Message Number: YG14253 | New FHL Archives Search
From: sukieferret
Date: 2002-06-27 11:27:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Bob C: Some Thoughts to Ponder

--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "maevemoped" <angela@o...> wrote:

> Interesting post. I'm not a vet or over-knowledgeable with ferrets,
> but I do remember reading that in the past ferrets fed on a milk and
> bread diet may not have had a long life span because of this.

One of the list members in Britain has posted that he was running into people
who thought that 2 to 3 years full lifespans were normal until they were
changed from such a diet.

I think that part of what Bob was saying were these points:

1. Perhaps Vitamin A is needed in larger amounts by ferrets than had been
thought.

or

2. Perhaps Vitamin A in larger amounts is of use to ferrets who have been
exposed to Canine Distemper or suffering with Canine Distemper but
showing a chance of survival.

I recall some ferrets treated near here years back who survived CD, likley due
to past vaccinations (thought they were something like 3 years out of date);
perhaps if Bob's hypothesis has foundation then they would have had less
damage after the fact. It seems to me to be an idea worth trying in such
situations. Bob may have hit on something that would help such individuals,
and is therefore good for veterinary professionals to keep in the back of their
minds when dealing with such sad cases as a possible thing to try which
likley poses less risk than the disease and may offer a bit of help for the very
few who might have a chance to survive.