Ruprect Kirche Von Gelehrsamkeit schreibt: [G.] Robert Church of
Erudition wrote:
>The goal is to try and expand the ferret's olfactory horizons so that they
>will be open to new foods later on.  This is the only effective method to
>insure the ferret will be open to dietary changes down the road.
 
I should like to suggest that Herr Ruprect Kirche (Mister Bob Church) in
his statement shown above might appreciate my following commentary, to wit:
 
The olfactory (smell) sense is of course not confined to the nose and sinus
cavities of the ferret, but is distributed to other parts of the ferrets
oral cavity - primarily areas of the tongue.  Differentation of the two
senses of smell and taste, olfactory and gustatory, is vague and difficult
to plot architecturally, but nevertheless both play an important role in
the recognition of food stuffs both in taste and smell and thirdly in the
structure of the food as solid, viscous or liquid.
 
As to the words, "the only effective method (olfactory) to insure the
ferret will be open to dietary changes down the road," may I expand on the
"only effective method (olfactory)" as being, well - incomplete.  I would
maintain that in addition to olfactory there is the gustatory and the
structure or form sensitivity: i.  e., solid or liquid as well as forms in
between (degrees of viscosity).
 
As a strong proponent of a variable diet for the ferret to promote health
and longevity, I also scream at the top of my lungs of the benefits of a
liquid diet in association with a solid or kibble diet.  And, by the way, I
would recommend that the vacuum water bottle be abandoned in favor of a
heavy weight shallow bowl filled with water.  This is better than the water
bottle in the sense that it allows the ferret to drink in a manner that is
natural (rather than having to depress repeatedly a steel ball at the tip
end of a steel tube.) I would like to think that the ferret will drink more
water out of a bowl than out of a water bottle, although I have made no
comparable study of these two sources of water.  Maintenance is a bit more
than with a bottle.
 
The reaction to a shallow, large bowl of water by the ferret is intriguing,
and for most of us is a delight to watch.  Granted, some mess ensures, but
the apparent delight of the ferret as it "paws" the water's miniscus is a
great joy to watch.  Also the ferret's approach to the surface of the bowl
of water is curious insofar that the ferret seems to "sweep" back and forth
with its tactile whiskers the surface of the water.  Even moreso is the
apparent shock of surprise seemingly experienced by the ferret when first
touching the surface with its nose/muzzle even after it repeatedly has
whisker-swept the water.  Curious indeed.
 
As an avid promoter of a frequent liquid diet (such as LUMPS) I have
noted that varying the contents of the soup LUMPS pemits a high degree of
variability that is impossible to achieve as rapidly when using solid-form
food only.  In addition the liquid phase rapidly stimulates both the
olefactory and gustatory senses, especially when LUMPS is served in the
6-ounce tuna fish cans still steaming from the cooking pot.  I've noted
that a "death-form" sleeping ferret is activated very quickly after a
6-ounce can of steaming LUMPS is placed in its cage just under its elevated
nest box.  Purely olfactory stimulation to be sure.
 
I"ve noted that kits can be transitioned from the sucking reflex to the
licking reflex by offering them the warm (warm like their mother's milk)
LUMPS at weening.  This appears to be very effective in bypassing the
nipping, biting behavior of the otherwise always hungry (not enough nipples
for the whole litter) kits and they develop big/little rotund bellies.  In
addition the contamination of the soup with beneficial bacteria (in the
yoghurt) innoculate the kit's guts so that at a very early age they are
capable of and do assimilate an increased level of their foods, this due
to the action of L. acidophilus, L. plantartum, L. bulgaricus, L. casei,
Streptococcus thermophilus and faecium, and two Bifidobacterium species.
The vegatative foods mixed in the LUMPS along with the "slippery" cooked
oatmeal (okra-like mucoidal) permits the kits to produce very large fecal
boluses, which I believe enhance the health of the ferret's gut by gently
and repeatedly cleansing the entire alimentary canal.  And the biggest
benefit of all - no dehydration & never a case of ECE.  Hello ... Doctor
Williams.
 
                        Edward
Lipinski                                Fiat lux. [L.] Let there be light.
Fuehrer des FrettchenGruendungs Frettchen NordWesten FNW [G.] Leader of
the ferret enterprise Ferrets NorthWest FNW
located on Mercer Island, State of Washington, Country of The Great
Fellatiator Wilhelm Jefferson [ you fill in the blank ].
[Posted in FML issue 2548]