>You know people, some of you are one way and are forgetting the other
>aspects causing good or bad health of our furkids.
>
>There is more to a ferrets health being good or bad than just what they
>are fed.  Genetics & environmental influences play a MAJOR part in how
>long out furkids will live & how healthy they will be.
>
>Have you ever thought about how ferret farms breed to get their kits?
>Or how a Private breeder, reptitable or not, conduct their breeding
>practices to get the kits they produce?
>
>What about environment?  The type of litter you use can effect a ferrets
>health.  So can purified, tap, spring and well water.  Light, little
>light or no light.  The type of vet care you provide can determine your
>ferrets health as well.  Smoking or not smoking around your ferrets can
>also contribute to their good or bad health.
>
>Everyone needs to LOOK at the whole picture before determining what is
>good or bad for their or anyone else's ferrets.  It's not just what you
>feed them!
 
hi Debi,
 
Absolutely, I couldn't agree more!
 
Unfortunately, not all aspects of health are within our control
(especially as a lot of ferret parents adopt rescue ferrets).  I think
this makes it even more important to provide the best we can in the
aspects we do control.
 
We know ferrets are designed to run & play, so providing lots of room &
playing with them often, is critical for building and maintaining
muscles, working the heart, stimulating the mind and lots of other things
to keep the body fit and healthy.
 
We know ferrets are designed to sleep in nice, dark burrows for many
hours a day, so providing a dark, cozy bed (sleeping boxes are a
fantastic way to provide this) is important.
 
We know ferrets are designed to breath fresh air, so providing as
pollution free an environment as possible is important.
 
We also know ferrets are carnivores and hence are designed to eat other
animals, so providing a diet as close to this as possible (although like
I've mentioned, a natural diet doesn't have to include mice or other
whole animals) is critical for preventing periodontal disease (ie mouth
infection) and providing the right nutrients (proteins, fats, vitamins &
minerals, and virtually ZERO carbohydrates).
 
Thank you for bringing diet into perspective among other equally
important aspects :)
 
shona
[Posted in FML issue 5195]