I believe the bridge used to get less traffic, but nowadays, the
lifespan of Marshall Farms ferrets seems to have been halved almost,
with a lucky few of mine still surviving into old age. Most of mine
were all born the 2000-2006 years, purchased in Michigan from Petco.

Non-Marshalls do seem to live longer, whether it be Path Valley, Ruby
Red Fur Farm, or private breeders.

The thing is - ferrets have a community of people unlike cats and dogs.
We are a niche community online, with so many little forums, big
forums, and close-knit communities. Thus, unlike dogs and cats, us
ferret owners notice the deaths of others, announce them, talk about
our ferrets, and seek advice or help online more so than other pet
owners.

I think I can explain it a couple of ways.

Yes, there are cat and dog forums - but I believe the small stature of
ferrets, in combination with the general lack of knowledge beginners
have - and seek, online, draws more ferret owners into the online
community we are all a part of, much more than cat and dog owners.

Also - they are an animal that many people just hate or love. And when
you love an animal, you tend to want to gain knowledge, talk to other
owners, and have fun with your ferrets.

Who here is as active on dog and cat forums (if you own them) or even
fish forums, as you are on ferret forums?

The fact that most of the United States is still in the dark about
what ferrets are, despite them being the 3rd most popular pet, is what
drives me to be online and seek comfort when a pet dies online. Many
people I know, barring ones in clubs I know, will not understand the
deep bonds and terrible pain from losing a ferret. They don't consider
them the same as a dog or cat, and good luck saying that you feel even
more connected to your ferrets than your cats or dogs (but in a
different way, that's just me personally).

I agree that ferrets have much lingering suffering in death. I have
never had any that have just passed away. In fact, this morning I am
bringing one to the vet who is passing away, most likely. I believe
this is a double edged sword; the fact that they are only 98%-99.9%?
(I am not sure on the exact percentage) genetically different from the
polecat. But, over the years of domestication, their bodies are put
genetically and physically in situations that are not good for them.
So you have a strong, wild animal framework, "wired" with bad things.
We also have to recognize that unlike dogs and cats, ferrets can not
naturally go feral and survive when they are dumped.

Yes, ferrets have been bred in the US and likely other areas for
laboratory testing. But thank god that the majority of animal testing
does, in fact, remain with mice and rats, but mostly mice, due to
budgets, housing concerns, prices, and relatedness to humans. I never
saw ferrets who were bred specifically to be good for one study or
another, vs mice and rats bred to be obese, have a liver failure gene,
etc.

I think that genetically, the quality of ferrets has gone downhill,
but until qualified studies are done in all countries of the adrenal
disease, insulinoma, and light/kibble problems, we will not know
whether it is a combination of genes or environment that causes either
disease, or a single factor. In nature you can rarely pinpoint the
cause of something - each organism is likely different. Some ferrets
will be sound inside, but when given too much/little light, they become
adrenal; when a cagemate of his got natural lighting, and ended up
getting it because he was genetically predisposed. I believe studies
have proven marked improvements in ferrets that have adrenal disease
by creating natural lighting, but what about the fact that we are
neutering and spaying early? The studies have yet to come out. If
anyone will ever do them at all.

I would not blame ferret owners The heyday of the ferret from 2000 to
now in Petcos and Petsmarts is only 8 years old. That is the time when
they became the new pet, and many of us didn't know what they were. To
say that owners themselves are at fault for subjecting the ferrets to
shorter deaths is not right, IMO. If you want to blame someone, blame
the community for not creating an initiative that would ban surgeries
on baby ferrets before being sold, and then requiring an appointment
for your ferret to be spayed or neutered at year one by the state, and
if not, be fined money or surrender the ferret. No doubt countless
casual ferret owners would be dissuaded from buying such a
"troublesome" and "expensive" animal!

But you have to realize what an initiative that is. Perhaps as more
owners realize what problems this is causing, they can start a
campaign, gathering data from what studies we have, citing that
diseases are being caused by early neuters and spays. However, most
owners are normal people, who don't have the resources or time to
do such a thing. They are just trying to make the best out of their
little one's lives, as best they can, in a bad situation.

Time to bring Grey to the vet.

Laryssa

[Posted in FML 6086]