Also, read some vet texts like _Biology and Diseases of the Ferret_

Inge, I know I have setn you such links before, and Kris has sent
me private responses in the past with ones I'd sent her still present
in the quoted portions.

Yes, each appraoch DOES have its downsides.

Sorry about no saying much. The chain smoke downstairs had her
chainsmoking ex-husband over nd my lungs feel as bruised as bronchitis
makes them feel. I know it's just because I had so much asthma last
night ather than infection, but I had to get up about 10 times last
night due to not breathing well enough and when I did sleep it was
sitting up. If I had been thinking I'd have put myself in the bathtub
and spent the noght there. I have to do that some bad nights because
repeatedly gettig in steam helps.

You will have to find the most relevant ones among these becase I feel
crummy and ONE OF BEST THINGS ANYON CAN DO FOR A FERRET IS TO LEARN WAT
CAN GO WRONG WITH THE CHOICES MADE. Most should apply and there are a
LOT more in the archives, and I didn 't even include the FML Archives
in my search. because of how I feel today.

Luckily everone here is an adult and able to use a search engine, even
when that isn't always done.

Start with things like (and remember that ferets get at least 5 types  
of mycobacteria, with the most common (avian) being the mildest):
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG202
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG5199
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG5668
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG6258
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG6619
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG8628
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG11178
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG18480
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG17627
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG17585
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG15839
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG6125
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG12104
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG1947
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG3206
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG9058
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG9887
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG2281
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG15102
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG14602

There are a large number more but those should really get you started.

There are a LOT more but I will have to count on you to do that
research.

While rare, these infections do happen and some of them are fatal while
oterhs are very often severe and life thrreatening. That isn't a "dire
warning' it is just what the vet texts and vets who have treated such
ferrets say. Anyway, I don't have time for a careful sort or further
search when feeling like this.

On the other hand, kibble isn't idea of dental health (though soft
diets in studies are worse for gums than kibble is), and there may be
a further concern if the hypothesis that carbohydrates might impact
insulinoma onset finally proves out once it is actually properly
studied in ferrets (whcih it has not been so far and in the literature
for humans and other animals the data are very self- conflicting when a
person takes the entire spectrum of studies).

DOCUMENTED SOURCES OF BALANCE, BALANCE, BALANCE ARW A LOT BETTER
THAN RAW BELIEF. There are no perfect choices and anyone who feeds a
balanced diet whould not be made to feel uncomfortable for a personal
choice while still knowing what can go wrong with one's one choices and
how to treat those things because THAT KNOWLEDGE is ultimately what
best saves ferrrets! So, no matter what your choice HIT THE ARCHIVES
and learn th edownsides as well as the upsdides.


Sukie (not a vet)
Reminder:  THE FERRET HEALTH LIST IS MOVING.
To join, click on the joining link at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth and then follow the
directions.
OR just send a blank mail to the automated joining address:
[log in to unmask] and then follow the directions.
Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/

[Posted in FML 5423]