milk?

[Deleted]

Id a little ok while im still trying to up their calcium intake? Not much of course, but just a little?

[racheld]

Not cow's milk, most ferrets are lactose intolerant. Goat's milk is okay (I think). You could also beat an egg and mix in a little bit of bone meal (like 1/4tsp or less). Why do you feel you need to up their calcium intake?

[Deleted]

Dec 10, 2014 7:24:31 GMT -5 racheld said:

Not cow's milk, most ferrets are lactose intolerant. Goat's milk is okay (I think). You could also beat an egg and mix in a little bit of bone meal (like 1/4tsp or less). Why do you feel you need to up their calcium intake?

Because eggshell is tough for me to do and i cant find bonemeal yet. Im trying to get them to start on bone but its taking a bit of time. They crunch up a couple but not enough

[unclejoe]

heavy whipping cream is tolerated better than regular milk. a little mixed in soups.

[bitbyter]

We have an article on this in the files.

[Deleted]

Dec 10, 2014 8:55:41 GMT -5 bitbyter said:

We have an article on this in the files.

Oh wonderful. I must have missed it

[Deleted]

Dec 10, 2014 8:25:41 GMT -5 unclejoe said:

heavy whipping cream is tolerated better than regular milk. a little mixed in soups.

Great we always have a lot if that. Hubby likes to bake

[bitbyter]

But they do need eggshell or bonemeal if they aren't eating bones yet. They will not get all their needed minerals from dairy products. You should be able to find bonemeal at most drug stores, health food stores or nutrition stores.

[Deleted]

Dec 10, 2014 9:37:41 GMT -5 bitbyter said:

But they do need eggshell or bonemeal if they aren't eating bones yet. They will not get all their needed minerals from dairy products. You should be able to find bonemeal at most drug stores, health food stores or nutrition stores.

I know. And i know it should be easy to find but for whatever reason its not. Still looking though of course

[Deleted]

I had to order some but bonemeal but it wont be here for 2 weeks.

[unclejoe]

i should have mentioned that whipping cream has a lot of fat so fuzz will put on weight if given too much.

[Deleted]

Dec 10, 2014 14:18:15 GMT -5 unclejoe said:

i should have mentioned that whipping cream has a lot of fat so fuzz will put on weight if given too much.

That sounds perfect for my girl. She is still very underweight

[Deleted]

I would avoid Dairy of any kind. I know that some ferrants use kefir for a probiotic and that has been approved by some of our senior ferrets like Sherry and Heather.
Katt posted this link, take a look at it:

holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/13367/why-ferrets-get-milk-kind

[Heather]

Do not use milk, cream or any dairy products in hope that your ferret will absorb the calcium, they won't. They might absorb the fat but not the calcium. We as humans have a hard enough time with that and there are much better ways to get calcium.
The only acceptable form of calcium ingestion for a ferret is...bone, bone meal powder and egg shell. These can be readily absorbed by your ferret the rest is a waste of time and money. The cream may actually upset your ferret's stomach and cause loose stools. I occasionally use Kefir (goat) if my guys have been on antibiotics and I use it not for the calcium but to replace gut flora.
ciao

[msav]

And remember Lactose is sugar.

Ferrets should not have sugar


And to expand further,

Lactose free milk does not mean it does not have sugar, Just no lactose,  It is supplemented with corn syrup (or other sugar) so it maintains the same taste and mouth feel.