http://www.smartgroups.com/message/readmessage.cfm?gid=1423922&messageid=4454
 
Hi Sandy and Dr Karin,
 
Rickets is not common with pet ferrets in the US if they are fed a ferret
food or a kitten food.  If they are fed an all meat diet only then there
will not be enough calcium in the food.  (We still see this with the big
cats that are kept as pets.  And in iguanas that are fed an all lettuce
diet.  Lettuce is low in calcium) Rickets is caused by an abnormal
calcium to phosphorus ratio.  Usually too low of a calcium level.
Therefore rickets is not likely unless this kit was being fed an all
meat diet.
 
Juvenile lymphoma, distemper, AD, disk injury, anemia, cardiac disease,
and severe metabolic disease would all be more likely differentials to
rule out.
 
Hope that helps,
Jerry Murray, DVM
[Posted in FML issue 4144]