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Hairballs & Blockages

What is a hairball?

A hairball is defined as a small collection of hair or fur which is formed in the stomach of animals that is occasionally vomited up when it becomes too big.  Ferrets, along with rabbits and cows, are not able to regurgitate hairballs like cats can so it can be a life threatening situation. Usually during shedding season, the ferret would get a piece of hair stuck in their throat and make a nasty cough while trying to hack it out. That is not a hairball, that is just a piece of hair in their throat. 

How Serious is it?

When the hairball is left untreated, it can become a trichobezoar;  a mass of hair which is trapped in the gastrointestinal system – an extreme form of hairball. Since ferrets cannot vomit it the hairball up, a trichobezoar is most likely to form. The egg per week and its incredible Lecithin and Choline duo will help to smoothly move any ingested hair through the ferrets body, this will help prevent the hair from getting stuck and forming into one sticky situation of a Trichobezoar.  Please note that egg is not a treatment, it is a preventative and even though Trichobezoars are rare, they need veterinary assistance because they can be fatal if undetected.  Surgical intervention is often required.

There are also other ways to prevent the hairballs from forming.

1. Whole prey: Feeding adult whole prey helps by cleaning the insides and pushing the hair through the ferret, so it can also help to reduce the chance of a hairball forming. 
2. Brushing daily to remove excess loose hairs. It helps remove hairs which could then be groomed and ingested.
3. Changing bedding.  Remove bedding with hair, and wash/clean bedding as best as you can to remove any hairs. The more hairs that end up on bedding ends up making your ferret more itchy, so remove bedding and replace with fresh and clean bedding every couple of days.
4. Egg.  Raw Egg contains lecithin and choline, both are great for helping hair move through the digestive tract of your ferret.

The best and most efficient prevention is using multiple of these. Brushing daily during shedding season is essential, and along with the help of the egg, you would have a double whammy!

Eggs are you friend!

Eggs contain a small amount of natural carbs. Usually it is under 1g but when cooked it can increase just a little. Unlike the carbs in pet foods, this will not affect the ferret in any way since the egg is only a small percentage of their overall diet. The egg contain valuable fats and nutrients, (Lecithin) which are known to help cleanse and lubricate the internal structures of the ferret. Because of that, it is recommended to give a ferret at least 1 egg per week, and up to 2-3 eggs per week during shedding season. 

 

Lecithin emulsifies fat, breaking it down into small particles. This speeds up and improves the digestion of fats by enzymes because the surface area is increased. This is what makes Lecithin such an incredible hairball preventative. Lecithin aids liver function, keeps the arterial lining free from cholesterol and prevents kidney and gallstones from forming. Methionine, which is also found in eggs, is also essential in the formation of nucleic acid of the genetic material of every cell. It’s a powerful antioxidant, assists in gall-bladder function and detoxifies heavy metals and excess histamine levels from the body. 

High quality eggs are rich in vitamins A and D, as well as Choline. Choline is an essential water-soluble nutrient that is usually grouped in as part of the B-Vitamin complex. Although not technically a vitamin by strict definition, this organic compound is required for life’s most quintessential functions, including basic cellular structure, nutrient transport and metabolism. It overall helps to improve gastrointestinal motility. Although it is naturally synthesized in small amounts within the liver, a significant amount of choline must be consumed in the diet to maintain health. Choline exists in all living cells, but is probably best known as a major part of lecithin–the emulsifier that keeps fats from clumping together.  

Raw eggs from a clean source are actually known as a health tonic and the whole egg is known to eliminate stored toxins from the body.

Concerns about raw eggs? Click here!

Blockage Symptoms

Some Common and Severe symptoms of a hairball blockage would be:

- Small, skinny poops or no poop at all, Tarry or black poop.

- Lethargic / Weakness / Decreased activity / Collapse,

- Vomiting / Dry heaving, 

- Unable or refusal to eat / Decreased appetite, 

- Decreased body temperature. 
- Weight loss, 

- Pawing at the roof of the mouth, 

- Teeth grinding.

- Abdominal distension,

- Shock

- Death.

When you suspect you have a blockage caused by a hairball it must be treated immediately or the ferret may stop feeding and ultimately die due to dehydration. 

CLICK HERE FOR BLOCKAGE PROTOCOL

Ferret Health: Hepatic lipidosis

Hepatic lipidosis

Good afternoon friends!

Today I decided to write little about an interesting topic that has been popping up a lot lately.

I've actually been researching this topic for a while and gathered a little information on it. I think this is essential that every ferret owner is aware of this issue so we can avoid it from ever happening to our lovely ferrets! Let's begin! 

