From:
williamsdvm@comcast.net
Date: 2003-02-18 01:59:07 UTC
Subject: RE: Ferrets and Fruits/Vegetables
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <4455830.1045533547659.JavaMail.root@scandium>
When we talk about the nutrition of "fruits and vegetables" what we are generally talking about is the protein content, and ferrets don't due very well with that (this is why feed with high concentration of vegetable proteins are generally not very good for ferrets. Yes, they can absorb some vitamins and minerals from fruits and vegetables, but the concentrations generally aren't very high. There is the exception of Vitamin C in citrus fruits, but ferrets can synthesize their own Vitamin C, like many other mammals, so they don't need an exogenous source like humans. Now there are a lot of new phytochemicals that we are just learning about which have some potential to fight cancers, etc., but these are very new, and we have absolutely no infomraiton as to whether ferrets can aborb, use, or even need them.
The nutrition that they get from most fruits and vegetables istruly not high. Most vegetables which contain proteins are often deficient in certain types of amino acids, which decreases the usable protein content. Certain vegetables have more reasonable distributions of amino acids so they are more acceptable (like soybeans) but none really approaches the utility of good old animal protein.
Will frutis and vegetables hurt - not unless in large chunks (where the fiber can cause a blockage), or if given in too high a quantity - so that the animal doesn't get an apropriate intake of higher quality animal proteins.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM
End of ferrethealth Digest
***********************************