They still have some with robust builds (the biological term) which
some in ferret judging seem to call "bulldog" builds, and some with
gracile builds (the biological term) which some in ferret judging
seem to call "whippet" builds. Those biological terms both refer to
the ferrets' frames.

Now, it is possible to have heftier ferrets which slight builds but
that usually involves a problem. The ferrets may not be an active as
they should be at their caloric intake, or their blood glucose is low
enough to make them less active, or they have fluid build up from heart
disease or heart parasites which is making them look large while also
making them lethargic (and such parasites could affect more than one
animal in a household at the same time), or some other problem exists.
Are the ferrets acting this way getting preventive medications for
heartworms? Heartworms exist in many continents, usually more
frequently in the warm locations, though they are found in temperate
regions with actual cold winters as well.

Sukie (not a vet)

Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
all ferret topics:
http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html

"All hail the procrastinators for they shall rule the world tomorrow."
(2010, Steve Crandall)
On change for its own sake: "You can go really fast if you just jump
off the cliff." (2010, Steve Crandall)

[Posted in FML 7027]