Just like our feline friends, ferrets too can get this disease. It is known as Hepatic lipidosis, A.K.A  fatty liver, and is one of the most common liver diseases our ferrets could get. Hepatic lipidosis can get out of hand and cause damage in very little time, so understanding  this disease can help us to prevent it as best we can from ever happening to our little fuzzy companions, as well as help treat it.

What exactly is Hepatic lipidosis?

Hepatic Lipidosis is a common problem among many species of animals and even humans. It is more commonly known as Fatty Liver Disease. In ferrets (and cats), there is officially no known cause, hence why is most often left undiagnosed. Most ferrets are either obese or have experienced a sudden weight loss, or enforced fasting which then results in excessive mobilisation of fat stores, this then results in liberation of nonesterified fatty acids, which accumulate in the liver and result in hepatomegaly and hepatitis. 

Why It Is Serious

The liver on the top of the picture to

the left shows severe hepatic lipidosis. 

This liver may float in water! The liver 

on the bottom is normal in colour.

If Hepatic lipidosis is left untreated or undiagnosed, can become life threatening due to the fast digestive tract of the ferret. There is a high mortality rate associated with this condition, but if caught and diagnosed in early stages then the ferret has a better chance of recovery. If the ferret is left without food for too long, the chances of Hepatic lipidosis is more likely to occur due to sudden fasting. Affected ferrets are debilitated and may suffer from malnutrition, hepatic lipidosis, and aspiration pneumonia.If not detected early, there is high chances of the ferret dying from either malnutrition or complications from liver failure. 

Remember they have a fast digestive tract of roughly 3-4 hours. Left without food for a lengthy time can be risky especially for ferrets who have other diagnosed diseases. For the sake of the ferret's overall health, please always ensure that they have food readily available or within the 3-4 hour timeframe.  Left without food for prolonged periods is very dangerous, very unhealthy and not good practice so please always ensure your ferret has food available. Ferret's especially those with other health conditions such as insulinoma may crash, have a seizure and die in very little time from being left without food for prolonged period.

How Does It Occur?

There is always an underlying cause and various risks or reasons as to why a ferret would get Hepatic lipidosis. Half of the cases are called 'idiopathic,' meaning we do not know what has caused the condition, although almost all cases are associated with obesity or enforced fasting. Hepatic lipidosis can be found in association with long-term anorexia / severely underweight ferrets. Chronic GI diseases (e.g., trichobezoar formation) can lead to

hepatic lipidosis. Foreign bodies in the proximal duodenum can obstruct the bile ducts as they enter the small intestine and cause increased liver enzyme and bilirubin levels. 

Some risks that may result or increase chances of hepatic lipidosis are: 

• Endocrine or Metabolic Diseases,
• Cancers, 
• Hypoxia, Hepatotoxins, 
• Pregnancy Toxemia, 
• Diabetes, 
• Adrenocortical Adenocarcinoma, 
• Insulinoma,  
• Anorexia, 
• Obesity, 
• Kidney Disease, 
• Other Diseases, 
• Loss of Appetite, 
• Stress,
• Enforced Fasting,
• Etc.

Fasting And It's Inpact On The Liver

When a ferret goes into fasting, It's body forces the liver to convert body fat into usable energy. If this process continues for too long, fat builds up in the cells of the liver, and the disease has officially onset. Prognosis varies depending on the stage of the disease, with both a high recovery and mortality rate at different stages. The disease is may be reversible through intense feeding and there are higher chances of survival if caught in the early stages. 

Here is a good example.

This is Hepatomegaly in a cat. 

Enlarged, yellow and friable 

liver from a cat that died from 

hepatic lipidosis.

The liver's main functions include protein synthesis, the production of chemicals necessary for digestion, and the detoxification of the body. 

The liver also plays an important role in metabolism, the emulsification of fats, the production of coagulation factors (necessary for blood clotting), and in the decomposition of red blood cells. 

The liver is of such importance to the body, carrying out so many complex functions, that there is no way to compensate for the loss of the liver when it fails.

Symptoms of Hepatic Lipidosis

Clinically affected ferrets with Hepatic Lipidosis are present with any of the following: 

• Lethargy / Depression, 
• Tachypnea / abnormally rapid breathing, 
• Icterus / Jaundice / Yellowing of the skin (Best seen around the nose, paws and ears), 
• Dyspnea (difficult or laboured breathing.), 
• A pendulous abdomen, 
• Significant weakness / Ataxia: The loss of control of bodily movements in hind limbs.
• Prolonged skin tenting, 
• and mild tail-tip alopecia / loss of hair around the tail tip. 

