From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2007-06-22 16:23:38 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Periodontal Disease and other food comments
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
> I have been feeding feeding my dog Nature's Variety raw dog/cat
> food. My dog's teeth are much cleaner and reduced "doggy
> breath". The dog still gets some kibble as it will be hard to pack
> the raw food when we travel. Cat is not too crazy about the raw food
> (she is 16). I am wondering if it is ok to give a bit to a ferret to
> see if he will eat it?
It is important, of course, to recall the good and the bad of any=20
choice. There is a lot of one-sided info being presented so perhaps=20
the balancing data is needed. (The FHL also seems to be moving=20
somewhat off-topic; we aren't a food list. Food lists exist and it's=20
best to tackle food topics with them, I think. Also, to have this=20
happening at a time when so many FHL members are away at the IFC=20
Symposium isn't the most inclusive of timing.)
With raw foods the bad usually means small things like mess or hidden=20
stuff rotting (and as bad as it sounds I doubt that is worse than the=20
rotting bit of banana a heart patient who needed the potassium had=20
stashed which turned out to get really foul), to less common but=20
serious things like bone splinters (a local vet lost one such patient=20
to a splinter which tore the esophagus, and not all splinters=20
dissolve enough to not do harm in the stomach before passing into the=20
small intestine), to the balance and risks of the diet being great=20
for young and healthy animals but not older or sicker ones (wild=20
diets are optimized for procreation (species survival) but NOT for=20
long life), to infections of various types. The infections are NOT=20
usually caught, but according to vet texts the risks of a number of=20
them being caught or being severe if caught are greater for very=20
young, older, and compromised animals, and a number of the infections=20
can be terribly severe and even fatal. Also, some leave lasting=20
organ damage even when survived.
That isn't to say that the alternatives are perfect because no food=20
choice is perfect, but a full picture needs to be presented and=20
recently we are not having a full picture appearing here so this is=20
an attempt to in one shot provide the info needed for a fuller=20
picture and then people not only can make up their own minds, but=20
they will have the info they need to pounce fast with medical=20
correction if that is needed and therefore save ferrets in need.=20=20
This is going to be far from complete so be sure to USE THE ARCHIVES=20
and other resources as well.
One reason the FDA hadn't spotted things earlier like some veggies=20
which had been contaminated with E. coli from waste run-off, and the=20
melamine that affected some pet foods as well as some food animals=20
(many chickens, some pigs, a good number of farmed fish fry and=20
farmed shrimp, and some pellet fed goats, cattle and sheep) is=20
because its funding had been cut back so completely that it was=20
focusing almost entirely on the two leading causes of serious food=20
poisonings: chicken and beef because controlling those better had=20
the largest beneficial health impact. Of course, now it is spread=20
more thinly again until it (hopefully) gets enough funding to have=20
the people it needs to rehire or hire and train, and to do the needed=20
testing so recently again there was problem with a lot of beef with=20
E. coli that slipped through and had to be caught after the fact.
Here is a site by a person who has doctorates in BOTH veterinary med=20
and in nutrition. She provides a true expert's weighing of what=20
things are concerns for members of Carnivora and which ones are not. =
Hers is the ONLY website I know of with anyone with her level of=20
qualifications and expertise addressing the issue.
http://www.petdiets.com/Library/category.asp
includes 14 cat specific articles, 23 dog specific articles, and 10=20
diet articles for members of Carnivora with that section titled "Pet=20
Foods & Diets" Foods and Feeding". Among those 10 are
Raw Diets
Homemade Diets
Feeding Pets Based on Genetics
Feeding Garlic and Onions
Antioxidant Supplementation
A quote: "One may ask how did canine ancestors survive, or how do=20
today's wild counterparts and feral dogs survive on a raw diet not=20
adhering to AAFCO or NRC nutrient profiles? The answer is not very=20
well and not very long. Their goal in life is to fulfill their=20
evolutionary duty of procreation which can be be accomplished in less=20
than two years... AKA species survival. Hence their diet need only=20
be good enough on average to achieve a goal far less than that of a=20
long life and optimal health." and of course, that IS what one finds=20
in the wild. The animals tend to die in or slightly after what we=20
consider the prime of life (just as humans used to do) and they are=20
full of mites, worms, and the ravages of repeated infections. Did=20
you know that E. coli infections that are mild enough to the survived=20
survived have been clearly and carefully demonstrated to cause kidney=20
damage including IN FERRETS in independent studies appearing in peer=20
reviewed journals? For example:
> J Infect Dis. 2002 Feb 15;185(4):550-4. Epub 2002 Jan 22.
