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Post by woozl on Sept 2, 2011 21:10:01 GMT -5
Hello all! I have been reading alot about the need to supplement my ferrets diet with melatonin and I have a pretty good grasp on the reason why. My question is this: I have read that a ferrets health can be influenced by keeping them in darkness, either with a cage cover or darkened room, for 18-20 hrs. per day. Now, will supplementing with melatonin alleviate the need for this, or will a darkened environment plus the melatonin be the best way to go? Thanks to all for advice!  *Updated question! I am in the process of switching my ferret to a raw diet and am looking to avoid ALL sugars. Most melatonin pills/liquids have some form of sugar in them. Will this be a problem? Also, is there a good sugar-free alternative to Ferret-Lax? And do they need that lax stuff all the time anyway? sorry for the question barrage!!  |
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Post by Sherry on Sept 2, 2011 21:42:29 GMT -5
The question "barrage" is just fine  As for the darkness and the melatonin helping either avoid or put off adrenal disease- to the best of my understanding it does help. However, virtually all our farm ferrets are now genetically prone to adrenal disease. Combine that with the pediatric spay/neutering, and with the original recommendations(darkness, melatonin) I honestly think the most we can hope to hold it off is a couple of years. So 4-5 years old, instead of 2-3 years old. And that's not a bad thing! The thing with the artificial light is reducing/preventing the production of melatonin which they get in total darkness, and the light triggering artificial seasons in ferrets. Including our farm babies. Just because the gonads are missing doesn't mean the pituitary recognizes that fact. They still have a "season", which is why we presently have such a prevelance of adrenal  As for the sugars, I think it's deciding on your risks. Are the sugars enough to trigger insulinoma in the absence of carbs or starches when on a raw diet? Not a clue, sorry. As for the lax, I keep that for emergencies only. As in risk of a blockage, or suspicion of one. Otherwise, I use pumpkin. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2011 12:38:26 GMT -5
I'm not sure if I would use melatonin as a preventative. It is one of your tools to fight adrenal and I know that it loses it's effectiveness over time.
The best scenario is no artificial lighting, plenty of sunlight, normal day time to night time ratio.
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Post by Heather on Sept 3, 2011 15:18:51 GMT -5
Using melatonin as a preventative doesn't really work. What it does is mask the symptoms so you don't see them as quickly. Using melatonin was something that was done several years ago and they've discovered though it doesn't hurt the ferret, it doesn't allow you to see the symptoms as quickly and therefore you may not be treating your ferret as quickly. As I use melatonin myself when symptoms first appear and have had very good results with it in that respect, I think it's 6 of one and half a dozen of the other. At least if I know that I'm treating adrenal when I'm using it. Let's just say if you're using it as a preventative you've removed one more drug or supplement in your arsenal that keeps this disease at bay. It has been discovered that ferrets do require some lighting....natural lighting and getting the correct amount of lighting for the season is the whole idea. My guys love to lay outside in the sun, with a cool breeze, but they also have access to dark sleep boxes (which they use a lot). They get to choose. The lighting that is used the least is the lights during the evening and night...those are the ones that are going to cause you problems ciao |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2011 15:33:41 GMT -5
Just curious, is sunlight necessary? Mine rarely get it, but have only natural lighting (window) during the day cycle with dark places to hide and sleep. If I bring them outside, it is a shaded area but this is rare. We play at dawn and dusk and if light is needed we use the amber bulbs. Just wondering if periods of sunlight should be something I should consider? Not intending to change the subject here, my apologies  |
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Post by Heather on Sept 3, 2011 15:58:16 GMT -5
I think that natural light is more important that actual sunlight...if that makes sense. My guy sleep in it because it's available....it's dappled. They will sleep under a bush or shrub or in the tube going down to the ferret play space outside. I've found Fun-Go sleeping down in the play space but it's usually under some overhanging grass, never directly in the sun like a cat
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2011 16:52:58 GMT -5
Ah, I see Thanks! |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2011 20:55:31 GMT -5
Natural lighting is more important than the physical lighting. Ferrets are active at dawn and dusk, so in the wild they probably aren't in direct sunlight much. I think window light is fine.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2011 2:28:38 GMT -5
Not turning on any artificial lights (during the day and especially at night) helps a great deal (like Heather said). When my guys are out playing at night, in order to see them, I use amber lights. It has shown in studies to allow the most amount of melatonin to be produced out of all the colors (blue lights being the least). During the day, I just let the sun light up the room naturally. Of course, proving dark places for them to sleep during the day is also good to have (they do this in the wild) |
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