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on presenting clinical signs and haematological analysis (blood tests) of elevated triglycerides and metabolic acidosis. A liver biopsy may confirm the presence of the disease.

Treatment

Treatment requires forced feeding, esophagostomy tube placement and aggressive intravenous glucose supplementation. If the ferret is obese then a corrective diet is essential to correct obesity. A ferret on a species appropriate diet is rarely obese, unless there is an underlying condition which then may cause obesity due to medications.  Correcting any underlying disease such as pregnancy toxemia, insulinoma or adrenocortical adenocarcinoma is critical for survival of the ferret. 

If you suspect your ferret has this condition, get your ferret to a vet ASAP!!

References:
http://vet.uga.edu/ivcvm/courses/vpat5215/digestive/week03/liverpath/fatty_change.htm
http://vetbook.org/wiki/ferret/index.php?title=Hepatic_lipidosis
http://www.zoopath.com/DiseasesofDomesticFerrets.pdf
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2135&aid=217
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatty_liver
http://vetbook.org/wiki/cat/index.php/Hepatic_lipidosis
Common Diseases of Companion Animals by Allelic Summers
Elsevier: Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents by James W Carpenter, Katherine Quesenberry 

This article may be altered/edited/updated. 

Organs For A Raw Diet

Organs

Some –If not all– Organs smell, look and feel just plain horrid, But they are essential for a healthy and balanced diet for our beloved ferrets. Regardless of our human diet choices, It is our responsibility to provide for our ferrets without biased views or specific feelings towards meat.

Being Veg And Feeding Raw

Pork Kidney

Yes, you can be vegetarian, or vegan and still give your ferret a species appropriate diet. It just takes little more effort, especially if you're particularly squeamish around meats.  The main thing for vegans would particularly be around finding the source of the meats, especially if you are not not happy and do not wish to support the majority of the cruelty behind the meat industry. It can be done, even though animals must be sacrificed for our ferrets, but providing that they are cared for and killed humanely, then that should put you at ease to some degree.

I myself am a Vegetarian, and I know plenty of vegans who also follow a frankenprey (and or) whole prey diet for their obligate carnivores. But that is another topic and for now I wills tick to simply speaking about organs.

Organ's In Ferret Nutrition

Organs, also commonly called offals or variety/organ meats, refers to the internal organs and entrails of a butchered animal.  Some organs are even used in various meals for human consumption in certain countries.  

Lamb Liver,
 Also common referred to as
Lamb Fry in various countries.

In regards to the frankenprey diet, you will need 10% organs in your ferret's total weekly diet. That is 5% of Liver, and 5% of another organ. The reason as to why the liver is only 5% is quite simple. Liver contains vitamin A. Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin, and if fed in excessive or too frequent amounts it has the potential to cause toxicity in ferrets.

Fat Soluble Vitamins?

The fat soluble vitamins are soluble in lipids (fats). Fat soluble vitamins, especially vitamins A and E, are stored in body tissues.  They are stored primarily in the liver and in fatty (adipose) tissues. The fat-soluble vitamins include A, D, E, and K. Extra care must be taken to not let your ferret consume any of these vitamins in excess amounts either too frequent feedings, or in large meals because they stay in the body longer and can more easily lead to toxicity. A well-balanced diet should in no way lead to toxicity issues, but vitamin supplementation on top of a well balanced diet might.

It's An Organ, But Not An Organ?!

Even though it is technically an "organ" body wise,
The Lungs in raw feeding are not considered
an Organ.  However It can be fed in an organ 
meal every once in a while. It just cannot 
replace other secreting organs.

Keep in mind that there are certain organs which are not considered "organs" nutrition wise when it comes to raw feeding. For the basic frankenprey diet, you want to feed secreting organs as part of your typical 10% organ meals. It does sound quite confusing, but don't fret. It's quite simple once you do your research and study!

To sum it down-- a few things which are "not considered organs" are things such as Gizzard, Tongue and the Lungs. I highly suggest that you check out the Holistic Ferret Article on Organs for a more in-depth article on the organ subject.

Heart is also not considered an organ. It is fed as a muscle meat and is required in the diet on a  weekly basis to ensure enough Taurine is in the diet.

These are Turkey gizzards, they too like the lung are not considered organs in raw feeding nutritionally wise.
However these are considered a muscle meat, and make a perfect chewy meal for your ferret.
They help to build jaw strength, and would make a perfect meat for new to bone in meat, ferrets.

