Hi - Well, I was going to tell a best actor ferret story, but after reading
today's FML, I vote for Dick Bossart's Buddy! Best one I've heard yet, and
I have a house full of ferrets, most of whom can work the "poor baby"
routine for all it is worth.
Lymphosarcoma - whether is is caused by a virus or a retro-virus is still a
way from being definitely so linked -- but -- since many cancers in humans
and animals have been definitely linked to virus, then it remains a strong
possibility. However, please don't panic anyone. I have owned ferrets for
16 years as of this fall, and thus far (pray God), I have only had one case
of lymphoma, and that was in an elderly MF ferret, Frisky. Frisky achieved
one of the rare spontaneous remissions, had subsequent chemo-therapy;
survived a subsequent bout of basil cell carcinoma of the pancreas and went
on to live until she lost the battle to the first bad wave of ECE. She
remains one of the long time survivors of lymphatic cancer. When she passed
away, she was sent to Dr. Susan Erdman at M.I.T., whose research will
doubtless eventually prove on the viral link; and if it does so, let us hope
a vaccine can be developed as one was for feline leukemia! I have had
several "panic" calls and e-mails recently worrying about ferrets "catching"
lymphosarcoma. It is not a valid worry at this point. The disease seems to
strike at random, and without anyone's ability to predict. Close
association with a ferret suffering from lymphosarcoma does not seem to be
transmitted to other ferrets - by majority of reports. And if it is, then
it is years in developing. Certainly, in my household, where ferrets run
free, eat and drink from same bowls, share litter boxes, and sleep in great
piles in drawers, bedding and beds, no one "caught" it from Frisky. I have a
kit going to a home where a ferret owner just lost a ferret to lymphsarcoma.
If I had the slightest fear, this kit would not go to this home.
Toxoplasmosis in ferrets - Well, until last week, I would have said "Never
really hear of that". However, just had a report of a ferret with
toxoplasma gondii in fecal samples. The ferret is not showing signs of
toxoplasmosis, and I am not certain how often ferrets would actually develop
toxoplasmosis when the toxoplasma parasite is found in fecal samples. Maybe
Vets on line could comment??
Lorinda's story and others of a near miss with toilet paper rolls strikes a
nerve. Never considered this a real worry until a couple of years ago when
I had a very, very sad report from a caller who related she had come home
from work to find a kit who had died with head and neck stuck in a roll.
Since that time, I have been careful to keep toilet paper rolls away from
ferrets and strongly advise all to do the same. I have often had a ferret
running around with a paper cup stuck on the twit's head, but they ususally
manage to get that offf pretty fast and seem to enjoy it as a game. As I
write these words, Black Molly has her head in one and is running it flat
across the floor.
Lori - Please don't give your ferret recovering from ECE chocolate sustecal.
Instead, give vanilla ensure or sustecal. Your baby will like this flavor
just fine -- and I feel in view of the ECE, chocolate sustecal will place
more strain on the digestive tract and may add to problems. I happen to
agree with those who feel a wee bit of chocolate will not overly harm a
ferret from time to time. But not when they are sick. And I never use
chocolate ensure or sustecal. But, all right, I confess --now and again my
guys get a wee taste of chocolate. They love Godiva. Thus, if I have a
piece of Godiva - it gets shared 20 ways!
Sheena - Very interesting report on observation of not seeing adrenal
disease in Canadian bred ferrets, but seeing it in some American genetic
ferrets. Canadian ferrets are early neutered too. None of my Canadians
have developed adrenal problems and I have yet to have a report of a
Canadian origin ferret with adrenal disease. Over the years I have been
tracking on adrenal disease in ferrets by nursing care advice, the age of
the ferret an on-set has consistently been dropping. This disease used to
be a geriatric problem. Then it became a middle-aged problem. And now it
is affecting ferrets at younger and younger ages and I am no longer
surprised when I receive calls of diagnosed adrenal disease in ferrets at
average age of 2-1/2 or sightly younger.
Babies - Well, we have had kits in the house since February this season, and
most recent litter is by the infamous My Black Sin who produced 12 kits.
Sigh. Must be something in the water. Our largest litter this season was
13 and our smallest was 7. All of my breedable jills produced this year.
Our babies have now spread out to many states, and I really enjoy getting
pictures, notes and e-mails on their progress. Also have a waiting list for
kits next season - especially for black sables and black point mitts (heavy
silver) and sable mitts. Hope the girls are up to it - am not sure I am!
We have had every color of ferrets this year - and although I do not breed
for albinos - we had eight of those too in various litters. Also, (brag,
brag) children of my children have been doing very well at shows -- although
this should Not be a consideration in ferret-hood - it makes me happy to see
and hear about it. Although as one wag pointed out "of course your ferrets
are doing well, especially your kits, since you had so many, there are a lot
of them in the rings!" Shoot, Just when I was thinking they were special!
Oh, well. But what I like best, is when people who have previously obtained
a ferret from me, come back when they are ready to add another ferret or two
to their family. In talking to other breeders, I find they they especially
enjoy this too. So easy to develop "ferret-math". Point of maybe some
interest - most ferrets have 7-8 nipples, and when a jill has more kits then
mammaries, she will rotate her babies. My Black Sin has 7 mammaries and is
rotating her babies. Don't know how they keep track - but learned long ago
not to mess with their system. Cheers, Meg
[Posted in FML issue 1734]
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