To Stephanie Ann Maehr:
 
>Dr. Williams, when is the best time to switch from high quality kitten
>food to high quality cat food for my little ones?
 
    Stephanie - I generally recommend at around 3 years of age.  As ferrets
begin to develop signs of degenerative renal disease (much like the same
problem in cats), the lower protein load on the kidneys that accompanies a
decreased level of dietary protein will most likely have a somewhat
protective effect.  Of course, it will not stop the renal degeneration which
we see in older ferrets, but it should slow it down some.
 
Bruce Williams, DVM, DACVP                                   Dept. of
Veterinary Pathology
AccuPath
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
[log in to unmask]  OR                                 Washington, D.C.
20306-6000
[log in to unmask]
(202) 782-2600
[Posted in FML issue 1263]