Organs And Availability

As for organs which you can use, the most commonly found organs are Liver and Kidney, possibly even Pancreas. However, even though these are considered common where I am, it may depend on your location as to what is more common for you. For example, I personally cannot find anything other than Liver or Kidney where I live, however if I was to travel to the Markets in Preston (Australia) then I would find a good variety of other organs such as Spleens etc.  You "Hopefully" should at least be able to find any two organs, if not then I highly suggest that you talk with your local butcher, supermarket or local meat market and enquire on if they are able to order any specific organs for you. If they cannot, don't give up on your organ hunt, ask around. You may even be able to directly purchase from abattoirs or farms. If you've looked everywhere and still cannot find at least the Liver and one "other secreting" organ, then try ordering online and in bulk if you have the freezer space to do so. The more variety regardless of the meal, the more nutritious the diet will be for your ferret. 

Remember, not all proteins, not all types of meat or organs will hold the exact same nutrition stats. Some will have vitamins and minerals in varied amounts. This is another reason as to why variety is the key to a well balanced diet. The more types of food fed, the more the ferret gets a variety of nutrients to help support life.

Veal Sweetbreads

Nutritional Organs are Major Hormone-Secreting Tissues:

• Liver
• Kidney
• Spleen
• Pancreas
• Gallbladder
• Brain
• Major glands (thymus, thyroid, parathyroid)
• Uterus
• Testicles

Beef Pancreas

Liver and Other Organ

I only use two organs currently, Liver and Kidney, Since that is all that's available where I live. Liver is needed in small amounts for a base diet as seen in the typical Frankenprey menu (Which can be found here). Liver is best paired with at least one other organ. You don't necessarily have to use kidney, so use which ever other organs are available to you. Remember, the more the better for your ferret's overall health. 

Pork Brains

Serving Organs

The organs can be served in a variety of ways. If you have a single ferret, feel free to simply serve as it is or diced up. If you have 2 or more ferrets it would be wise to puree or blend the organs as a soupie. Although its not essential, its a good option especially if you're busy. It's also incredibly convenient and balanced, so it ensures that no ferrets consume one organ more than the other. If you don't wish to puree it, that's fine, you may also feed one organ at a time. I sometimes do this when I'm home. So in the morning I may feed liver and at lunch time I will give them a kidney. Both times I will add some hearts along with it. You don't have to worry too much about hearts since the Taurine in hearts are water soluble, meaning they can consume plenty of heart and simply excrete any excess nutrients VIA their urine. When I'm busy and cannot be home, I simply puree it and leave the hearts diced. It makes it kind of like a chunky organ soup. :) If you are having trouble with getting ferrets to consume organs during a transition, be repetitive and dab some on their gum or lips. The more you do it, the more they will lick it and become used tot he taste and smells. Another method would be to blend an egg into the organ meals. I find that this something alters the strong odours or tastes, and ferrets may enjoy the extra taste. :)

Pork Testicles

Culinary Names?

Some organs are called by certain culinary names in various countries. 

For example, Sweetbreads or ris are culinary names for the thymus (also called throat, gullet, or neck sweetbread) or the pancreas (also called heart, stomach, or belly sweetbread), especially of calf (ris de veau) and lamb (ris d'agneau), and, less commonly, of beef and pork. The "heart" sweetbreads are more spherical in shape, and surrounded symmetrically by the "throat" sweetbreads, which are more cylindrical in shape.

(Some other glands used as food may also sometimes be called "sweetbreads," including the parotid gland ("cheek" or "ear" sweetbread), the sublingual glands ("tongue" sweetbreads or "throat bread"), and testicles (cf. Rocky Mountain oyster, prairie oyster, or lamb fries)

In Australia and New Zealand, lamb's fry is specifically the liver; in the United States, "lamb fries" (q.v.) are specifically the testicles. In the U.K., it was all offal, though recently testicle has become rare.

In Conclusion,

Organs are essential for the overall health of your ferret. Some proteins and organs may contain more or less of various nutrients, so variety and balance is the key to maintaining your ferret's health and diet. Organs may be known as certain culinary names in certain countries, but when in doubt ask a butcher and you should be able to "hopefully" locate the organ of your choice. If you can get a variety of different organs, I suggest you do so. Find your own way to serve your organ, and keep them as 10% of the overall frankenprey diet. That is 5% liver and 5% other secreting organ. For more information on organs, or if you have concerns or questions in regards to organs and or the species appropriate diet, please come and join us on the Holistic Ferret Forum, or feel free to send me an email, or leave a comment on my blog.

The Holistic Ferret Forum

The HFF Website 

Until next time,

Updated 09/10/2016

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