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Post by dook2dook on Nov 18, 2011 0:45:24 GMT -5
I've just heard of a new 'breed' of ferrets in the UK. They are micro ferrets bred to be small  I know of a dwarf ferret but her condition is medical she wasn't bred to be tiny. This is a MALE micro ferret at 4 years of age, he is less then 7 inches from head to tail. I have no idea why anyone would breed ferrets to be that tiny. I'm thinking they are inbred or some thing?  |
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Post by dook2dook on Nov 18, 2011 0:50:51 GMT -5
Could also be people claiming ferrets with dwarfisim are a new 'breed'. I met this jill a few months ago at a ferret society social, I couldn't put her down   (not me in the picture) |
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Post by nancyl on Nov 18, 2011 1:55:49 GMT -5
They're kinda like those weird short legged cats. I just wonder why someone thought this was a good idea.
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Post by Heather on Nov 18, 2011 2:26:07 GMT -5
I've heard of them before....those look even smaller than Heather's micros?? My understanding that there are even more health issues (consider that the dwarf of any mammal, usually has organ problems and heart issues...even the human type) you have to wonder why someone would breed on a dwarf gene (that's different than just breeding for small). I have seen the cats, they're cute, but it's not something I would want to perpetuate. They're rather a short-lived novelty...so sad. I know that in dogs, malamutes are one of the few breeds that acknowledge there is an issue. They started a huge study as up until they brought this issue into the light breeders were just offing the dwarf puppies and claiming that the issue wasn't in "their" lines. It's the same as white boxers...another oops. I knew a dwarf pyrenees...she was adorable. Everyone thought she was a puppy. She looked like a 5 month old pyr. She lived to be 5 yrs old...ancient according to the breeder who said that dwarf pups rarely made it to their first birthday because of heart issues. If this is possible for other animals why not ferrets, but why would one want to perpetuate something that tiny? The second one looks about the same size as Heather's Cammy, I believe she's an awesome hunter. Some feel that these tiny hunters are more capable at getting into tiny spaces and driving the rabbits out. If you're interested in pursuing your investigation further you might try pming Heather (lorelei) and seeing what she knows about it. I don't think her micros are as small as that little boy though.
ciao
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Post by lorelei0922 on Nov 18, 2011 6:12:02 GMT -5
messaged ya back! my own micros aren't as small as the little boy.. but inky and dinky who i took care of earlier this fall were even smaller... itty bitty tiny things....
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Post by shilohismygirl on Nov 18, 2011 8:21:50 GMT -5
I don't love that people feel that it's alright to mess with what is already wonderful in a way that causes even more health issues. Are they cute as buttons? Of course! But it is fair to no one when you have to say goodbye too early for something that could have been prevented
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2011 8:36:28 GMT -5
I agree with Shiloh - I ooh and ahh and think there are adorable, like perpetual kits. Would I ever support the breeding by buying one? Aw H*ll Naw. Our babies have enough problems, why breed to make them worse? but still (insert baby talk)  ~Kelli |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2011 9:44:50 GMT -5
All I can say is that if you talk to people who had ferrets a long time ago in the US, they all seem to agree that these older generations of ferrets lived longer and better on crummy diets and very limited vet care.
Today, the average lifespan for a ferret in the US is 6 years old. And that does NOT mean that nearly all ferrets even make it to 6. A lot of them leave us much sooner. The Range for average is 5-7 - most do not make it to seven. A ferret in the US is considered to be geriatric at age 4.
Yes, you do hear of ferrets in the US that live beyond seven in the US all the time (people be sure to speak up about it ,but they don't mention the many who leave much soon. ) Sadly, the trend over the years has been toward shorter lifespan. Unfortunately, it's believed by many that the primary reason for shorter lifespan is genetic with breeding for color as a driving factor. I know, this REALLY SUCKS.
