To Michael Phelps: Your local humane society putting down that ferret was tragic. I am glad that you have resolved to working with them to get ferrets sent to a shelter instead of euthanasia. The OFA has an excellent rapport with the Oregon Humane Society. We put on presentations several times yearly including one we completed last week. If having the Portland Humane Society put in a good word for ferrets would help convince you local branch, let me know. Carol, the head of Humane Education, would probably generate a letter. To Nancy: Magellan just went through 1 month of treatment for ulcers that included Pepto-bismol twice daily. He had no reaction to it - but hated it. Pepto-bismol was required because it formed a compound with the other drugs to treat his stomach problem. (Kaopectate did not have the bismuth solution in it.) To Michelle Sabol Jones: Descenting was addressed in the FML as an emotional issue (mutilation, etc.). My reason for being opposed to it is more basic - it's totally unnecessary! The stink is caused by hormones, not anal sac excretions. There are a *few* ferrets that are good candidates for descenting. They are ferrets that express themselves constantly. If an infection or other curable cause has been ruled out, then descenting probably is required. Our shelter has seen 100's and 100's of ferrets. Only 1 fit in this description. In my private e-mail to Scott Swain I suggested this experiment: visit your local shelter and ask to smell a neutered male, a male not in season, and a male in breeding condition. Smell the male in breeding condition last as it will permanently burn a hole in your nose :-) Just kidding! You will realize that that stink you are talking about is hormone related and not related to anal sacs. And most of all, to Tourie: I burst out crying when I read your comment about Gunther! It touched me soooo much! (It's going to be one of those weepy afternoons.) I only hope that right now Gunther is playing with my other ferrets Jocko (who died at 5 from bladder stones), Bear (who died at 5 during surgery), and Baretta (who died at 13 months from congenital cardiomyopathy.) My friend Leanne has made a beautiful headstone for Gunther's grave. Gunther left behind friends including Tillie, his 7 year old companion, Magellan, his 5 year old male friend, 8 younger ferret friends, and Z, who is an occasional visitor to our home and dearly loved Gunther. Thanks again Tourie for such a touching comment! -Carla Almaraz Oregon Ferret Association ----------------------------- Date: Wed, 29 Mar 1995 16:14:29 -0600 From: ERIKA MATULICH <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Ferret History/Lifespan Rudy asked for a compilation of ferret history, so here is mine (sorry so long, but I HAD to say something special about all my ferrets across the rainbow bridge - I really miss them!) NAME: Critter GENDER: Female - Spayed/Descented COLOR: Sable BREEDING: ? TX Pet store rescue (no ear) LIVED: 10/85-10/91 (6 yrs) WEIGHT: 3-6 lbs. FOOD: Science Diet TREATS: Linatone, refused all other MEDICAL HISTORY: Always current on rabies/distemper immunizations. Earmites upon purchase. Mast cell tumors removed at ages 4, 5, and 6 (different locations). Sebaceous tumors on tail removed age 5 and 6. Massive weight gain problems beginning age 4.5. Splenectomy age 5.5 (spleen weighed almost 1/2 lb. -- like half a banana) at the University of Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Despite a restricted diet of Science Diet Lite and exercise, weighed 6 pounds at death from heart failure. PERSONAL ANTICS: Wanted to be an only ferret and barely tolerated all other household ferret additions. Loved dogs. Would follow me everywhere on long walks through the park. Liked to smell flowers. Racked up over 100,000 miles flying American Airlines until AA would no longer carry those "dangerous, vicious, disease-spreading, biting, wild animals." (Travelled in-cabin only). NAME: Gizmo GENDER: Female - Spayed/Descented COLOR: Chocolate Point BREEDING: ? TX Pet store rescue (runt size) LIVED: 2/86-7/94 (8 yrs) WEIGHT: 3/4 of a pound (tiny!) FOOD: Science Diet TREATS: