From:
"Sukie Crandall"
Date: 2008-09-29 16:16:42 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Need Advice! Snacks
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
There is a chance that sort of snack might set up ferrets
for insulinoma down the road. It's not a proven concept
but there are some reasons to take it seriously as a potential
problem till it is studied well enough and carefully enough
in the right ways. Insulinoma is a tumor types in which the
beta cells of the pancreas begin producing too much insulin
so the blood sugar levels drop which can be fatal if too
extreme. See resources like:
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/insulinoma.htm
http://www.afip.org/consultation/vetpath/ferrets/PDF/insulinoma.pdf
Okay, let's anticipate the objection and say that doesn't happen,
do those snacks make sense then? No, they don't.
The first reason is the one you mentioned: that junk replaces
nutritious sources of food so the ferret may be under nourished.
It might also cause GI irritation, esp. in large amounts.
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG3287
If they are ones with nuts it could cause a blockage.
It can cause over-weight which tends to undermine the ability to
exercise, and exercise is a cornerstone of a healthy ferret life.
It rots teeth and can set the stage for gum disease.
Gum disease in turn might be factor in bacteria getting into the
bloodstream and going to other organs such as the heart,
liver, etc.
There just is NOT anything good to say about that treat choice
except that the ferret like them and the practice makes your
husband happy.
You need to make them both happy with better choices of
treats your husband can give.
Here's a past vet post to help:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG15758
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "darlingmiki" <darlingmiki@...> wrote:
>
> I need to know what kind of snacks are ok to feed our ferret. My
> husband gives ours sugary cereal and says it won't hurt her. We have
> lost one ferret (Missy) and we got another one (Meeka) and I don't want
> to loose this one to poor nutrition (I suspect that is what took Missy
> from us). I have argued with my husband over this and he insists that
> Fruit Loops and Captain Crunch won't "hurt" her but I insist that they
> can't be good for her either. Please advise.
>
> Thanks
>
------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:ferrethealth-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:ferrethealth-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ferrethealth-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/