From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-03-28 18:05:35 UTC
Subject: RE: help with getting Noodle back on solid food
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <8232870.1112033135701.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
When the problem is GI Dr. Bruce Williams recommends meat baby foods or canned A/D until recovery happens. He has a find section on fedding sick ferrets in
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
We've had ferrets in the family for over two decades and while we have had some who needed dental cleanings (ones who would not use Cheweasels or Foamy Fries typically) usually dental problems have been minimal. The usual bad dental injuries here (very rare -- I guess two or maybe three ferrets -- have been gotten usually from banging things with teeth (for instance one of those lost an incisor banging the travel cage bars on a vet trip). We've also had three kits who didn't shed baby teeth right (one of whom came to us with an abcess and an injury inflicted on her when she bit in pain as a result. Poor thing hurt so of course she bit them.
Our ferrets usually liveinto their 7th or 8th years, some older, some younger.
I do not doubt that biting on hard things which don't shatter easily can impact dental health with cracks, or that starchy things can impact dental health with plaque or tarter; nor do I doubt the human studies into infection spreading from gum disease, but I do think that it is wise to look at the actual numbers of dental and gum problems in relation to an assortment of foods and cleaning approaches used. When looking at a potential risk factor it makes sense to weigh how often the potential resulting problems actually occur. In our household our ferrets needed vet cleanings a lot more often before those dense gelatin cleaning products (Cheweasels, Foamy Fries) were invented but almost never need cleanings by vets now.
We feed some homemade food (less since standing as still --as cooking requires-- has become painful) and mostly kibble. Might feeding a diffferent food have a positive impact? It might. So far, though, when discussing life spans with friends who do feed a more natural diet the life span range and typical ages of death have been pretty similar. That has been only a small discussion, though, so not enough individuals to weigh if there actually is a change in health and longevity, or how large a change there is if there is any difference.
I guess this is just another area where there simply aren't yet the numbers needed to assess the actual impact of documented changes, so people need to look at their own families' track records and then choose their actions accordingly, while always knowing that vets also provide for good dental health.