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Post by Jeremy's Boggle on Jun 5, 2012 10:12:25 GMT -5
A few of the breeders here have said that their ferrets do not have the illnesses that usually take our mill ferrets in their senior years. So my question is what conditions do they die of as seniors? Heart & organ failures? Arthritis? Or do most just pass peacefully of old age?
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Post by joan on Jun 6, 2012 9:33:36 GMT -5
I have always necropsied the ones I've used for breeding and it's part of the sales contract for those I placed after they were retired from breeding. Only half or so of the ones I've sold to pet homes have been necropsied, as many owners are very resistant to the idea. All but a few were inconclusive as to cause of death, so it was listed as old age organ failure.
The most interesting finding for me was that all of them so far have had a normal pancreas and adrenal glands...the majority were fed kibble throughout their lives (as I didn't begin raw/whole prey feeding until 2005) and most were exposed routinely to artificial lighting. Except for the breeders, most were spayed/neutered by 8-9 months of age as I only changed my contract a few years ago when research findings indicated one last hormonal surge at sexual maturity.
While there aren't enough deaths to be statistically significant, the ones who died at 7 had all been given distemper boosters annually by their owners, with some of them also receiving annual rabies shots. Littermates who only had minimal vaccination as kits and only one booster at most after a year of age lived to be 8-9 years old.
I've often wondered if many of the illnesses and early deaths of so many of the fancy colored commercially and privately bred ferrets are either directly or indirectly the result of overvaccination. Due to their genetics, they already have a weakened immune system which would be weakened even further by unneeded vaccinations.
My first hybrid litters turned 7 this year and thus far all have remained healthy. The only deaths have been from accidents and those presumed dead as they were never found after escaping from the owner's house. The latter is the major reason I will only place jills with owners who have experience with breeder ferrets.
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Post by Jeremy's Boggle on Jun 6, 2012 10:37:22 GMT -5
Thank you Joan. So far my plan is to do kit & one year old vaccines and stop after that. I don't allow anyone other than us handle our ferrets or hunt with them. With 100 acres available to us I don't feel the need to go to parks for stimulation. So I feel comfortable with that decision. Good to know that properly breed ferrets generally die of old age and not some terrible disease.  |
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Post by crazylady on Jun 10, 2012 17:29:30 GMT -5
Hi most of mine pass peacefully in there sleep ( cant say all because I don't know what the future holds lol ) there ages vary from 9-14 when they pass all of mine are only given one distemper injection in there lives all are raw meat fed and yes even though I work some not all are workers ( feeding whole prey is a good brain stimulant they have to work at how to get to the meat !) I also believe variety in diet plays a part too ( I never feed the same thing two days running ) take care bye for now
Bev
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Post by darlene on Jun 10, 2012 18:49:23 GMT -5
Bev,do you ever spay or neuter any of your ferrets?
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Post by crazylady on Jun 13, 2012 14:54:43 GMT -5
Hi Darlene the answer to that one is a simple no lol ( only op ever performed here is the vasectomy ) they may complain for a few days afterwards but its a whole new ball game when they get there job discription lol take care bye for now
BEV
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Post by Heather on Jun 13, 2012 15:00:30 GMT -5
I'm thinking that Bacchus might indeed be getting the better end of the deal myself ;D The hob might get to step up to the plate 2 maybe 3 times in his life. The v-hob gets them lining up at the door  . ciao |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2012 17:23:16 GMT -5
Finn says he's jealous of Bacchus ;D
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Post by ferretlove67 on Jun 13, 2012 20:14:58 GMT -5
LOL!!! What a hard life huh?  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2012 20:17:27 GMT -5
Hehe, you've got one lucky fellow. |
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Post by Heather on Jun 13, 2012 22:00:27 GMT -5
This year he "might" get lucky once.... but even that runs Tico and Enigma 0 and Bacchus 1....so give one to the v-hob ;D
ciao
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Post by Jeremy's Boggle on Jun 13, 2012 22:26:59 GMT -5
So those that do not fix their jills use V-hobs to get around the heat issues for the jills? I was wondering about that.
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Post by Heather on Jun 13, 2012 22:33:20 GMT -5
You can also use a hormone shot (jill jab) or the yet untested but does do the job DES implant
ciao
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Post by Jeremy's Boggle on Jun 14, 2012 8:57:54 GMT -5
I don't think my hubby could handle an in season hob. ;D We have a small house no ferret rooms. At least not until two kids move out. ;D
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2012 13:33:25 GMT -5
My intact hob lived in the dining room when I was in a townhouse apartment  Needless to say, the whole apartment smelled like hob |
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