From:
"Autumn"
Date: 2005-08-17 20:54:58 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Obese ferrets?
To: <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <004e01c5a36d$f6ddf030$42033f44@Infinitum>
Boo Boo was at a good weight around 3.8lbs but he ended up with ulcers, lost
down to about 1.5lbs (way skinny) and then gained quickly, once he got
treatment, to over 5lbs. The vet's reaction was, and still is, "Oh my god!
Oh my god!" as he was turning boo boo around and looking at him. He was/is
shocked at Boo Boo's size and wants to see him leaner (we do too!).
In Boo Boo's case it really was/is a case of obesity because it hindered him
from doing things he used to be able to do without problem...climbing, for
example. He also had a terrible, terrible time just getting up on his back
legs to reach up or look into or over things. It broke my heart to see him
try and fail because he struggled with the weight (it was very obvious).
And the worst part was, and still is, seeing him struggle through the funnel
that connects the main deck of the cage to the litter area. I stand by to
make sure he's okay, but he does struggle to squeeze through.
He was a big ferret at 3.8, but that weight was healthy and lean for him.
Where he is now isn't so great, but he is getting better. I think when
deciding if it's obesity or not, IMHO, we have to see how it effects the
quality of life, and in Boo's situation this is definitely the case. Now
the poster's chubby fuzzies may not have the problems Boo Boo does, and
maybe it's not a situation of obesity. But again, just my opinion, if it
effects their quality of life in the negative, they probably need to lose
weight.??
----- Original Message -----
From: "Caitlyn Martin" <caitlynmaire@yahoo.com>
To: <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 1:09 PM
> Hi,
>
> Not unlike humans (to use your words) ferrets come in
> all shapes and sizes. We had one named Kodo who
> topped 2kg (4.45 lbs.) and was always big in every
> respect: long, muscular, heavy. He was also pretty
> high energy up until about age nine. He would bounce
> rather than run and it was hysterical to watch. He
> could jump and climb and keep up with the thinner
> weasels and it didn't seem to slow him down.
>
> All the best,
> Caity and the fantastic five