some are more genetically vulnerable, if
early neutering might upset the hormonal balance and predispose, if trauma
might set the stage, if there are other factors, or some combination. At
this point all anyone has are EDUCATED GUESSES which are certainly worth
taking into consideration but they are not solid facts for most owners.
(Remember that in shelters exposure to contagious illnesses which might --
only might -- set the stage for other illnesses is far, far greater, as are
tensions, and shelters may be assumed to have more representation of ferrets
which have been mistreated in their pasts.)
Without tight studies what exists is not worth worrying private owners about
UNLESS there start being reports of adrenal disease decidedly out of
proportion with other breeders' ferrets. (Ditto any other breeder large or
small in this regard.) At this rate any adrenal disease in other breeders'
ferrets is being treated by some as aberrant while any in MFs is being
treated as intrinsic, even if the proportions are the same!!! If memory
serves, a survey conducted through (but not by) the FML last year found no
significant difference between the longevity of ferrets from large or small
breeders. I do not recall if those neutered late lived longer in the survey
than those who did not. It bothers me that owners find themselves worrying
if they have time bombs when the facts aren't in to justify that fear.
Those who want to learn more about adrenal disease, insulinomae,
cardiomyopathy, ECE and other medical problems will find the medical FAQs
essential, BTW. We all owe a debt of gratitude to those who make those and
other FML services available! Thanks, Bill! Thanks, Pam! Thanks, Bruce!
And thanks to all the others involved!
(Personally -- and this is not of numerical value -- our longest lived one
was a late spay, retired breeder whose owners got rid of her when a male put
a canine through her eye during mating -- though she did not live as long as
one of Bruce's MFs who made it to 10, and we have had three types of adrenal
diseases -- but none so far among our MFs, though given how common adrenal
disease is in any ferrets we expect to encounter it in some of them as well.
Fortunately, adrenal diseases -- among which future more sensitive tests may
find as many as four more divisions according to Mike Dutton's suspicions
which I value greatly -- usually are benign though dangerous, and usually
respond very well to surgery. They are not typically a down and out
situation.
Sukie (NOT connected with MF or any other breeders, except that a few small
ones are friends, and we have and have had ferrets from many sources in the
last approximately 15 years)
[Posted in FML issue 2056]
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