>
>
> Ferrets as a model system for renal disease secondary to intestinal=20
> infection with Escherichia coli O157:H7 and other Shiga toxin-
> producing E. coli.
>
> Woods JB, Schmitt CK, Darnell SC, Meysick KC, O'Brien AD.
> Department of Pediatrics, Uniformed Services University of the=20
> Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814-4799, USA.
> Ferrets were evaluated as a possible small animal model for the=20
> development of colitis and/or signs of the hemolytic uremic=20
> syndrome after oral infection with Escherichia coli O157:H7 or=20
> other Shiga toxin--producing E. coli (STEC). Ferrets treated with=20
> streptomycin (Stm) had higher counts of E. coli O157:H7 strain=20
> 86-24 Stm-resistant (Stm(r)) or O91:H21 strain B2F1 Stm(r) in their=20
> stools than non--Stm-treated animals. None of the animals displayed=20
> evidence of colitis, but Stm-treated animals fed strain 86-24 Stm
> (r) exhibited weight loss significantly greater than that exhibited=20
> by ferrets fed an isogenic mutant negative for the adhesin intimin.=20
> Moreover, 11 (23%) of the 47 Stm-treated ferrets inoculated with=20
> 86-24 Stm(r) or B2F1 Stm(r) developed hematuria and/or histological=20
> damage to glomeruli or thrombocytopenia, compared with 0 of 14=20
> uninfected control animals receiving Stm in water. Thus, the ferret=20
> may serve as a model for renal disease secondary to intestinal=20
> infection with STEC.
> PMID: 11865409 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
> J Clin Microbiol. 2004 Dec;42(12):5904-8.
> Characterization of hemolytic Escherichia coli strains in ferrets:=20
> recognition of candidate
> virulence factor CNF1.
>
> Marini RP, Taylor NS, Liang AY, Knox KA, Pena JA, Schauer DB, Fox JG.
> Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of=20
> Technology, Cambridge, MA
> 02139, USA.
>
> Diseases associated with Escherichia coli infection are the subject=20
> of renewed interest due
> to emerging conditions such as hemolytic uremia syndrome. A=20
> collection of 15 strains of
> beta-hemolytic E. coli was isolated from diarrheic feces and=20
> diseased tissues of ferrets. All
> 15 strains were positive in specific PCR assays for the presence of=20
> hlyA, pap1, and cnf1.
> Seven of the cnf1-positive isolates were tested and shown to have a=20
> cytopathic effect on
> HeLa cell monolayers. The pathogenesis of these strains warrants=20
> future study.
> PMID: 15583337 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
>
> [free full text article:
>
> http://jcm.asm.org/cgi/content/full/42/12/5904?
> view=3Dlong&pmid=3D15583337 ]
E. coli is caught from eating the intestinal content of animals or=20
eating things that have been contaminated by that content (meat when=20
intestines have ruptured at processing), or from vegetation that is=20
eaten after being contaminated by wastewater. There are serious=20
antibiotic resistant forms of E. coli, one of which is too prevalent=20
in cattle just as there are serious antibiotic resistant forms of=20
salmonella found in chickens and eggs.
The articles from petdiets are recommended for a balanced take on=20
both upsides and downsides.
