Message Number: FHL1298 | New FHL Archives Search
From: "Patricia Kaczorowski"
Date: 2007-05-31 21:52:53 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Ingesting estrogen from prey?
To: <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>

I am not sure how much estrogen would be ingested from eating whole prey ( females), but I think of it this way, in a ferret that is fixed and has adrenal disease what is the primary cause of the symptoms? The adrenal gland makes too much of the sex hormones, primarily estrogens and these estrogens cause the symptoms of hair loss, vulvar swelling, dry skin, regression to intact heat behaviors- like nesting. So, IF the ferret eating intact female prey would cause a significant increase in estogens I would expect that these ferrets would also display symptoms of adrenal gland disease.
I dont' think it is as common in the US to feed whole prey, but as I understand it from those that do, or those from other countries that it is more a standard of diet- it does not cause any issues or changes in the ferrets as you are describing or questioning.

Just my thoughts

Patty Kaczorowski

----- Original Message -----

.OK, I reread that and realized I interpreted that wrong - females in
heat failed to kill their prey. >smacks self in head<

so it IS normal for Josie to be predatory because she is NOT in heat!

Still do wonder about the hormone ingesting though. Maybe because she
is eating the male mice - she IS more predatory - if I fed her more
female mice she might lose this prdeatory nature?

it is perplexing!
Regards, JosiesMom



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