From:
"Sukie Crandall"
Date: 2009-01-15 15:22:37 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Fat ferret
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hi, it appears that some people have misunderstood the situation
at this shelter.
Having spoken with the shelter director, there are two primary
exercise areas, and one secondary one, and all of the ferrets get
out for daily play. It's just that this particular ferret has become
so disinclined to activity that it is hard to get her to move around.
That leads to two possible considerations. This could be a vicious
cycle that is based around obesity, OR perhaps what looks like fat
is instead abdominal ascites. Ascites is fluid that builds up due to
some disease processes. It can happen with a range of things but
the most common is heart disease. Heart disease also something
which causes ferrets to be less active.
It would pay to have a vet evaluation to see if this is fat or if is
ascites, then if it is ascites to find the cause.
You don't want to push a ferret who might have undiscovered (and
therefore untreated) heart disease into an exercise routine. If the
vet determines that it is fat then individual added exercise will
make sense. One big thing to help with that is to tie a toy bell
mousie on a strong attached to the end of a stick and lead the
ferret in a series of chases which increase every few days to more
and more activity. Make sure first that the ferret is healthy enough,
though.
So, AGAIN: those people who thought that the shelter ferret were
not getting out for exercise misinterpreted what Carol was saying.
She was indicating that it is hard to add out time with that number
ferrets so needed to use the time wisely, NOT that the ferrets don't
get out or have exercise.
I am glad that could be straightened out.
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, Carol J Owens <queenbee@...> wrote:
>
> I have a female sable ferret who was normal but naked when I got her
> last May. I gave the 14 hours of darkness, melatonin, no fur regrowth,
> so at the end of June she got a one-month Lupron shot. She got fur,
> lovely smooth butterscotch fur. I have not given her any more shots or
> drugs. She is with a group of three other boys. Now she has been gaining
> weight and is just fat, looking like some porkers I have seen on a lot
> of pred. I give her no drugs now so what is going on except she doesn't
> get out for a lot of activity with so many ferrets (45)? Ideas, please.
>
> Carol J. Owens
> Ferret Friends, Inc.
> Tucson AZ
>
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