To Chris, concerning ice cream -
 
        Remember, ice cream contains lactose, and most ferrets, unless they have
had milk products in their diet on a regular basis, do not have the enzymes in
their intestine necessary to break it down.  It tends to cause an osmotic
gradient, drawing fluid into the bowel to dilute out the lactose, and the animal
gets runny bowel movements.
 
        An irritated bowel may produce several bowel movements in quick
succession.
 
        Generaly, there are no side effects other than a short bout of loose
stools.
 
       Bruce Williams, DVM                 Department of Veterinary Pathology
       [log in to unmask]         Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
       (202) 576-2453/2454                 Washington, D.C.  20306-6000
 
[Posted in FML issue 0822]