Did you know that there are 36 established essential nutrients for=20
dogs and 38 for cats? Ferrets are more like cats in needing more=20
from their diet, for example, taurine. (Though there is starting to=20
be some evidence that dogs can also be taurine deprived according to=20
a recent article I read:
http://www.vetcontact.com/en/art.php?a=3D1524&t=3D )
Some of those nutrients can be stored in the body for a while whereas=20
others can not, and the balance is important because some nutrients=20
need others while being taken up or utilized. For example, if there=20
is not enough calcium in the diet when phosphorus is eaten the body=20
will take the calcium it needs from the bone and sometimes from the=20
tooth stores.
Another quote: "Fact: Some nutrients are lost during cooking but=20
are irrelevant... the losses are small and individual losses are=20
insignificant to a properly balanced diet."
I don't want to violate her copyrights so I want to suggest that=20
anyone who is learning about diets needs to include reading her=20
articles for a complete picture.
http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/zoo/WholePreyFinal02May29.pdf
is "Nutrient Composition of Whole Vertebrate
Prey (Excluding Fish) Fed at Zoos"
also useful for those who are using or considering a raw diet
Here is some info on raw food GUIDELINES (and that is all that they=20
are -- not regulations) on the raw food industry:
http://www.fda.gov/cvm/CVM_Updates/rawdiet.htm
and
http://www.fda.gov/cvm/Guidance/Guide122.pdf
Note the correction before the actual text:
> There was an error of fact in this guidance document originally on=20
> page 3,
> next to the last paragraph, last sentence. The sentence previously=20
> read:
> =93Another study that cultured 10 raw meat diets based on chicken=20
> determined
> all 10 diets (100%) to be contaminated with Salmonella spp.14=94
>
> =95 On page 4, next to the last paragraph, last sentence, the=20
> sentence now reads:
> =93Another study that cultured 10 raw meat diets based on chicken=20
> determined
> 8 diets (80%) to be contaminated with Salmonella spp.14=94
Why people feeding commercial raw foods should read these:
BEGIN QUOTE
Foods for carnivorous and omnivorous animals containing raw meat, or=20
other raw animal tissues, have been on the market for many years for=20
use by zoos, mink farms, dog racing facilities, and other=20
professional establishments. Some of these products may have=20
included meat and other tissues from mammals or poultry that have=20
died other than from slaughter or have otherwise been unfit for human=20
consumption. Products containing tissues from animals that have died=20
other
than by slaughter are adulterated under Section 402(a) of the Federal=20
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) and animal tissues otherwise=20
unfit for human consumption may be adulterated if not further=20
processed to remove pathogenic contaminants.
Previously it was presumed that raw meat or raw animal tissues were=20
primarily purchased and used by zoos, mink farms, dog racing=20
facilities, or other professional establishments, and that these=20
entities were aware of the potential risks of using such products,=20
from both a food safety and nutritional deficiency perspective, and=20
could take measures to mitigate those risks.
However, an increasing trend is for use of raw meat foods for=20
companion and captive noncompanion animals by owners who may not be=20
as aware of the potential for harm. FDA is issuing this guidance=20
because of the health risks and potential for adulteration including,=20
but not limited to, when raw meat foods are used by pet owners.
END QUOTE
Some related past posts and more can be found in the archives and=20
elsewhere:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG15102
> There are 2 big problems with adding raw meat
> to your ferret's diet: 1) bacterial infections such
> as E. coli and Salmonella and 2) calcium/phosphorus
> problems. When you feed just a raw meat diet it will
> have too low of a calcium level and too high of a
> phosphorus level, which will cause major problems
> for the bones, etc.
> If you want to add cooked meat or cooked eggs as a treat
> or as a supplement that is fine, but do not feed it as the
> main diet.
> Whole prey diets (i.e., whole mice, whole rats, whole turkey, or
> whole chickens) are different from a raw meat diet. You can
> feed a whole prey diet and are less likely to have bacterial problems
> or calcium problems (if they eat the bones). However you may
> have problems when the bones go through the GI tract (perforations,
> obstructions, or irritation to the colon).
