Just some of the FHL VET replies on treating enlarged prostates in ferrets: http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL5607 http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL2144 http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL1994 http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG1178 http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG1118 A concern I had in the past which i have NOT had time to learn more about is that I don't know what the current known or postulated mechanism for saw palmetto is, but if it contains a phytoestrogen that could backfire, so look into the mechanism. Okay, the write up in the umm website sounds reassuring on that score though I only have time to skim, so check on this. I'd still go with a proven med, personally, if surgery is impossible for health reasons. (7 years of age is not by itself a reason to not do surgery on a ferret if the vet is used to ferret surgeries and good at them.) May also be of interest: http://www.exoticpetvet.com/breeds/birdsmashdiet1.htm http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18791539 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18700016 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18683812 http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/281/18/1699 http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/354/6/632 Remember that some herbal meds can be as dangerous as some standard meds, and that which plants poison members of Carnivora is NOT always the same as what poisons humans so read up on risks in places like: <http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc&JServSessionIdr001=tp800hza41.app23b> http://www.umm.edu/altmed/index.htm http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/saw-palmetto-000272.htm and see other resources in my sig lines Sukie (not a vet) 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/ http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html [Posted in FML 6117]
