THE ADVICE DISPENSED BY MYSELF IN REFERENCE TO FML POSTINGS IS NOT MEANT TO
SUPPLANT THE ADVICE OF VETERINARIANS WHO ARE IN CHARGE OF THE PATIENT.  IF
THE PATIENT IS NOT CURRENTLY UNDER THE CARE OF A VETERINARIAN, THE CLIENT IS
RECOMMENDED TO TAKE THEIR FERRET TO ONE.
 
>From:    Anonymous Poster <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: One Medical, + Various and sundry
>I am planning to adopt a ferret from a shelter near Hamilton.  Because of
>Monster's age (4), I am getting a large neutered Hob (hopefully big enough
>to hold his own) who has never had a problem with other ferrets.
 
Sorry, but your post was too general to make specific comments about.
Because the kidney is emptying into something else than the bladder does not
mean it is not functioning.
 
Mammals can live with one third of their original kidney cells.  That is why
you can donate one kidney since you would have 50 % left.  So your ferret
may have a normal life span.  There are predisposing factors to early kidney
cell die off which is what you want to avoid.
 
1) urinary tract infections - the bacteria can go upstream and cause kidney
   infections.
2) dental disease - the bacteria in the tartar and plaque have a pretty easy
   time to go into the bloodstream and can lodge in the kidneys and cause
   kidney cell loss.
 
3) In dogs and cats, a lower protein food might help. Due to the ferrets
   relatively high protein requirements in general, this is probably not a
   feasible idea to put them on a lower protein diet.
 
Mike Dutton, DVM, DABVP
Weare Animal Hospital
Weare, NH.
[Posted in FML issue 1473]