> As you can now see both have some options can have some serious
> potential problems.
> Hope that helps,
> Jerry Murray, DVM
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL1105
> In a message dated 05/16/07 7:09:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com writes:
>
> That is VERY good to know. May I ask what your position is on home=20
> cooking
> and also raw diets for pets.
>
>
> **I have no problems with home cooked meals IF they are done=20
> correctly, but I
> have to say that I have seen very few owners who are willing to do=20
> the needed
> things to produce a balanced home cooked diet. My clients who have=20
> expressed
> interest in it are provided with several recipes and told that I=20
> will happily
> work with them to make sure their animal gets the proper nutrition,=20
> but most
> decide not to when they realize the amount of work that can go into=20
> making
> sure that it is balanced properly.
>
> As far as raw feeding - I am not a big proponent of it as I have=20
> seen quite a
> few ill animals of differing species (dogs, mostly, but some cats=20
> and ferrets
> as well) from improperly stored food, parasitism (the only ferrets=20
> I have
> ever diagnosed with intestinal nematodes were on a raw diet), and=20
> severe
> malnutrition problems from people assuming muscle meat was enough=20
> to give, as well as
> one ferret with confirmed intestinal perforation from a bone=20
> splinter. But
> there again, I have some clients who have expressed interest in it=20
> and are
> willing to deal with the ins and outs of properly balancing it, and=20
> am perfectly
> willing to work with them on it, usually recommending a whole prey=20
> diet
> consisting of adult animals. My own ferrets will likely never eat a=20
> raw diet
> (although we make a whole animal meat gravy for them as a=20
> supplement to their kibble)
> - but I'm not set in stone against it.**
>
> Dr. Ruth
>
> *****************************************
> Save lives - spay or neuter your pet.
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG14602
> I recommend an annual (or even more often for some animals) stool=20
> check for
> internal parasites - some can be spread by fleas, for example, so=20
> even an
> indoor ferret has the possibility of getting them. If owners feed a=20
> raw diet or
> the ferret gets something by mistake, that can also be a source of=20
> parasites.
> In a heartworm endemic area I would also recommend an annual=20
> heartworm check
> for all animals, even those on preventive.
>
> Dr. Ruth
> ********************************************
> Puppies kiss better than most people.
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG6258
> The problem that I and most vets have with raw
> diets is bacterial infection with E.coli or Salmonella.
> I really do think ferrets need a high protein, high fat,
> low carbohydrate diet (ie the Atkins diet for ferrets),
> but I do think it should be cooked to avoid serious
> and potentially fatal bacterial infections.
> Hope that helps,
> Jerry Murray, DVM
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG6619
> There are sevral problems with BARF diets.
> You brought up one of the main problems:
> ie infections from the raw food.
> A. Tuberculosis: The ferret appears to be highly
> susceptible to starins of Mycobacterium avain,
> bovine, and human. They can be infected through
> unpasteurized milk, raw poultry, and raw meat.
> Chicken offal could be a source of infection.
> Yes, this is a zoonotic disease.
> B. Salmonella: Salmonella is very common in
> chickens. In a Canadian Vet Journal there was a
> study testing BARF diets for Salmonella. 80% of
> the food samples were positive, and 30% of the dogs
> on the Barf diet had positive salmonella fecal samples.
> Yes, this a zoonotic disease.
> C. E. coli is also very common in chickens.
> This is also a zoonotic disease.
>
> The other main problem is wether the BARF diet is
> a complete and balanced diet for long term use. Thus
> I would recommend Hill's a/d, and/or Gerber's baby food
> instead of BARF diets. If you still want to feed the BARF
> diet please cook it first.
> Jerry Murray, DVM
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG2281
from Dr. Bruce Williams is about a ferret who would eat next to=20
nothing and again involves balancing risks in this comment:
> Well, raw eggs can transmit salmonella, but that's pretty rare=20
> (make sure the shell is clean) and if it is all he'll eat, it is a=20
> good source of protein. Let's do it.
