From:
Mary H Parker
Date: 2004-07-05 15:24:07 UTC
Subject: A/D Diet
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-id: <5.1.0.14.0.20040705111204.00a0c090@mail.shtc.net>
I, too, am curious about the A/D food. I keep reading of using it for sick
ferrets mainly, or ones that need to put on some weight. What exactly
makes this food so special? And why should it not be used as a routine
food? I have been giving some thought to asking my vet to sell me some for
my little fuzzball (9+ years old) to see if it would put some weight on her
(she's lost weight over the past 2 years, now just under 1.5
lbs.) Although she eats her regular kibble (cat food unfortunately, but
she's resistant to eating other brands of dry food), and some of our cats'
canned food that she steals from their plates and I give her Nutrical or
something similar each day, she is still much thinner than two years ago.
I've also read about using human nutritional supplements (such as Ensure)
and heavy cream to add concentrated calories and fat. Will her drinking
Ensure (approximately 2 ounces/day) and about an ounce of cream be of
benefit or detriment? I know Ensure (and most other supplements except
those unflavored ones designed as tube feedings for hospitalized patients)
contain alot of sugar.....and from what I read, that is not a good idea in
ferret's diets. So I guess what I am asking is: is the A/D a viable
choice to help her gain a little weight, and would the Ensure and cream be
harmful in any way?
Mary Parker