From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2004-05-12 15:20:23 UTC
Subject: RE: Overweight ferret
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <5471105.1084375223989.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Sometimes with adrenal growths the thorax gets thin and the abdomen gets fat which will lead one group to refer to weight loss and another to refer to weight gain.
Ascites is sometimes confused with fat. In such a case it makes sense to do things like image the chest, have a CBC with Chemistry Panel and otherwise follow-up with careful medical care.
Some meds cause weight gain.
Other causes have been mentioned by others.
As has been said, the most common cause is too much food and too little exercise. In such a situation the vet needs to check health and then added exercise (interactive play works best) and food restriction make sense. It is generally easier to exercise a ferret than it is to diet one, we've found, and from our experience exercise usually works out the be the healthiest approach given what we've encountered in twenty-something years with ferrets.
How much are you feeding? How much very active play does the ferret get daily (running, jumping, climbing, carrying, standing and stretching up on rear legs only, etc.)?