BTW, one thing many don't know is that before salmonella was so very=20
common egg shells were not scrubbed the way they are now. Back then=20
it was safe to leave fresh eggs out of refrigeration for a while due=20
to a smooth layer on top but now that is scrubbed off in an attempt=20
to remove as much salmonella as possible so grocery store eggs no=20
long feel silky smooth and need refrigeration.
and also from Dr. Williams:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG284
contains
> I am not a fan of raw eggs as part of a duck soup mixture
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG9058
> My biggest concern feeding raw anything is disease. Salmonella is
> just nasty. I prefer to recommend cooked egg, as opposed to raw. A
> small amount of hard boiled or scrambled egg weekly should be just
> fine.
>
> -Dr. Karen
>
> DISCLAIMER:
> This e-mail is provided for general informational purposes only. It=20
> is in
> no way intended as a replacement for a consultation with a qualified
> licensed veterinarian. If you are concerned about your pet's=20
> health, you
> should seek the advice of your regular veterinarian as soon as=20
> possible.
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL1169
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL1167
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL1009
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG5079
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG1447
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL1521
and many more
From _Biology and Diseases of the Ferret, 2nd ed._
All of these are known diseases in ferrets
start pg 321
Actinomycosis (lumpy jaw)
rarely reported
immunosuppressed ferrets mentioned as possibly having
increased risk
entry through oral injuries from bone or damaged oral mucuosa,
may also be swallowed or inhaled
sinus tracts with thick, green-yellow material, lung nodules,
swollen nodes w granules on cut surface, abscesses, etc.
Can be fatal
From text: "Feeding ferrets on carcasses with bones may increase=20
the likelihood that actinomycosis, if present in oral flora, could=20
infect animals through cuts and abrasions created by the ... bones"
(I think that brings up another point: the oft mentioned risk of=20
periodontal disease involves the individuals getting the bacteria=20
into the blood stream through the gum injury caused by the gum=20
disease. Injury from chewing bone can do the same thing. BTW, so=20
far -- unless there is new info in the last year or so -- ferrets=20
only have one of the number of bacteria investigated in relation to=20
periodontal disease and organ health in humans. Of course, that may=20
change. Mouths have many bacteria but some are useful ones rather=20
than bad ones, and some may be both, same as for intestines, so there=20
is much more to learn about the various bacteria themselves.)
start page 322
Botulism
documented in many fur farms with about 90% death rate
Ferret deaths in England from wild birds with botulism
documented (both in Vet Rec, '69 and '73, with ducks
involved in one case but other not clear from title; also
mention of cases in midwestern U.S.
uncooked or contaminated w soil increases risk rates
Ferrets highly susceptible to A,B,C types
starting page 323
Clostridium perfringens, Type A
not closely studied at that time
marked abdominal distension, excessive gas, diffuse
mucosal necrosis, highly fatal
"organism ubiquitous" "management of diet essential"
Killed a number of young BFFs introduced to raw diet who were also=20
thought to have overeaten from the mixture.
start page 324
Campylobacteriosis
linked to diarrhea in ferret (and a number of other animals)
The disease in humans is linked to pets having
undiscovered infections, or poor hygiene when infection is
known
maybe asymptomatic but still present, proliferative colitis,
diarrhea which may be bile streaked, mucus laden, watery,
bloody at times, rectal prolapses, miscarriage by the pregnant,
fecal-oral route, contaminated meat (esp. poultry) and
unpasteurized milk, uncooked poultry
Start page 339
Salmonellosis
I think that this one has been very well covered in the archives so=20
will skip it
and trust people to check the archives.
Start page 342
Leptospirosis
passed through rodent urine
contaminated food and immunosuppression mentioned
A possible consideration for those feeding rodents. It would pay to=20
look up if freezing kills this one and eliminates any toxins it could=20
produce or not.
