From:
sukiecrandall@telocity.com
Date: 2002-08-30 20:23:36 UTC
Subject: RE: Bob C: Ferret Caretaker Quiz
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <11340790.1030739016113.JavaMail.root@scandium>
>Yet, these animals remain quite healthy. In fact, there are a number of >very well-done studies that show animals that are allowed to eat ad lib >have SHORTER lives than those fed a few times per day (15-20%
>shorter, or more!).
Our's always have food available and the mode age of death range here is late in teh 7th year to middle in the 8th, some older, some younger. That is not worse that those I know who are feeding raw diets and have kept actual records, and no worse than those i know who feed several times a day.
The proof is in the pudding. When the result is a happy and healthy business with lives that are of good length then something works. I do believe that taking ancestral conditions into account IS important for knowing what might be best adapted for, but also accept that not all of the things derived from that approach work best.