on fatty liver disease and toads from the environment...

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Posted by Dean Alessandrini on May 01, 2002 at 12:04:14:

In Reply to: Eastern Hogs and Mice..... posted by Mack on April 11, 2002 at 18:52:42:

It's has been a while, but it was a thread on this forum where Dennis Desmond, of Hognose.com
realyed the information to me about fatty liver disease. Forgive me Dennis if I am misquoting you, but I believe that he has documentation from a vet on the subject. From my recollection, he indicated that several e hogs that had been captive for many years (fed on mice) and had suddenly died were taken for necropsy and all were found to have fatty liver disease.

I also have several friends who have successfully raised hogs on toads...and who have lost animals from the same clutch that they tried to raise only on mice. I have no necropsy evidence to support these deaths, however.

As for the toads...I consider myself an environmentallist and I do not like doing this.
(taking toads to feed) I don't, however, think it's a fair comparison to compare to taking hognose snakes to feed to a kingsnake. In the areas of SE Kentucky that I take these toads from, the toads are INCREDIBLY numerous. So much so that every little road rut that collects a gallon of water in the spring has hunderds of toad tadpoles. Although I agree that it is inhumane to a degree, I am certainly not going to affect the toad populations. I refrain from taking toads that I find in my own back yard, since they aren't nearly as numerous in the suburban area of SW Ohio that I live.

Anyway...I would certainly feel better about feeding mice, but I don't want to kill my snake. I'm glad to hear that there are those of you who are doing it with success. Maybe I will take your advice from the thread below and keep a couple pet toads and coat the mice with the urine. I have recently fed my hog a couple f/t newborn chicks (toad flavored). I'm thinking the fat content of the chicks may be a little lower...

Thanks for your input and comments.
Dean Alessandrini

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: It's has been a while, but it was a thread on this forum where Dennis Desmond, of Hognose.com : realyed the information to me about fatty liver disease. Forgive me Dennis if I am misquoting you, but I believe that he has documentation from a vet on the subject. From my recollection, he indicated that several e hogs that had been captive for many years (fed on mice) and had suddenly died were taken for necropsy and all were found to have fatty liver disease. : I also have several friends who have successfully raised hogs on toads...and who have lost animals from the same clutch that they tried to raise only on mice. I have no necropsy evidence to support these deaths, however. : As for the toads...I consider myself an environmentallist and I do not like doing this. : (taking toads to feed) I don't, however, think it's a fair comparison to compare to taking hognose snakes to feed to a kingsnake. In the areas of SE Kentucky that I take these toads from, the toads are INCREDIBLY numerous. So much so that every little road rut that collects a gallon of water in the spring has hunderds of toad tadpoles. Although I agree that it is inhumane to a degree, I am certainly not going to affect the toad populations. I refrain from taking toads that I find in my own back yard, since they aren't nearly as numerous in the suburban area of SW Ohio that I live. : Anyway...I would certainly feel better about feeding mice, but I don't want to kill my snake. I'm glad to hear that there are those of you who are doing it with success. Maybe I will take your advice from the thread below and keep a couple pet toads and coat the mice with the urine. I have recently fed my hog a couple f/t newborn chicks (toad flavored). I'm thinking the fat content of the chicks may be a little lower... : Thanks for your input and comments. : Dean Alessandrini : :

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