Start page 343
Mycobacteria
TB, bovine and avian mycobacteria caught from raw foods and
unpasteurized milk esp if ferret immunosuppressed, and M.
kansasii have been mentioned in past FHLs so in the archives
Starting page 347
Yersinia pestis
Not studied in domestic ferrets but it appears that at least some
BFFs can get plague from eating infected prairie dogs and likely
other infected rodents
We'll skip Chlamydia; little know except that it occurs when book
was written, but I seem to recall it appearing in the FHL archives=20
but not the circumstances offhand. May be related, may not so check it.
In viruses it doesn't look like rotaviruses (very nasty in ferrets) is
from food, but
Starting page 370
at the time of that book being written one ferret documented case
of Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis Virus from raw tripe
Okay, on to the Parasitic Diseases chapter
Start page 381
Sarcocystic
from eating infected mice or their fecal contamination, asymptomatic
Start page 382
Cryptosporisiosis
infrequent and inconsequential according to text, raw beef can give it,
sounds like immunosuppression may play a role
Start page 388
Helminths
The ones that can infect ferrets include nematodes, 2 round worms
(Toxascaris leonia and T. cati), hookworms (Ancylostoma), cestodes,
tapeworms (Mesocestoides, Ariotaenia procyonis, Dipylidium caninum),
flukes, lung worms (Filarioides martes) and occasionally Spiroptera
nasicola in the frontal sinuses. The intestinal ones can cause diarrhea
but may be silent.
Start page 389
Trichinosis
They encyst in the ferret's muscles, esp. the diaphram and are caught
from raw or undercooked infected meats.
Also, potentially of interest:
> J Wildl Dis. 2001 Jul;37(3):617-20.
>
> Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infection in captive black-footed=20
> ferrets.
>
> Bradley GA, Orr K, Reggiardo C, Glock RD.
> Department of Veterinary Science and Microbiology, The University=20
> of Arizona, Tucson
> 85705, USA. gabrad@ag.arizona.edu
>
> Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli with genes for heat stabile toxins=20
> Sta and STb was isolated
> from the gastrointestinal tract and multiple visceral organs of=20
> three adult and three
> juvenile black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) that died in a=20
> captive breeding colony
> between 24 May 1998 and 2 July 1998. Similar isolates were obtained=20
> from rectal swabs of
> one adult and one juvenile that were clinically ill. All were fed a=20
> diet composed of mink
> chow, raw rabbit meat, beef liver powder, blood meal and lard.=20
> Escherichia coli of the
> same toxin genotype was isolated from the mixed ration. Clinical=20
> signs included sudden
> death, dehydration, anorexia and diarrhea. Necropsy lesions=20
> included acute enteritis with
> large numbers of rod shaped bacteria microscopically visible on=20
> intestinal villi.
> PMID: 11504237 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
>
> [The full text for free:
>
> http://www.jwildlifedis.org/cgi/reprint/37/3/617 ]
>
> J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1983 Dec 1;183(11):1179-81.
> Links
> Mastitis caused by hemolytic Escherichia coli in the ferret.
>
> Liberson AJ, Newcomer CE, Ackerman JI, Murphy JC, Fox JG.
> Hemolytic Escherichia coli was isolated from the mammary glands of=20
> 8 ferrets with
> gangrenous mastitis. Clinical signs included firm swelling of one=20
> or more mammary glands
> and discoloration of the overlying skin. Peracute disease and acute=20
> septicemia were
> observed, and in some cases the animals rapidly became moribund.=20
> Antibiotic therapy
> alone did not alter the course of the disease. Wide surgical=20
> resection of the involved
> glands in combination with systemic antibiotic therapy (ampicillin=20
> 10 mg/kg, BID, and
> gentamicin 5 mg/kg, SID) was the most successful treatment.=20
> Histopathologic changes
> included extensive edema, hemorrhage, and necrosis, with a mixed=20
> leukocytic infiltrate
> and large numbers of bacteria. The agent of this disease was=20
> isolated from rectal swab
> specimens from clinically normal ferrets as well as ferrets that=20
> had mastitis.
