From:
AFERRETVET@cs.com
Date: 2002-03-12 13:02:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Update, Warning, And Insulinoma
Guide
Hi Amber,
Sounds like you are using one of the generic liquid preds.
Most of the generics contain alcohol (about 5%).
It is time to use the brand name Pediapred (prednisolone).
It is a dye free, sugar free, alcohol free, raspberry flavored clear
liquid.
As for diets: the higher the protein and the fat the better. Low
fiber
and low carbohydrates. Unfortunately your statement about ferrets
being unable to digest corn is not accurate. Your comments about
fish are also not accurate. Fish is highly digestable and a high
quality
protein source. It actually has a higher value than chicken! Plus it
contains the important omega-3 fatty acids. Yes fish does smell like
fish, but it is a good protein source! Wheat, Zupreem's main
carbohydrate source, contains about 11.5% protein (actually higher
than the protein content of corn ~9%). Wheat also has a higher
post prandial (after meal) gluose response than corn. Better than
rice better worse than corn!
As for treats: avoid raisins, cereals, bananas, and candy.
Cooked meats, cooked eggs, Hill's a/d, and Gerber's baby food
(chicken and turkey) provide the high protein, high fat, low
carbohydrate
profile that we want in a snack.
Unfortunately we still do not have a perfect diet for insulinoma
ferrets.
It will probably have to be a canned food, so it can have a low
enough
carbohydrate level <10%.
Hope that clears up some of the confusion,
Jerry Murray, DVM