From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-01-08 18:42:17 UTC
Subject: RE: Serious plaque problem do N-bones really help?
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <317347.1105209737081.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
We personally avoid bones. Although accidents by ferrets with bones appear to be rare due to their stomach acid being so good at dissolving bone we have had a vet who lost a ferret to a bone splinter which had perforated the esophagus (the tube in the throat which leads to the stomach) so we heard about the other side of the equation many years ago.
What we use instead and swear by are dense gelatin products created specifically for this use in ferrets: Foamy Fries, Flavored Cheweasels, Cheweasels, or Marshall Chews. The first two seem to be the most liked in our four footed family. They work great, BTW, and pose no danger, though if a ferret eats too much at once the ferret will have a short bout with runs.
With dental disease of this level, though, I think that formal dental care is pretty well unavoidable. When it has hardened enough to cause gum disease (which increases the rates of other health problems) then the easier measures typically don't cut it.
Makes sure that the vet uses a safe anesthesia like Iso or Sevo, but realize that we've had 8 year olds who have had surgery without problems (though at 8 there is an increased risk factor), so unless this ferret has other medical problems which make anesthesia dangerous realise that a late middle-age or early-old age like 6 and 1/2 alone isn't usually itself a reason to be terribly concerned. 6.5 is about like 65 in humans. (BTW, there are some people here who have had 9 and 10 year olds who have had surgery...)