From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2004-03-26 18:51:03 UTC
Subject: Re: Carbohydrates, plant nutrients
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <5802771.1080327063380.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
> Just __How Well__ does plant matter need to be broken down for a ferret to be able to salvage nutrients from it?
>From what I was told it depends on the type. Some are greatly more absorbable with grinding but others require a lot of cooking and processing.
> I ask because I wonder just how well an obligate carnivore can metabolize herbal supplements?
You know, that is a GREAT question and I don't recall EVER having heard it asked before. It is just such a logical aspect to wonder about.
I doubt there is an easy answer, though, because of the differences in what compounds are considered active, where they are located (as in associated with the fiber, with the plant proteins, with the plant carbohydrates, etc.), and differences in the digestibility of plant types.
> Is flax oil less digestible than cod liver oil? Or is it already simple enough that the ferret can process?
Interesting. I suspect that a fat would be accessible enough, but I don't know.
> I have read ALOT about pet nutrition, but because dogs are omnivores and cats can process some plant matter, I have not found any information about this.
Nor have I encountered anyone addressing it.