Jonathan Adams asks: > Subject: any ferrets make it through life healthy? > I have been reading this list for a while now and have noticed > something. It seems like an awful high percentage of ferrets get > sick and die at all ages. Now this may be like the news: only bad > stuff is consistenly reported. But I was wondering do ferrets ever > lead a basically ill-free life until death? Most human beings are sick with something when they die, even if they die of old age. Ferrets are small, and have a (compared to human) short lifespan. My four ferrets all died at ages 7 years and older. One had a medical problem (not fully identified) when he died. They all died without seeming to be in pain or suffering. > It seems like there are so many illness. I know its the same for > humans, but it still seems like the average human goes through life > without so many life threatening illness as our favorite fuzzies > seem to get. It's also that humans are larger animals, with more reserves. If a person doesn't feel well and doesn't eat for a few days, it's not a big deal. For a ferret, they need help, or they will get too weak and disoriented. Tigger (Grace Sylvan) Mom of Katherine Yelena, 5, [log in to unmask] Corey 1/31/91; we loved him so, Robin Gregory, 2.5 [Posted in FML issue 0938]