From:
tpettis@uoguelph.ca
Date: 2005-01-30 18:20:47 UTC
Subject: dental options
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <1839544.1107109247535.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Hi all,
Both of my ferrets have terrible plaque build up on their molars. At our l=
ast checkup the vet reccommended doing a dental on them both. Unfortunatel=
y the cost per ferret will run around $300, this wouldn't be a problem, exc=
ept that John and I are students and right now can't afford this expense. =
When we both start working full time in May we will be able to afford to ge=
t their teeth cleaned, but we want to do something in the mean time to keep=
their teeth from getting any worse. I've looked into getting a tooth scal=
er and have been so far unsuccessful (if any one in southern Ontario knows =
where to get one please let me know). We started brushing their teeth, but=
have a couple of questions. How do ppl get their molars really well? I h=
ave a stage 1 baby tooth brush, it's the smallest I could find, but when I =
pull up their cheek to brush their molars they just try and chew on the bru=
sh. Is it safe to give them something like Greenies to help clean their te=
eth? I'm not totally sure why they've suddenly developed dental issues, la=
st year they both got rave reviews from the vet about their teeth and this =
year both have all kinds of tartar. We feed TF and 8in1 Ultimate, is there=
maybe a harder food we could try in the mix? We also give Purina Whisker =
Lickin' tartar control treats a couple times a week. Do ferrets teeth usual=
ly get significantly dirtier with age (my boys are ~2 and 4 years)? Any ti=
ps would be great, please no flames about costs of pet ownership etc etc, w=
e'll schedule the dental as soon as we get our first pay cheques. (If it w=
as really critical I would put it on my Mastercard, but we're saving that f=
or if one of them needs emergency surgery.) One last thing, the condition =
of their teeth hasn't impaired their eating ability, Pippin is at an all ti=
me high for weight.
Thanks,
Terri
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