From:
"Katharine"
Date: 2005-06-26 11:54:32 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Skinny ferret
To: "Ferret Health List" <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <01b701c57a45$d17428b0$7e102cc7@D1CW2811>
Ferrets, like people, come in all shapes and sizes. Some are thin, some ar=
e more solid. The most important thing, in my opinion, is that they don't =
lose or gain too quickly. I weigh every one of mine monthly and keep a cha=
rt. That way, I can see if anyone's weight is up or down. If I see that o=
ne has lost a couple of ounces, I immediately start hand feeding them extra=
every day. I weigh every few days to make sure the weight is stabilizing,=
or increasing. Continued loss, despite assisted feedings, calls for a vet=
visit. If their weight goes back up, I just keep an eye on that one a lit=
tle more for a few weeks.
I am also concerned if one is gaining too quickly. That may also call for =
a vet visit. For instance, I have one who gained 4 oz. in the last month. =
He had major surgery in February, as he came from the animal shelter with =
a humongous spleen and a huge ruptured left adrenal gland. He could hardly=
navigate with all that extra weight. Both were successfully removed by my=
vet (he said he probably wouldn't have lived another week with the rupture=
d adrenal gland - there was blood everywhere). Possum is a big boy. He st=
arted out at 3 1/4 lbs., then dropped to 2 3/4 following his surgery. He d=
ropped further to 2 1/2. I was giving him time to stabilize. Then, a coup=
le of months ago, his weight went back up to 3 lbs. and he just weighed in =
at nearly 3 1/4 lbs. Of course, I am concerned there is a mass, though I c=
an't feel anything. He will be visiting the vet very soon. Unexplained we=
ight gain is just as serious as unexplained weight loss.
To me, it's more important that they maintain their weight, not whether the=
y're skinny or fat.
Katharine
http://community.webshots.com/user/katharine524