Mary McCarty <[log in to unmask]> on 4/21/2006, 2:00 AM: >Kibble does not provide that action, being a paste, so it is necessary >to give lax to prevent hair balls. I find the need to comment here. Just so all the variables are understood - I live in the US, and I currently feed a kibble diet supplemented with cooked meat and meat baby food. In the 20 years I have had ferrets, I have never given them a hairball remedy, nor have they needed it. Most of my ferrets are necropsied when they die, and none have had hairballs. Further, none have ever required surgery for a hairball. I have always attributed this to the fact that I change their bedding frequently, especially if they are shedding, and handle them a lot. When I handle them, I knock loose hair off, and if they are shedding, I run my fingers through their hair against the way it grows, to loosen and remove more hair. Additionally, my ferrets get a lot of time out of their cages, so they do not get bored and start licking or chewing their fur. I do not bath my ferrets, nor do I brush or comb them. When I was showing, I did bath and brush them to prepare for the show, but that was the only time. I know that some ferrets do get hairballs. I am not saying I think that hairballs are a myth. And except for the above, I really don't know why I do not have problems, but I don't. -- Danee DeVore International Ferret Congress Health Issues Coordinator http://www.ferretcongress.org ADV - If your ferret hasn't been tested, you don't know! For more information visit: http://www.ferretadv.com You can help fight ADV! Visit: http://help4adv.terrabox.com/ [Posted in FML issue 5220]