Bladder Stones

Additional Links (Most links pertain to cats, but ferrets and cats have the same dietary needs so its relevant):

Peas & Bladder Stones

By Holly

There are different types of bladder stones that are formed based on different conditions in the bladder - acidity being the main one. All bladder stones stem from the same things:

High magnesium/plant-based diet, Plant-based diet, peas, chickpeas, lentils, legumes, sweet potatoes, inbalanced urine pH

Symptoms: Difficulty/increased urinating, blood in urine, stinky urine, peeing in odd places, frequent licking genital area, lethargy, dehydrated, abdominal pain

Most ferrets will not be able to pass a bladder stone if it's big enough that you notice something is wrong. If a surgery is not performed, the bladder can rupture, which is life-threatening.

http://ferretbiology.com/Urolithiasis

https://www.petmd.com/ferret/conditions/urinary/c_ft_urolithiasis

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/bladder-stones-in-cats

https://truthaboutpetfood.com/grain-free-equals-peas-peas-and-more-peas/

*Additional information added by T. Whitehawk on 10 October 2020:

The following information (below) and/ or links pertain specifically to kidney/ bladder stones in FERRETS.

If your ferret has been diagnosed with stones - please request that your vet send the stones to the University of Minnesota (contact info below) to aid them in their research. Link to the original pdf document here.

ferret_cystine_rising.pdf

Cystitis and Urolithiasis in Ferrets

Click above link to read an excellent article on kidney/ bladder stones in ferrets. *Note this information quoted from the article:

"Uroliths are usually struvite, except for ferrets on a grain-free commercial diet, novel protein or diet with legumes such as peas; ferrets on grain-free diets seem to develop cystine stones."