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Post by bigsis7 on Feb 26, 2009 9:07:19 GMT -5
I've been reading about some people giving their ferrets milk? I was curious as to if this is ok if given in small amounts? Are there health benefits or is it just a treat? Thanks!
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Post by harrisi on Feb 26, 2009 10:21:02 GMT -5
I wouldnt give cows milk especially from a super market, but our local farmer gives us bottles of fresh/whole goats milk which we freeze and keep for if we need to handraise rabbits, puppies, squirrels etc and the ferrets get some of that every day (1tsp per ferret) and I have noticed dramatic differences in them - smoother coats, calmer attitude, boosted energy, digestive tract running smoother and a lot more.
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Post by tsslilsis on Feb 26, 2009 11:03:04 GMT -5
I wouldn't suggest cows milk either. Ferrets can be lactose intolerant. Mine also get goats milk sometimes. They LOVE it!!!
-~Ketlin
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Post by sherrylynne on Feb 26, 2009 11:03:42 GMT -5
I wouldn't do supermarket/cow's milk either. Ferrets are lactose intolerant. Could give them the squirts, though  |
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Post by harrisi on Feb 26, 2009 11:43:41 GMT -5
I wouldn't suggest cows milk either. Ferrets can be lactose intolerant. That, and supermarket cows milk is 70% antibiotics  |
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Post by spiritualtramp on Feb 26, 2009 12:03:30 GMT -5
Goat's milk is probably a safer bet (for a number of reasons) but I wouldn't give it daily, honestly. Milks, even lactose-free milks like goat's milk, still contain lactose. They just also contain lactase, the enzyme that helps to digest it. And since lactose is a sugar, I'd limit it.
That said, my kids do occasionally get goat's milk in soups, and all love it.
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Post by bigsis7 on Feb 27, 2009 7:58:05 GMT -5
Ok thank you everyone!
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Post by fuzzymom on Mar 3, 2009 17:09:57 GMT -5
If not daily, could you give goats milk say 2-3 days per week?
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Post by sherrylynne on Mar 5, 2009 19:04:33 GMT -5
I don't know that I'd even give goat's milk more than weekly, mainly because of the sugar, and even if the lactose is much lower, it's still there.
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Post by harrisi on Mar 6, 2009 10:52:44 GMT -5
As I said I give 1 tsp of goats milk daily or every other day and the vets all say my ferts are at great health. But also remember it isnt skimmed/filtered at all  |
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Post by selzdaze on Mar 7, 2009 18:40:58 GMT -5
What abour Soya milk/cream as an odd treat? Mine get a small amount of soya milk(if we don't have cat milk) if they have to take meds for any reason, and love it. They don't get it any other time though, I wait until I can buy some cats milk (lactose reduced for cats, not actually from cats - I was asked once LOL!)
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Post by sherrylynne on Mar 8, 2009 0:58:35 GMT -5
I can't see soya milk hurting them, as long as it's minimal amounts. Kind of like ferretone, with the BHT's, etc. It can be cancer causing, and as I just found out on another forum, the synthetic vit's A & D used could potentially be toxic, but mine only get 3-4 drops every couple of weeks for nail trimmings, so I don't worry about it.
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Post by mustelidmusk on Mar 9, 2009 17:12:47 GMT -5
My brats get a little goat's milk here and there. maybe once or twice per week.
Other than antibiotics, fake vitamins, etc. from the highly processed stuff in the supermarkets, the only issues I watch with a little goats milk are the following:
* sugars - If you're feeding any kibble of commercial foods conatining inulin, you may want to avoid milk altogether. I feed commercial diets that contain some inulin, which, in theory does not affect blood sugar. Ziwipeak seems to have quite a bit of inulin, so I feed it VERY sparingly and not on a regular basis.
*Lactose - commonly gives ferrets diarrhea - If you're ferret get the runs from dairly, you should either cut back the amount or avoid it.
In any event, dairy should be kept as a treat!
-jennifer
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Post by jojodancer on Mar 10, 2009 9:51:19 GMT -5
mustelidmusk writes: I feed commercial diets that contain some inulin, which, in theory does not affect blood sugar. Ziwipeak seems to have quite a bit of inulin, so I feed it VERY sparingly and not on a regular basis.
I was wondering where you found how much inulin the ZP has. I looked up inulin and it seems to be in roots and plant matter, and ZP doesn't contain a lot of roots and plants in their foods (at least the cat foods). I only see chicory root and kelp. Do these carry alot of inulin?
Also, looks like inulin is a good thing: being used as a prebiotic, and as you said, is not insulemic and does not raise triglycerides.
I'm just wondeing where you found this information so I can learn, too.
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