From:
Ulrike
Date: 2001-04-12 18:39:00 UTC
Subject: Raw meat = tartar and gingivitis???
Hello
I'm at my wits end... I've been feeding the ferrets whole minced chickens
5-6 months now and their teeth are getting worse and worse. I've been
cleaning their teeth with forceps, I've been brushing their teeth and yet
they get a real thick built-up of tartar, red gums, smelly breath. All my
ferrets have this problem. I thought maybe because they had kibble for
years but I rescued 2 ferrets that have had raw meat all their life and they
had lovely teeth and now 2 months later they are getting a built-up of
tartar and a thin red line around their teeth on the gums. What am I doing
wrong??? They get whole minced chicken, I add water so they can lick it
easier, I add either flax seed oil or cod liver oil, sometimes 8in1 liquid
ferret vitamins, I have been adding extra vitamin C, I have another powdered
multi vitamin and mineral that I add some nights... So why do the ferrets
get such a bad build-up of tartar and gum problems? I thought carbohydrates
caused tartar and I thought there was enzymes in the meat that keep the
teeth clean? Somebody suggested the ph might be wrong? That the food
causes the wrong ph in the ferrets' mouths? The 2 ferrets I rescued only
had meat to eat, no bones at all, they either had chunks of meat or mince-
without water. They had no supplements at all, either chicken or turkey
breast cut into chunks or beef mince... And their teeth were fine.
I don't want to have to stop this raw meat diet, I think it'll (help)
prevent cancers and prolong their lives but right now I'm feeling so awful,
15 ferrets with bad mouths and I haven't got a clue what I'm doing wrong...
My friend has the same problems with her ferrets, the only thing we do the
same is that we add water to the mince. My friend adds different
supplements but also the oil, cod liver oil and fish oil or salmon oil.
Could the water be the cause or the oils? Please, if anybody can help me,
please do... I am feeling *really* bad right now...
From Ulrike
and Jilly, Jack, Bella, Tom, Mason, Baby, Dana, Fox, Reno, Rose, Jasmine,
Barney, Spike, Hobo and Gremlin
Missing Angel, Hope and Igor
West Wales Ferret Welfare
E-mail: ferretlove@n...
http://www.ferretlove.freeserve.co.uk
Last update 23/02/01
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