Linatone, raisins, apples, apricot juice, dates, dried peaches MEDICAL HISTORY: Always current on rabies/distemper immunizations. Mast cell tumors removed ages 5, 6, 7 (different locations, but one large recurrent one on hip). Right adrenal removed age 6 at the University of Florida Gainesville VMTH. Doctors noted possibility that left adrenal may also have tumor. Complete recovery, and then continued hair loss and fragility during 8th year. Showed symptoms of old age - completely greyed hair, tooth loss, stilted gait, hair loss until completely bald except for head, inability to walk well, loss of bladder control. Passed away in her sleep. PERSONAL ANTICS: Could squeeze UNDER most doors, climbed up all window screens, dug up every plant in the house and buried her collars in them. Went through about a dozen collars a year. Insisted on being walked daily (in rain, snow, and baking heat). Carried a blue bath sponge around with her for her whole life (the sponge was bigger than she was!). Liked to chase ducks and run up drainpipes. A ferret PR genius - loved all people and ran up to see everyone in the park. NAME: Sweet Pea GENDER: Female - Spayed/Descented COLOR: Silver Mitt BREEDING: Path Valley Farms LIVED: 3/88-11/93 (6 yrs) WEIGHT: 2.5 lbs FOOD: Science Diet TREATS: Linatone, raisins, apples, apricot juice, insects, house plants MEDICAL HISTORY: Always current on rabies/distemper immunizations. Rescued from pet store due to botched anal extrusion of scent glands. The ferret screamed in pain non-stop for a week until the constant vet and personal care resolved the problem. Never would use a litter box as a result of the experience. At six years began having mild seizures. These seemed to be related to eating cockroaches, which I thought might have been poisoned (Stupid Me). After a heavy seizure was rushed to vet, diagnosed with insulinoma, and did not survive the surgery. PERSONAL ANTICS: Would stare for hours at bugs on the ceiling/wall, waiting for them to come down and be eaten. Dug miles of tunnels under the cement porch. Caught, killed, and plucked my ex-boyfriend's parrot (yuk). When frightened, would run straight up people's legs and backs and hide on their neck under their hair. Unzipped everything on principle. Opened cabinets and tossed out all glasses. Loved all kinds of balls and carried them around with her everywhere. Once got her head stuck down the garbage disposal. Very affectionate and showed highly intelligent reasoning ability. NAME: Bobbin GENDER: Female - Spayed/Descented COLOR: Dark eyed white-DEAF BREEDING: ? TX pet store LIVED: 6/89-11/94 (6 yrs) WEIGHT: 2.5 lbs FOOD: Science Diet TREATS: Linatone, raisins, apples, apricot juice, dates, peaches, yogurt, blueberries, bananas, pantyhose toes MEDICAL HISTORY: Always current on rabies/distemper immunizations. In and out of the animal hospital 6 times over the first three years due to ingestion of socks, sweat pants drawstrings, dishtowels, staples, christmas tree tinsel, panythose, and the entire sleeve of a man's dress shirt. Mast cell tumors constantly recurring on head and neck, removed throughout her life. Surgery to remove tumor (about the size of a half dollar) under her skin in the armpit area at age 4. Showed increasing signs of hypoglycemia at age 5, became blind at age 5, suffered massive seizure at age 6, probably due to chocolate ingestion, lapsed into a coma, and we had her put to sleep. PERSONAL ANTICS: Loved to cuddle, but would always bite in greeting. Wanted to sleep by my feet, but always bit my toes. Ate EVERYTHING. Was once washed in the washing machine. Stole all available silverware, especially forks. Loved malamute dogs. Killed and ate a snake, tail-first. Liked to dig in dirt. Fell in the toilet (keep those lids DOWN!) and couldn't get out. Stole duck eggs. Ate all pencil erasers in the house. Insisted that all doors, cabinets, and drawers stay open at all times. In Memory of Critter, Gizmo, Sweet Pea, and Bobbin. - Erika (and the new crew - Misty, Sasha, and Lizzie) ----------------------------- Date: Wed, 29 Mar 1995 16:44:19 -0600 From: Carol-Anne Smith <[log in to unmask]> Subject: feeling blind... Could