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Post by miamiferret2 on May 14, 2011 21:05:25 GMT -5
Someone recently posted about a ferret with possible stones. I have been testing Sonny's urine PH about once a week (when I remember) and it is usually between 6.5 to 7. I use Solid Gold PH test strips from the only natural pet store.
Does anyone know what the PH should be in order to prevent stones?
Has anyone read up on this? I am reading different things online. I don't have a science brain. so does anyone have input?
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2011 21:19:00 GMT -5
www.smallanimalchannel.com/ferrets/ferret-health/bladder-stones.aspxReading about stones there, it states: 1) Struvite Stones are more likely to form when the pH of urine is above 6.4. Acidic urine decreases the likelihood of struvite stones. 2) Calcium Oxalate Stones are more likely to form in acidic urine, but can also form in alkaline urine. However, most ferrets don't consume any sources of oxalate, so these stones are probably very unlikely. List of food sources for oxalate. www.georgetownuniversityhospital.org/documents/Urology/Food_Souces_Oxalate.pdf 3) Cysteine stones are more likely to form in acidic urine. However, these seem like they are usually tied to genetic defects of the kidney rather than a pH variation. I wonder if the reason Sonny's urine is slightly more neutral than it should be is because he's on freeze dried vs raw. The freeze dried would have more plant matter than raw, causing a increase in urine pH. Just a thought.
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Post by miamiferret2 on May 14, 2011 21:31:32 GMT -5
so, his urine ph should be lower than 6.4?
everywhere i read it says "normal ferret urinary ph is 6.5 to 7.5"
so i've been looking for ph's that are way out of that range. i haven't seen it so i haven't panicked.
as for food, he's on both actually store bought and freeze dried.
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2011 21:36:15 GMT -5
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Post by miamiferret2 on May 14, 2011 21:38:58 GMT -5
yeah i read that. i'm going to talk to the vet about this. i bother him so much that i've been holding off b/c he probably thinks i'm insane...if i tell him that i have been checking the ferret's urine ph he'll probably just look at me and roll his eyes.
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Post by miamiferret2 on May 14, 2011 21:41:08 GMT -5
what i'm going to do is, i'm going to have the vet check his ph because i have been told that these home test strips are always off (they are never right when i use a similar kind to test the pool water)
and the thing is that i wait until he pees on the floor or the newspaper and then i stick the little tester thing on the urine so i must be getting some other stuff from whatever floor cleaner i used and the newspaper ink, etc. i probably shouldn't rely on these things too much.
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Post by Heather on May 14, 2011 21:41:56 GMT -5
You have to remember that the higher the number, the higher the concentration. A raw fed ferret's urine has a lower concentration because of all the fluid it takes in in it's diet. Kibble keeps the urine too concentrated causing stones to be created, it makes perfect sense
ciao
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Post by miamiferret2 on May 14, 2011 21:43:11 GMT -5
sonny gets raw hearts /liver from the grocery store a few times a week. sonny also gets chicken wings a few times a week which i slice up for him but he doesn't eat the bones. he doesn't even try to eat the bones. during the day i leave freeze dried out for him.
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Post by miamiferret2 on May 14, 2011 21:46:40 GMT -5
he doesn't eat kibble at all though.
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Post by Heather on May 14, 2011 21:48:11 GMT -5
Ferrets are a lazy chew, try smashing the bones with a hammer. I mean really smashing them up. They won't chew bones if you don't find a way to make them
ciao
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Post by miamiferret2 on May 14, 2011 21:54:30 GMT -5
didn't think of that. what do you smash them with one of those mallet things? i'll have to go buy one. the dog eats the bones from the chicken wing and legs without a problem.
i have been looking to buy a meat grinder bc i've been using a little food processor that i have and its not so great. i think i'm just going to get a cheap hand crank one.
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Post by Heather on May 14, 2011 21:59:52 GMT -5
I just use a regular hammer. I also have a hand grinder (really old one circa 1942) it works great for this type of stuff
ciao
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Post by miamiferret2 on May 14, 2011 22:40:46 GMT -5
Have any of you tested your ferrets urine PH before? I'm doubting how accurate this is. It says you have to test the urine as soon as they pee for the test strip to have a more "accurate" reading. That's kind of tough to do. The way I do it is, if I pick him up and his penis area is wet then I will go around the house looking for the puddle. By that time who knows how long its been sitting there.
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Post by Heather on May 14, 2011 23:13:41 GMT -5
It only takes a touch, would he be wet enough?
ciao
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2011 23:14:40 GMT -5
I have pH test strips in my chem lab, I wonder if those will work. Might grab a couple and try
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