From:
AFERRETVET@cs.com
Date: 2004-07-10 19:00:37 UTC
Subject: Re: cystine stones and protein
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <8.51a4d939.2e2196d5@cs.com>
HI Sukie,
xxxxxxx is right. Cystine stones in dogs are a
sex linked (males only), genetic defect of the kidneys.
Their kidneys do not reabsorb the amino acid cystine.
It is not a diet or protein problem! It is a problem with
their kidneys, so cystine goes into the urine and if there
is an acid urine then it forms cystine stones.
Cystine stones account for roughly 2-3% of the stones
seen in dogs and 0.1% of the stones seen in cats.
I would not assume the first ferret had cystine stones
(along with his urogenital anomalies) unless those
stones are analyzed. Cystine stones in ferrets are
very rare, so no need to worry about feeding high
protein diets to normal ferrets. You only want a reduced
protein diet for those senior ferrets with kidney
problems (or for those rare ferrets with the genetic
defect that causes cystine stones).
Hope that helps,
Jerry Murray, DVM