someone please e-mail me the date of FML that Susan Meyers posted her opinion that Casper should be returned to his yucky 1st owners? I didn't see it in my readings, and when I saw peoples' responses, I searched again, but to no avail. Also, on the topic of bedding stuff in the cage... I use this stuff called "Junglmoss", it's recycled shredded cardboard. No added chemicals of any kind. It was originally designed to use as mulch, but when I saw it I thought Hodge would like it in his cage. He does - it's comfortable for him to walk on, sleep on, dig in, put in his food bowl (don't know why he likes to do that), and he loves it when i'm dumping more in so that it rains down on him. :) Carol-Anne (maybe I'm just going blind) ----------------------------- Date: Wed, 29 Mar 1995 16:46:22 -0600 From: "HENRY CHOSTA @ TX A&M UNIV" <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Houston Chronic\le (3/29/95) Howdy, I think this is my second post, sorry for lurking, but in today's Houston Chronicle (March 29, 1995)there was a picture of two ferrets that were in an elementary class room and that was on the front page in color. Not bad for the little critters. That was the good news, the bad news is that there going to be expelled from the class. In the article about the ferrets in the class, it told how health concerns made the Lamar Consolidated Indep. School Dist. decide to expel all animals except fish from classrooms. First sentence "Baby and Bandit, two friendly ferrets, are being expelled,..." and says about the other snakes and birds, etc. That prompted the kids to protest to keep the animals. It said they've had the same ferrets for two years. A girl named Savannah Pustejovsky, 9, said about the two ferrets that are in her class, "'We really enjoy them. They calm us all the time.'" Another child said he would feel bad if they were kicked out. It said how the kid's are "heartbroken" and the pets were brought home by the students for weekends. An the final quote that I'll take from the article is made by 10 year old David Gilmore, "'I usually look forward to school to come see the animals. If people are mean to you, the ferrets are always there for you.'" That's all for the most part. After reading what those children had to say, I really find it hard to believe what vicious, terrible...[fill in the blank]......creatures they are. Hank ----------------------------- Date: Wed, 29 Mar 1995 18:00:06 EST From: Cindy Aleszczyk <[log in to unmask]> Subject: various things Hi all. I'm just catching up on the last two weeks worth of issues, bc I had sinus surgery last week. Boy, is it easy to get behind! I still have a few issues to go thru, but wanted to comment on a couple of things I saw. To Kevin & Spunky: ferrets are legal in Balt. and the entire state of Maryland To Bill re: descenting I have to disagree here. I waited until my two were 6 mos old to neuter and descent and it was no picnic. My little girl is quite feisty and if you pissed her off by correcting her when she wanted to get into trouble, she'd spray you! The room would stink for a couple of hours even with the ceiling fan going and a scented candle burning. My two are a year old now and I'm happy that I had them descented when they were neutered. It was worth the $75 apiece. To Vickie and Felicia: look up the ferret faq on insulinoma. On another note, I was quite excited when I read about the Bumble ball a couple of weeks ago and promptly ran to Toys r Us to purchase one for my munchkins. After spending $18 (including batteries) and rushing home, the ferrets ran away from it and hid under the couch just watching until I turned it off. Then, they came over, sniffed it and immediately proceded to play in the bag in which it came!!! Kids, they're so frustrating sometimes!!! Pippin celebrated her 1 year birthday yesterday and Beren will be 1 on April 9th We're going to have a little celebration this weekend with their favorite snacks and a long walk if the weather is nice. I too was touched by the story about Toons. Sorry for your loss. Take care all! Happy ferreting! Cindy Beren and Pippin too, of course! [Posted in FML issue 1149]