Message Number: YG8560 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Linda Iroff
Date: 2001-11-09 13:57:00 UTC
Subject: re: fish

Bob writes
> g) because some species of fish have an excess of thiaminase, an enzyme
> that breaks down thiamine. On diets containing high amounts of
> uncooked, thiaminase-rich fish exclusively fed over long periods of
> time, thiamin deficiency can occur.

Just out of curiosity, is smelt a fish high in thiaminase? I once had a
shelter ferret, 3-yr old female, come in whose primary diet was little
frozen raw smelt! Ugh! She came with a half of a bag of frozen smelt, and
fortunately we were able to get her converted to a more suitable food
before the bag ran out. I was mostly concerned at the time because smelt
are very low in fat, but she was healthy and happy, with a quite nice soft
coat.

Linda Iroff
Oberlin OH
Hob nob with hob friends at Ferrets 2002!
http://ferretsymposium.mdex.ca