From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-05-10 15:05:17 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] RE: A gaging Ferret
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <2239003.1115737517720.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
I have included the text for the URL given earlier since it answers what has been seen in OTHER species (but not documented AS OF 4 YEARS AGO in ferrets).
The URL is:
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG643
*** Especially note his first sentence and final two sentences. ***
My own note about the past post at the end of this post:
You will notice that while possible (and I think I have heard of one since who was postulated to perhaps have the problem of too much A) that it had not be documented in ferrets, and that the amount in Linatone would require enough oil to cause diarrhea first. I do not know how the Vitamin A amounts in the current formulations of Linatone and Ferretone compare to Lintone 4 years ago, but we do use a small amount of Ferretone each night for one of our's who has had it for a year without problems, and did so for FIVE YEARS for another who also needed it for meds entirely without even the slightest hint of any possible related probelms.
HERE IS THE TEXT OF THAT PAST VET POST:
>Date: Sat Mar 3, 2001 9:21pm
>Subject: Question Re: Vitamin A Overdose in Ferrets
>Vitamin A toxicity has yet to be documented in ferrets, so it is
>tough to say exactly what you would see. In cats, where we see most
>cases, bony lesions, especially of the neck. Cervical spondylosis
>progressing up to fusion of the joints in the neck, and to a lesser
>extent the limbs can be seen. Most cases of Vitamin A toxicosis
>arise from cats eating bovine liver, as the liver is where Vitamin A
>is stored.
>Vitamin A toxicosis has also been seen in feedlot cattle fed diets in
>which excessive levels of Vit A were added. An interesting lesion in
>these animals was blindness, as extra bone was laid down around the
>optic foramen, through which the optic nerves pass.
>I suppose that prolonged feeding of liver may cause this lesion in
>ferrets, or the feeding of EXCESSIVE amounts of linatone. However,
>the quanitities required to cause this would probably result in
>severe diarrhea due to the oil content before a significant risk of
>Vitamin A occurred.
>With kindest regards,
>Bruce H. Williams, DVM