Message Number: SG9480 | New FHL Archives Search
From: "Amy Seyler"
Date: 2004-07-08 02:48:16 UTC
Subject: Re: cystine bladder stones (protein)
To: "FHL" <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <00f301c46496$059417c0$07961004@HomeOffice>

The reason we ended up with the meds is because Claudia refused to eat the
food the vet prescribed. She was on Hill's k/d I believe (I may be wrong on
that -- it's been over 10 years). We were told to supplement her diet with
cottage cheese, eggs, and meat (beef or chicken) which would help keep her
protein levels up, but because she was a pet store ferret she never learned
that any of those things were food, and would not eat them. So we were stuck
in a rough spot, because the vet said she'd certainly suffer if she kept
eating the reduced protein food and not take the supplemental protein.

Yes, Sukie! Now I remember the specifics on the Tiopronin. All the dog
info is what we discovered after hours in my vet's office that night years
ago, and the Tiopronin was prescribed for dogs to help prevent the stones
from forming. The Policitra was for the acid/alkaline levels, I believe, and
I know we've discussed this on-list before.

Seems to me that since you've got two diet is involved somehow. With
Claudia I'm not so sure, as she was only 6 months old when she had her first
two. How old are Mornie and Hilbert?

Amy, Dave, Sarah & Paul (and their gaggle of giggling ferrets)
RIP Ian, Elektra, Claudia, Sidney, Max & Hannah
Missing Tasha

>It turns out that the ferrets here had cystine stones.

>Yes, there IS apparently, such a such a thing as too much protein in
the diet for ferrets!

>Cystine are the harder type to deal with and less common in the U.S.;

>Okay, cystine stones are rare but are found more often in dogs

>Medical Dictionary that Tiopronin is a thiol compound that reacts with
cystine to form a soluble mixed disulfide,