-jennifer
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Post by ttfr on Nov 18, 2011 10:19:01 GMT -5
That's like breeding tea-cup dogs.  All I can say is that if you talk to people who had ferrets a long time ago in the US, they all seem to agree that these older generations of ferrets lived longer and better on crummy diets and very limited vet care. Though I don't understand this comment. I am not sure how old you are going back but my experience with 6-7yr old ferrets who came in their prime has been poorly. Both of my old boys, d.i.p boys, were ill. They lived on crappy diets, poor cages, no litter box's, no ferret contact, etc. Dingo was a little psycho. Monster was a sweet heart. but both had bad conformation, adrenal, monny had insulinoma. Generally they were in poor health until they came here and I fed them soupies, oils, good food, out time, etc. Yall saw dingo's transformation from bald to fluffy and fat. AND. I am seeing a difference in health between older fosters who come from bad to horrible homes vs Lelloo & Jack who have been here from 2yr old and on a natural type thing since them. Though it has been partial up until a few months ago. They are 4 1/2 now and look great. Lelloo got 2 ribbons in companion and was said to have good muscle for being her age. She is my fluffy piggie girl and her adrenal worry earlier has been disproved. I am taking jack jack this year to winter nationals to see how he goes. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2011 10:40:34 GMT -5
TTFR, I think what Jennifer means is that several generations ago, ferrets were as a whole a healthier pet. They didn't require special diets to keep them from dying young. Now we are forced to have 24 hour emergency vet care and special diets. She is suggesting that because people (the big farms) are irresponsibly breeding for desired traits, we in turn keep our babies alive for much shorter time periods.
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Post by Sherry on Nov 18, 2011 10:51:39 GMT -5
Jacksmomma is correct. 20 years ago, they WERE much healthier overall. Now? Not so much  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2011 10:55:00 GMT -5
Yeah I remember even 10 years ago when I was a kid. Ferrets were fed cheap cat food. No vet care whatsoever (no vaccines, no meds, etc). They lived to be around 7 years old (maybe longer) That is pretty darn good IMO considering the conditions they were kept in. Small cages, crap food, etc. Makes you wonder what has gone so wrong with our furry friends   |
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Post by miamiferret2 on Nov 18, 2011 11:09:30 GMT -5
that is awful. i feel so sorry for these little ferrets. they are cute as a button. if you have a dwarf ferret in a natural litter, fine-- but it is so unethical to breed them. how awful.
on another note, my dad always told me to get sables because he insists that they are healthier. looks like even sables are having issues now. very sad.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2011 11:30:59 GMT -5
So tiny! I jut hope he can live a healthy happy life.  |
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Post by Heather on Nov 18, 2011 12:07:49 GMT -5
I've got a cage of younger ferrets, who've had sketchy beginning but basically by a year have been on good diets, exercise and care. Boris, small and cute is a genetic nightmare (marshals). More health issues than you can count, a dark sable with milk toes. He's 4 yrs old, he will never get to be an old ferret. Fun-Go a DEW....he's about 5, insulinoma (RC). Lady Natasha, is about 4, adrenal (marshals). Captain Jack is about 6, he's adrenal and is dying of cardiomyopathy (RC). Lady Sprite (is an oldtimer) is about 8 and has had adrenal now for about 2+ yrs, so got it when she was about 6 (marshals). These are not old ferrets but they're not going to get to be old either. I've had old ferrets....Lady Babushka 11+ (marshals) fed crap food all her life. She probably wouldn't have made it to 11 without raw as she seemed to come into a new life spurt after the switch...she was a micro (less than a pound) in fact weighed 7 oz. on a good day. Other end.....Attila (PV) lived a whole 5 yrs died of a massive coronary...he was no micro at 5 lbs 2 oz. Nicodemus passed on at 5 yrs, adrenal complications (marshals). Odin (breeders) albino, 9 yrs old...basically healthy and active. Thor (breeders), waardenburgs...dark sable, 6 yrs old.
So, where is the answer. There isn't one. With ferrets you get what your dealt but why make it worse. We already know that fancies or exotic colours have destroyed the genetic pool over here and it's going to take years if ever to clean it up. Then what, oh...lets try angoras, selfs...dwarfs, micros. There are no favours here. Why are we doing it? I think that's the question you need to ask...because it's cute? to be different? exotic? why do you want that type? is it worth the cost? to the ferret? to you? to the generations of ferrets after?
What is the cost? That's a question that really needs to be answered!
ciao
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I know of a dwarf ferret but her condition is medical she wasn't bred to be tiny. This is a MALE micro ferret at 4 years of age, he is less then 7 inches from head to tail.
