| how do you know how old your ferrets are? - CLICK HERE for the Pet Manual Forum Home Page |
| iyunkcawanbli |
Hello my name is iyunkcawanbli and I have two ferrets named Crisco and Selina and I got them in march and no one knows how old they are.
I want to know about how olr they might be. If some one in here might be able to help me please let me know... thank you for your time.
iyunkcawanbli |
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| Tonytcla |
Use the link below for the best description I can find
http://listserv.cuny.edu/Scripts/wa...arch&D=0&P=8894
The following is an extract that is the most useful.
Teeth are often the most accurate way to age a living ferret. Three techniques are useful in living ferrets; tooth eruption, tooth wear, and tooth transparency. Tooth eruption is the sequence in which the baby (or milk) and adult teeth drop in, and is useful until the ferret gets about 3 months old when all the permanent teeth should be erupted. The sequence of tooth eruption (from birth) is:
Incisors: Deciduous (Baby): 0-10 days;
Permanent (Adult): 20-30 days.
Canines: Deciduous: 20-30 days; Permanent: 45-55 days. Premolar 2: Deciduous: 28-40 days; Permanent: 55-65 days.
Premolar 3: Deciduous: 28-45 days; Permanent: 55-65 days. Premolar 4: Deciduous: 28-50 days; Permanent: 55-65 days. Molar 1: Permanent: 48-55 days. Molar 2: Permanent: 70-80 days.
As you can see, considerable variation exists. Reliable to 3 months of age.
Tooth wear is useful for aging, but only allows you to decide if one ferret is older than another. Kibble causes teeth to wear at a much faster rate than in animals that eat a more natural diet. The best teeth to look at tooth wear are the cutting molars or carnassials, as well as the little molar in the back. Very rough estimate of age. Unreliable.
Tooth transparency is a natural adaptation which allows tooth wear or fracturing without exposing the root. As the ferret ages, the root canals fill with dentine (making the tooth solid), changing the way light shines through it and making it appear transparent. The best tooth to use is the canine; it will be approximately half transparent (from the tip up) when
the ferret is 5 years old. This is only a rough estimate, because tooth use and stress determines the rate of root withdrawl, and nutrition determines the rate of canal filling. It is easy to be off one or more years using this method. Marginally reliable.
If you have been paying attention, you will realize it is extremely hard to age a ferret that is older than a year or so. How do scientists age animals so well? By pulling a canine, slicing it, and counting the rings of cement on the root, which are more or less laid down seasonally in wild animals (little research has been done with pets). I don't recommend
this method to age your ferret. ;-) But even with the difficulties I've discussed, with practice, and comparisons to known-age ferrets, you can estimate fairly well. At least to within a year. Maybe. |
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| iyunkcawanbli |
Thank you for your help.
I have not had Crisco and Selina long so I have been learning a lot about ferrets. and thanks for your help! I will be back. |
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