From:
"Danee DeVore"
Date: 2008-01-25 00:48:09 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Hypocalcemia - was Almost a tragedy
To: <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>
Wolfy wrote:
In the past, has this ever been an issue with any breeders? Do you
really think diet had much to do with this, or was it just a lack of
supplementation that is usually given to jills during the pregnancy? I
really have to wonder if something odd is the primary cause of a
calcium dip and if the calcium depletion was more of a secondary
problem (like Russ already suggested .. something to do with her
genetically or a metabolic problem).
---
Reply:
I am no expert on this, so it is hard for me to say. I have been
researching the problems, however, as well as checking with other ferret
breeders.
Hypocalcemia is apparently very common in pregnant and lactating females of
certain dog breeds. It is also very common in cows that produce a lot of
milk. It is not uncommon in cats as well, although not as common as cows
and certain dog breeds. It can even happen in humans, especially in areas
where good nutrition is not stressed or not available.
Of the ferret breeders I am in contact with (through a breeders' list),
there have been no reports of this happening in ferrets on either a kibble
or a raw diet. However, in the past year or 2, there have been several
reports of litters of kits with metabolic bone disease (rickets) in litters
where the mother and kits were fed a natural or raw diet. Most of the
breeders on the list suggest feeding pregnant and lactating females a
calcium supplement, to be on the safe side, and also providing it to the
kits while they are transitioning to solid foods.
Tonight, I got my other raw eating ferrets checked, and all had low calcium
levels, so I think it is something to do with the diet. My vet was not
concerned with the 2 males, who are both 1 year old, but did caution before
considering breeding my other female I should make sure her calcium level is
increased. None of the levels were dangerously low - they were either low
end of normal or just below normal limits. Still, it is something for
people planning to breed ferrets to be aware of and take precautions
against.
Additionally, in talking with others, one point that has been brought up is
that frequently, animals raised for food purposes are killed before they
reach true maturity. The people raising them want to market them as soon as
possible, to make a better profit. Animals, like chicken, raised for human
consumption are butchered at a young age additionally to provide a more
tender meat. Things like Cornish game hens are often not really Cornish
game hens, but 3 week old chickens. Any young animal will be likely to
offer a lower calcium level then a true adult. I have no way of knowing
what the real age of the animals in the ground I am offering are - although
they are sold as adult. It is likely they are at best very young adult
animals.
Plus, in the wild, animals generally have much smaller litters. A litter of
3 or 4 is normal for a wild ferret or polecat. Val was carrying 12 - 3
times that. And so, her calcium needs would be much greater then her wild
counterparts.
For now, Val is doing fine on her new diet, as are the kits on their
supplemented diet. Val is still able to nurse them some.
We did loose the runt today. He got tangled up in some of the bedding and
got slept on and smothered. He was just too small to free himself. It was
very sad, but at the same time, I think he had serious problems. Even once
he was being tube fed, he really wasn't gaining any weight. I do suspect he
had some kind of problem with absorption of nutrients. Sometimes, it just
happens.
Danee DeVore
International Ferret Congress Health Issues Coordinator:
<http://ferretcongress.org> http://ferretcongress.org
ADV - If your ferret hasn't been tested, you don't know! For more
information visit:
<http://www.ferretadv.com> http://www.ferretadv.com
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