From:
sukiecrandall@telocity.com
Date: 2001-11-09 22:48:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Fish
One very real problem is that although one contributor (raw egg
whites) to thiamine deficiency is easy to figure out , most food
references don't give thiaminase levels for fish or crutacean
types, so this may be one of those situations in which caution is
the best route except when there is a last ditch effort going on.
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., Bob C <rrc961@m...> wrote:
> Oops, forgot a part. Oopsie!
>
> 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. This is not a problem if the
fish
> is cooked (which breaks down the enzymes), if the fish fed is
not one of
> the thiaminase-rich varieties (which generally do not include
most fish
> humans eat), if the ferret also eats kibble (which is generally
> fortified with essential vitamins), or if the ferret is occasionally
> given ferretone, nutrical or some other supplement.
>
> The omission doesn't change my opinions, but I thought I
should address
> it before someone takes me to task on forgetting to include it in
my
> list of anti-fish objections.
>
>
> Bob C
>
>
>
> Bob C wrote:
>
> > Harriett H. H. asks:
> >
> > >I read somewhere regarding ferret food that fish should be
avoided.
> > >Why? Please send info.
> >
> >
> > There is NO reason why fish fit for human consumption can
not be fed to
> > ferrets. Most objections are:
> >
> > a) based on stories of poor fitch or mink diets made from fish
parts
> > (not the whole fish)
> >
> > b) based on stories of poor fitch or mink diets of oily fish fed
> > exclusively to ranched animals that lacked some essential
amino and
> > fatty acids and vitamins (and in excess of others)
> >
> > c) because a diet of fish intensifies the musky odor natural to
ferrets
> >
> > d) because fish-based foods have a strong, often
objectionable odor
> >
> > e) because fish-based foods result in poops that have a
terrible stink, and
> >
> > f) because of personal prejudice based on a lack of clear,
concise
> > knowledge.
> >
> > The original stories were true, BUT, the diets were changed
as soon as
> > the damage to the animals was noted (which was
unfortunately beyond the
> > period were medical intervention could help) and are no
longer an issue.
> > (Strange that fish is rejected because of these stories, yet
kibbled
> > foods are strongly supported despite the ferret deaths
caused when one
> > manufacturer misprocessed a batch with an inverse Ca/P
ratio, killing
> > hundreds of ferrets at a single farm). It is also true foods
with fish
> > meal have more odor than those having chicken or beef.
There seems to
> > be some evidence that the fish oils have a minor effect on
ferret body
> > odor, although I haven't personally been bothered by it. In my
opinion,
> > the worst aspect of feeding fish is that the poop does indeed
smell
> > worse. However, since I only periodically feed the food, and I
change
> > the litter boxes daily, the issue is a minor one. Besides, I'm a
old
> > beach bum and sailor, and the smell reminds me of Long
Beach, California.
> >
> > The truth is, fish, especially the fillet, is a good food and can
be a
> > welcome treat or occasional meal (It can be fed exclusively
with daily
> > dollops of Ferretone or Ferretvite). Most of mine love it dried
as fish
> > jerky, or lightly cooked and flaky. The majority of mine enjoy
the
> > occasional canned tuna or sardine snack. All love it in a fish
chowder I
> > like to make for them on icy mornings after an hour romping
in the dried
> > leaves or snow.
> >
> > Most ferrets reject fish because of olfactory imprinting (the
same
> > reason they reject most unknown foods), so if you desire to
feed it to
> > your ferrets, start young or be prepared for a tough time
breaking down
> > the odor door.
> >
> > Bob C
> >
> >
> >
> >