Loki has been shedding a LOT lately and I've been concerned about him
forming a hairball because I can't seem to keep up with it, even tho I am
bathing, brushing and changing the blankies.  I got this idea to start
adding some 'fiber' to the kid's bedtime snack 'soup'.  I have been
crumbling some 100% Bran into it.  They love it and it seems that it is
causing them to have "high-volume" poops, which I would think would be good
for keeping the intestinal tract clean.  I'm not sure though.....could this
aggravate a potential blockage by adding more potential materials to block
the intestine?  I am also aware that 100% Bran has sugar in it, but I only
use about a tablespoon for enough soup for the three of them, so I don't
think that would be a factor.  I'm hoping the benefit of the additional
fiber would outweigh the potential for a sugar problem.  I also only add it
when shedding is heavy.  (I also give hairball remedy regularly; this is
just in addition to that).
 
I asked my local vet (who is NOT a ferret specialist AT ALL) about it and
he thought it was a very good idea.  The only problem here is that I don't
trust him for anything but the simplest procedures with my kids and even
then I watch him like a hawk, usually using him only as a stopping place on
my way to a 'real' ferret vet in Phoenix.  (He once xrayed Loki's left arm
and told me he didn't have any injury, but the next day when I took Loki to
Phoenix the vet there said that he had xrayed the wrong arm and Loki did,
in fact, have a dislocated elbow on his right arm!)
 
I would really appreciate some input on this.  I don't want to cause any
problems for them.  In case of a blockage, I have a four hour drive (to
Phoenix) to get to a vet I would trust to do a surgery, so it's rather
important that I do everything I can to prevent this from happening.  I
know there are some ferret knowledgeable folks out there who know the
answer to this.  Is it a good idea or not???  Thanks for your input.
 
jacquie & the boys (Loki, Morgan and Turnip)
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[Posted in FML issue 2967]