From:
"lewingtonjohn"
Date: 2007-07-06 09:21:09 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Narcotic future "Problems with the kits
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hi,
I have heard from Sukie that you have had extreme stress with
kittens developing the "Swimmers' condition. Geoff Smith has been
describing this condition and i had some early contact with it.
The material in my book Ferret Husbandry, Medicine and Surgery (FHMS)
shows what it is and what can be done. Nutritional and genetic causes
are on the table for discussion.
I have indicated my treatment with reducing protein and upping the
calcium intake which worked. Basically, to chose an old saying, one
had to be cruel to be kind in some respects. Starving the kits and
getting them into hydrobathing, physical movement of legs plus
pushing thelegs under the body may seem to violent but it can get
results.
Having ten kittens affected is a horror story.
I assume the writer is a breeder. Are the jills kept inside or
outside? Are they fed seperatly?
The affected kittens are best fed seperately.In fact all kittens
should be fed seperatly to check on weight change.
Talking about Australian ferrets i recall seeing an Italian ferret
breeder with a jill and 13 kittens. Not in a good setup.The jill was
a skeleton but active as hell and all the six week old kittens were
thin but active.I got one of the kittens and it went okay on my
feeding ideas.
Once the jill had got rid of the kittens, ie sold off, she went back
to her normal weight. Everything goes for the kittens.
Note in my FHMS the feeding of jill ferrets/kittens is seperate from
feeding adult ferrets. The idea was to fed the jill ferret adequately
and the kittens adequately so that the body skeleton is considered
first and the flesh weight, if you like, is added later but not to
excess. Emphasis on mineral/vitamin intake plus basic protein, fat
intake. Talking in general terms
This is explained in the text.
I cannot say what indivual ferret breeders in the USA are feeding
but we could spend all day arguing about it. Commercial diets etc.
Personally, i am amazed to hear that the affected kittens were
getting surgery on their bones at a young age for "Swimmers"
I'm sure everybody means well but how wide spread is the practice?
In fact how many "swimmers" does one see in USA ferrets?
I wrote the first edition of FHMS in 2000 as i was concerned with
reports of the high incidence of Adrenal Disease and Insulinoma in
USA pet ferrets.( coming to Australia?) I am still concerned as the
conditions seen to be still widespread. Just cruising the
FerretHealth site I am amazed to hear of ferret owners with one, two
three or more ferrets with debilitating diseases.
If there is a basic genetic feature of ferret diseases, as discussed
in my book by USA specialists then i hope there is some improvements
in ferret health in the future. A basic change in outlook on ferret
husbandry may be required as suggested in FHMS.
Sincerely
John H Lewington.
Ferret Husbandry,Medicine and Surgery. Elsevier.UK 2007
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