Hi,

I just wanted to say that while the arguments can be a bit difficult
to get through on this subject I appreciate everyone weighing in with
their opinions. I am one of those people who are constantly looking to
improve the conditions for my ferrets. When I got my first ferrets from
a breeder I did have them fixed later on developmentally for their
health, but with all my research at the time couldn't find much about
raw diets so I consulted my vet and went to numerous pet stores and
fed the best quality dry kibble with the least amount of carbs and
vegetable/fruit matter and the most possible meat sources I could find.
Over the years since I have been a member of the FML I have read about
raw foods but I am finding that it is either something that is probably
much easier to start when ferrets are kits or if they happen to like
the taste of meat. By the time I heard about feeding raw, my oldest
was two and wanted no part of food other than her kibble and while my
youngest (around 8 months at the time) was curious, he wouldn't eat
it either. My rescues are the same way. They don't like to stray from
their kibble staple. I've tried, but they won't have it. Maybe it's
something I'll try if I ever get a new baby (probably from a breeder
once all my current fuzzies have past - good balance right now).

While I can't say how diet has affected the health of my ferrets (lost
one to heart tumor, one to cancer, a rescue from pre-existing adrenal
disease and one probably to a broken heart most-likely after the sudden
passing of her two best friends at 6 yrs old) my oldest is currently
around 6 I think (rescue) and both of my current ferrets seem healthy
and happy. They also only have natural light (I try not to turn on
lights in their room at night) and many covered places to hide. I think
that while there are debates on diet that may require actual studies to
really decide what's best (I knew of a vet tech who's Marshall ferrets
lived to 11 yrs old on Science diet kitten food) nutritionally, there
are probably more factors out there like genetics and pre-disposition
to natural disease, natural light exposure (my adrenal ferret rescues
were exposed to near constant uv light before I got them as if they
were reptiles or something), and exercise. All we can do is what we
feel best for our fuzzies and if they are healthy and happy, we must
be doing something right.

Thanks again,
Katie

[Posted in FML 6065]