Here is a new omega 3 study (in cats) PDF (See it before it goes away
in case it has info also of use in ferrets.):
http://www.jarvm.com/articles/Vol3Iss2/FILBURN.pdf
(Perhaps an interesting non-kidney note: in the Discussion at the end it
mentions that Omega 3 supplemented cats who then became obese had better
blood glucose control and reduced blood insulin levels.)
 
Here is a 2005 consensus statement on managing kidney disease in dogs
and cats (which hopefully will generalize well for ferrets):
http://www.acvim.org/wwwfp/ConsensusStmts/Proteinuria.pdf
 
Here is an abstract of an earlier study (in dogs):
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgicmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed
&list_uids=9605110&dopt=Abstract
including:
>Dietary supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) alters
>the course of experimental renal disease in rats.  However, chronic
>renal disease in other laboratory animals and in human beings frequently
>responds differently to experimental manipulations... each group of dogs
>was fed a low-fat basal diet supplemented with one of three sources of
>lipid to achieve a final concentration of 15% added fat.  Fat sources
>provided omega-3 PUFA (menhaden fish oil, group FO), omega-6 PUFA
>(safflower oil, group SO), or saturated fatty acids (beef tallow, group
>BT).  Throughout the dietary trial, the magnitude of proteinuria and the
>plasma concentrations of creatinine, cholesterol, and triglyceride were
>lower in group FO... mean overall glomerular filtration rate... in group
>SO, a value that was significantly less ...than the corresponding values
>for groups BT and FO...interstitial fibrosis also was significantly
>elevated in group SO. ... We conclude that supplementation with omega-6
>PUFA enhanced renal injury; supplementation with omega-3 PUFA was
>renoprotective.
 
Note that the higher Omega 3 numbers (fish oil source) were protective
for the kidneys whereas the kidneys worsened faster with the vegetable
fat source (Omega 6).
 
In the 28th World Congress of the World Small Mammal Veterinary
Association (Sadly, not generally available) I also find this article
which may help FHL members whose ferrets have kidney disease:
 
>Nutrition and Chronic Renal Failure
>Joseph W. Bartges, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SA IM), DACVN
>The University of Tennessee  Knoxville, TN, USA
>...adequate nutritional status should be maintained with CRF.
>Feeding a reduced protein, reduced phosphorus, reduced sodium,
>non-acidifying diet with adequate potassium content may minimize
>signs of uremia and possibly minimize progression of CRF.(1, 2)
>In addition, consumption of adequate calories is important to
>maintain overall health and general well being.
>
>... Omega-3 fatty acid consumption is associated with sustained GFR in
>dogs and may be of benefit in CRF.(3)
>
>... Anorexia is a common problem with CRF and should be addressed.
>Feeding a lower protein-containing diet decreases gastric acidity,
>and, therefore, may decrease uremic- ulcers.  Hypergastrinemia occurs
>with CRF, and use of histamine-2-receptor blockers (such as ranitidine
>or cimetidine) decreases the gastric hyperacidity associated with
>hypergastrinemia.  (4) Stimulation of appetite may be necessary and
>can be accomplished by warming food to near body temperature, providing
>positive reinforcement for eating, feeding small meals frequently, and
>administering appetite stimulants...
 
Notice that the warming of foods, positive reinforcement, and frequent
small meals gets back to other recent discussions here on the FHL on
feeding sick ferrets, even though this was not a ferret presentation.
 
For dogs and cats he recommends going to these dietary changes as soon as
kidney disease is found.  Among other reasons, the resistance to change
seems to be less earlier in kidney disease.  Remember, too, that ferrets
all too often do not even test as having kidney disease until it is
decently along, which could a reason to discuss dietary modification
with your treating vet as soon as renal health tests are wrong.
 
Potassium supplementation may be needed.
 
 
-- Sukie (not a vet)
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[Posted in FML issue 4957]