From:
"lewingtonjohn"
Date: 2007-10-07 11:25:21 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Overweight ferret
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "natczer" <natczer@...> wrote:
>
> I've just adopted a new ferret, de-sexed male. He is really
> overweight. I'm just wondering what tactics I can use to help him lose
> weight? Food options are limited as I live in Australia and few ferret
> foods are available here. I feed Innova Evo ferret to as well as
> various fresh meats to my existing ferret(which she'll only eat if I
> hand feed her!)and she's in great shape. I really never realised
> ferrets could get so fat! It isn't any else health related as all of
> the rescues from the place I got him from were in similar shape.
> Obviously plenty of exercise time out of the cage. Any other ideas?
>
Regarding overweight ferret the quick answer might be to not feed
as ferrets put on weight as fat in many cases.Once the 'body demands'
get to a certain level the ferret will eat anything put in front of it.
However, there is no reason not to feed raw meat diet. i have never fed
my ferrets commercial food, cat, dog or ferret.
Ferrets require high protein,high fat, and low carboydrate intake
and i have used various fatty meats like ox or calf hearts plus the
addition of egg yokes couple of times weekly.
It helps to get your ferret used to feeding once or twice daily.
I would feed jill 40-60 grams and hobs 60 to 100 grams daily as adults.
These suggestions are expanded in my recent book ,Ferret Husbandry,
Medicine and Surgery, ELsevierUK, which is in the hands of many vets
and in Australia at least is obtainable from the the library system.
Exercise is important for ferrets, a'ferret garden' is ideal and a
rather nocturnal lifestyle for the ferret is more natural to prevent
Adrenal Gland problems and remember to keep the carbohydrates (sugers)
down to prevent Insulinoma problems.
Regards, John Lewington B.Vet.Med. MRCVS
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