Using Supplements

If you're feeding well-balanced raw diet that includes a wide variety of high-quality ingredients, supplements are not necessary for healthy ferrets. I feed mostly commercial diet, so I cannot control the quality of the ingredients. After discussing diet with 3 holistic vets, I've chosen to feed the following supplements\on a regular basis. Again, this is what I do. It does not mean this is the best or only way to do things. I will say that ferrets remain very healthy with only minor adrenal issues (over-grooming behavior and occasional rat-tail) at over 5.5 years of age.

PLEASE NOTE - with supplements, less is more. Do NOT overdo it. My ferrets are BIG- If anything, feed LESS than the amounts listed below - you can use them less often if dosing is tricky/inconvenient

-jennifer

FISH OIL
********
Highly recommended
* good source of essential fatty acids such as omega 3s
* health benefits for heart/circulatory system and brain
* May reduce risk of cancers
RISKS
* May cause digestive upset/aggravation of IBD in some individuals
* potential for oxidation of oils
(recommend capsule over bottles - less exposure to air)/oxidation)
(refrigerate bottles)
* organic and inorganic toxins and heavy metals may be in fish oils
smaller fish (anchovies, sardines) tend to have less accumulation of toxins/metals. Salmon has relatively low lead levels.
not all pharmaceutical grade oils are the same - know your brand.
* My Dosage: 250 mg per ferret per day.
* My Brand: Super EPA (Thorne Research)

EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
**********************
Highly Recommended

* Ecellent Hairball remedy
* May reduce cancer risk
* May help with IBD
* Proven to be effctive against Helicobacter Pylori
* Risk: Unknown
* Dose: ~1/2 teaspoon per ferret per day. (I don't measure this)

TAURINE
*******
Highly Recommended
* molecular composition very close to amino acids
* difficult to absorb and very difficult to overfeed
* Good for muscle - including the heart
* Anti-oxidant
* RISK - NOT recommended for use with ferrets that have kidney and/or urinary tract issues.

REISHI
******
* Immune system modulator
* Natural anti-histamine effective against mast cell tumors
* Anti-Cancer properties
* RISK: May contain agaratine. All raw mushrooms contain agaratine, which may be carcinogenic in very, very high, concentrated doses. Some recommend against eating raw mushrooms.
* Dose: 1/4 capsule per ferret per day
* My Brand: Either New Chapter or Host Defense

SUPER GREENS
************
* Anti-oxidant
* source of Trace Minerals
* RISK: BE SURE THERE ARE NO ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS these are DEADLY to ferrets even in very small amounts
* DO not feed Nanogreens to insulinomic ferrets or ferrets that have been kibble -fed
* DOSE: 1 small pinch of greens per ferret daily
* I alternate between Nanogreens (contains stevia - a sugar - see risk), Kelp, and Marine Algae

MEZOTRACE
*********
* Source of calcium and trace minerals
* RISK - contains torula yeast, which may lower blood sugar. Do NOT use this product if your ferret has low blood sugar/insulinoma or of has been fed a kibble diet for any considerable length of time.
* My Dose: 1 small pinch per ferret per twice a week
* My Brand Meztroce for Pets

ANTLER
******
* calcium and mineral source
* anti cancer/tumor properties, healing
* RISK: contains small amounts of testosterone - Antler will not affect the adrenal glands. But it may increase adrenal symptoms (I have not found this to be true in my ferrets) Not recommended for ferrets with urinary or prostate-related issues.
* Brand: Bonus Velvet Antler small dog treats (disease -free herds in Southern Colorado) )