Does Size Matter?
by Margaret Merchant
Georgie Boy
The debate about size in ferrets has raged for many years. Is it food, genetics, early altering? Many people have postulated many things over the years, but to date, no one has had scientific proof. And I want to make one thing clear up front; I donŐt have any answers for anyone else but myself. I donŐt have any degrees in veterinarian medicine.
I do want to tell you this, I have owned around 40 ferrets over the years, most rescues that came from a wide variety of places. Due to a life long interest in cancer (I have lost about 80% of my family to cancer) I have educated myself in genetics not only for humans, for but different animals as well. I have also taken about 20 hours of biology and genetics in college due to my own personal interest. This alone does not make me an expert. But I do want to share some things that I have seen over the years.
One of the great arguments against MarshallŐs is that because they alter their animals early, it stunts their growth. Personally, the largest ferret I have ever owned was a MarshallŐs that I purchased as a kit from a pet store. I fed George the best food I could get (before I could get ferret food he got a mix of Iams and Science Diet kibble) and he reached the size of almost 5 pounds. Plus he lived to 10 years old and only developed lymphoma his last year in life.
So what does this mean? Are you thinking Ňso what, I bet a late alter from a private breeder would be bigger.Ó Well I had several. I altered them anywhere from 6 months to one and half years. None of them grew to four pounds. I had ferrets from Canadian ranches that didnŐt grow any bigger. For several years three and a half pounds seemed to be my limit. Misha, my latest ferret, has porked out to three and three quarters pound in his third winter. I do not think he will hold this weight.
What made George bigger than the other ferrets? In my own personal opinion it was genetics with a foundations of good nutrition. Why is nutrition important? Optimum nutrition gives us the ability to reach our genetic potential. Our genes pre-determine how big we can grow. Food helps us to reach that limit. One great example of this is Japan. Pre World War II the populace was small of stature. Since World War II the population has grown steadily taller to the point of the clothes manufacturers having to resize their stock to accommodate the changes. This changes has coincided with the change to a more American diet, specifically the increase in protein in the diet. The more traditional diet consisted of grains and vegetables with small amounts of fish and chicken. The modern diet has much more beef, fish and chicken in it (not to mention all the things we have like fast food).
Another great example of this is medieval armor. As a child I visited Europe. At nine years of age, I wouldnŐt have fit into much of the armor I saw on display. Diet has changed significantly since then, with more varieties available to a larger population.
I give you this information to give you another viewpoint and to give you some facts for you to consider. So what do I do for my ferrets?
I make sure they get a good quality of kibble as the mainstay of their diet. I stay away from those with a lot of corn in them, simply because I know that corn can cause some health problems in a lot of other animals, including allergies in humans. Plus corn is mainly sugar in content and it isnŐt something ferretŐs need. Even if I eat too much sugar myself, I do so knowing the problems associated with it. Then I make sure I donŐt feed my ferrets too many treats that are bad for them.
One of the main problems with loading them up on treats like raisins or chocolate is that it makes the ferret feel full while not giving them any nutrition. Ferrets canŐt digest a great many things, so they could actually be full without meeting their nutritional needs. Since they are carnivores, they donŐt have an organ called a caecum or cecum (seekum). This organ helps in the digestion of plant matter. Ferrets donŐt have one. So while you may have a ferret that simply loves potato chips, it will only fill them up, not nourish them. But treats in moderation are just fine.
There are many, many recipes for supplementing a ferretŐs diet. I personally wouldnŐt recommend feeding any of them as a main diet since none that I have seen have been analyzed for nutritional value. What may look good to us doesnŐt tell us how well the diet is going to be digested by a ferret or exactly what nutrients they will take out of it. One thing that has always confused me is adding bones to a diet to in clearing out the digestive tract and also adding psyllium. Why? And as previously stated, no one that has had any great training in animal nutrition has developed any diets for ferrets, except for commercial diets such as Totally Ferret.
I think, as a healthy treat and or supplement, gravies or baby food are a great idea. I personally grind up cooked chicken to feed as a treat or to add medicines into. I just cooked whole chickens in a crock-pot all day, then pick out the big bones and grind up the whatŐs left with a hand held mixer, or Ňoutboard motor.Ó I donŐt add anything else to it, so I donŐt have to worry about anything. I mean ferrets do eat things like whole chicks or rabbits.
See one thing about adding all kinds of things to a diet is you do have to keep things in balance or use only things that will be excreted quickly from the body. Too many fat-soluble vitamins for instance, can build up in the system and cause many health problems. So keep your stuff simple and use only things you know are quickly excreted from the body.
I would recommend buying the best commercially made diet for your ferret, be it ferret diet or kitten diet. Get one low in corn and high in protein with a good amount of fat. Then you can give treats like baby food, small bits of cream, cooked chicken or eggs. Limit sugary treats. Stay away from vegetable treats. Your ferret should grow to its own potential. DonŐt worry if you donŐt have a thirteen pound ferret, they arenŐt meant to be like that. Besides, think of your food bill.
I am not associated with any company mentioned in this article.