> PMID: 6358164 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE
>
> END QUOTES
>
> You can find more on the various presentations on E. coli in=20
> ferrets in PubMed.
>
> BEGIN QUOTES
>
> Zh Evol Biokhim Fiziol. 1992 Nov-Dec;28(6):678-84.
> Links
> [The fever reaction of the polecat Mustela putorius x Mustela=20
> putorius furo to a bacterial
> pyrogen: the hypo- and hyperthermic phases]
>
> [Article in Russian]
> Romanovskii AA, Karman EK, Gurin VN.
> It has been demonstrated that the ferret (Mustela putorius x=20
> Mustela putorius furo)
> responds to intramuscular injection of Salmonella typhi=20
> lipopolysaccharide (30 ng/kg-100
> micrograms/kg) by biphasic change in the body temperature (Tb): the=20
> initial decrease in
> the latter is followed by hyperthermia. Maximum rise in Tb (1.6 +/-=20
> 0.1 degrees C) was
> observed after the injection of lipopolysaccharide in the highest=20
> dose. Rabbit leucocytic
> pyrogen/interleukin-1 (1 ml from 3.5 x 10(7) peritoneal phagocytes,=20
> 3 ml/kg) induces a
> pronounced (1.1 +/- 0.3 degrees C) decrease in Tb. Mechanisms of=20
> hypothermic effects of
> pyrogens are discussed. The described pattern (hypothermia-
> hyperthermia) of Tb
> response to lipopolysaccharide in the ferret presumably reflects=20
> the central
> thermoregulatory process which is the same for different changes in=20
> Tb during fever.
> PMID: 1302417 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
>
>
>
> J Bacteriol. 1948 Mar;55(3):419-20.
>
> The Isolation of Salmonella typhi-murium from Ferrets.
>
> Morris JA, Coburn DR.
> Research Section of the Fish and Wildlife Service, U. S. Department=20
> of Interior, Laurel,
> Maryland.
>
> PMID: 16561473 [PubMed]
>
> [free full text:
>
> http://jb.asm.org/cgi/reprint/55/3/419?view=3Dlong&pmid=3D16561473 ]
>
That is why I still prefer kibble. Yes, I know that the infections=20
with marked symptoms are pretty rare, but milder E. coli infections=20
can damage kidneys, other infections have been linked with other=20
types of organ damage in other species, and frankly when some of=20
these are caught they just are serious enough that I would rather=20
avoid them
It's a matter of personal preference. The risks from kibble are also=20
probably low, so what a person chooses to feed depends on personal=20
preference.
Just DO know the up and downsides so that if something goes wrong no=20
matter what you feed, you can respond.
BTW, since this always gets asked: the total percentage of ferrets=20
we have had with ANY type of pancreatic disease (not just insulinoma=20
but all taken together just in case insulinoma might have been=20
present in some others -- even though it was not found on necropsy=20
and pathology) has been less than 20% over a space of 26 years.
Ironically, back in the early years when more junk food was served we=20
also had far lower instances of adrenal disease and insulinoma. (I=20
have confirmed this with ferret expert vets who I know treated=20
ferrets in those years such as Dr. Karen Rosenthal, a world renowned=20
expert.) The increased instances and younger diseases began after=20
there was a lot of selective breeding for fancies and their genetic=20
representation in the breeding population in the U.S. greatly=20
increased. According to a recent paper by Dr. Johnson-Delaney who=20
used a personal communication with Dr. Michelle Hawkins of UC Davis=20
(who is heading a study that has begun looking at genetic=20
vulnerabilities in ferrets) MEN (Multiple Endocrinological Neoplasia)=20
genetics HAVE been found in the U.S. ferrets studied. That is just=20
one of several possible genetic vulnerabilities for endocrinological=20
diseases which fancy breeding may have increased.
Sukie (not a vet)
Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
Yahoo! Groups Links
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