|
Yoghurt
Feb 15, 2012 16:39:09 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2012 16:39:09 GMT -5
Before I found out suger was really, really super bad for the ferrets, I used to let them lick the inside of the little yoghurt cups we get, which were sometimes sweetened. It was by far one of their favourite things.
So, I'm just wondering if plain, all natural, unsweetened, plain, straight yoghurt would eb good for them? I've used it plenty with my rodents & other animals, just wondering if such a thing would be good for the ferrets also.
|
|
|
Yoghurt
Feb 15, 2012 16:44:56 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2012 16:44:56 GMT -5
I *believe* -- and I'd let someone else chime in here too -- that whole-fat, plan, unsweetened yogurt is okay in moderation. Actually I think Sherry once said that can be used to help re-balance the good bacteria in a fert's digestive track if it manages to get unbalanced... ...but I'd wait for someone else to chime in too (Sherry, sorry if I got that wrong!)
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2012 16:47:02 GMT -5
Yes its good to help replace natural bacteria in the gut after a round of antibiotics. But like you said only plain low fat kind.
Sent from my SCH-M828C using ProBoards
|
|
|
Yoghurt
Feb 15, 2012 16:58:43 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2012 16:58:43 GMT -5
Hmm...low-fat or whole-fat? I could have sworn I was told whole-fat, buuuut...I have certainly been wrong before ;D
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2012 17:01:38 GMT -5
I dunno I always used low, I think whole has more sodium.
Sent from my SCH-M828C using ProBoards
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2012 17:11:43 GMT -5
|
|
|
Yoghurt
Feb 15, 2012 17:14:47 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2012 17:14:47 GMT -5
Just my 2 cents -
I think letting them have sweetened yogurt is very dangerous, because some diet yogurts may have artificial sweeteners like aspartame in them, to make them lower calorie. Many artificial sweeteners are toxic for ferrets. Just something to keep in mind. With that in mind, I wouldn't let them touch anything but unsweetened yogurt, just to be safe.
|
|
|
Yoghurt
Feb 15, 2012 17:41:00 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2012 17:41:00 GMT -5
I always thought ferrets were lactose intolerant, like cats, and that it's a myth that it's okay for them to drink milk or have any dairy products- it causes bloating, bad digestion and some-time long-term intenstinal damage in people. See this link: answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110629094756AAXQOTnI think some soya yoghurts might be okay, but again, they aren't exactly great for ferrets- naturally they'd only be eating meat, and a dairy free soya yoghurt will be 100% plant based, and therefore undigestible. It'll also probably have plant sugars in.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2012 17:56:19 GMT -5
The idea of the yogurt is to be used very rarely the restore healthy gut bacteria. Not really as a treat. But licking out a container if you eat some won't hurt.
Sent from my SCH-M828C using ProBoards
|
|
|
Yoghurt
Feb 15, 2012 17:57:35 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2012 17:57:35 GMT -5
Hmm, good question. Before I knew better (when my [now ex] boyfriend lived with me with his fert, Loki) I used to give Loki milk all the time, he never got sick. (Then again, he also drank beer on a nightly basis...I know, I know, beer = BAD...that was the boyfriend's doing.) Maybe it was the sugar and other crap in the coolwhip as opposed to the dairy? I'm lactose intolerant and I can do coolwhip without an issue, I don't know how much dairy is actually in that stuff vs. chemicals, etc...
But I've said it before...I'm certainly no expert & I've been wrong plenty of times! ;D
|
|
|
Yoghurt
Feb 15, 2012 18:26:13 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2012 18:26:13 GMT -5
My rule is: if in doubt, don't feed it. If you want to give your ferret treats, there are plenty of other things you can give safely and then you won't need to worry about it. Oils, raw eggs, some baby food, and dairy free cat/kitten milk. If you are going to go out and buy some yoghurt specifically as a treat, then it's probably easier to just get eggs or something.
|
|
|
Yoghurt
Feb 15, 2012 18:27:53 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2012 18:27:53 GMT -5
Sorry if I sound pompous and bossy, I just thought it was worth mentioning as no one had yet, and I thought it was common knowledge that ferrets were lactose intolerant.
|
|
|
Yoghurt
Feb 15, 2012 18:37:18 GMT -5
Post by Sherry on Feb 15, 2012 18:37:18 GMT -5
Yes, ferrets are generally lactose intolerant. That said- plain whole fat yogurt(preferably Balkan as it's a natural yogurt) does work after antibiotics, or even when there is a bacterial overload of the gut. Heavy cream(no more than a tsp) can be used as a lure once a week to convince them to eat a liver soup when they won't touch organs otherwise. Although goat's milk is by far the better choice. It comes down to how MUCH lactose is in a given product. Yogurt has very little, heavy cream a bit more, goat's milk even less.
|
|
|
Yoghurt
Feb 15, 2012 20:23:20 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2012 20:23:20 GMT -5
Sorry if I sound pompous and bossy, I just thought it was worth mentioning as no one had yet, and I thought it was common knowledge that ferrets were lactose intolerant. Not at all, definitely worth mentioning. Maybe its common knowledge for some people - but I didn't know so thanks for telling me!
|
|
|
Yoghurt
Feb 15, 2012 22:05:57 GMT -5
Post by Heather on Feb 15, 2012 22:05:57 GMT -5
If you want to give something that will help replenish gut bacteria after say antibiotics and such...give acidophilus (sp??) better yet, get your own grains and make it yourself. You can buy it at your local health food store. It's much better than yoghurt and you're less likely to get a stomach upset from a lactose intolerant ferret. There is nothing worse than having a very sick ferret who is just starting to recover and you give something like yoghurt to help them get better and they've then got a whole new problem as their bodies try and deal with an intolerance. Please make sure that if you do choose to feed yoghurt that you use whole fat, unflavoured, natural yoghurt. "Most" of the yoghurts you find in your grocery will make your wee ones very sick and if it's got any type of artificial sweeteners in it, it could actually cause much more damage than good. ciao
|
|