From:
"Troy Lynn"
Date: 2007-06-29 19:12:38 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] raw vs kibble test
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
I work in the agricultural scientific field and can assure you that one
home test doesn't qualify for proof that one procedure is better than
another and believing it does could be dangerous in certain
situations.
Our scientists spend years proving theories and testing products using
specific guidelines for each particular study. Then the tests are
conducted by other scientists to replicate the results, at least 3
replications, then articles are written, then peer reviewed, questions
and protocals answered, sometimes there are flaws in the studies and
they have to go through the entire process again. Once the data is
checked and verified and the peer reviews pass the manuscript it is
approved for publication. Many manuscripts don't make it to
publication because of flaws in the procedures, biased results, etc.
I point this out because anyone promoting a specific way to care for
ferrets needs to understand that what they feel comfortable with for
their own situation may not work for someone else or another ferret.
Danee reported that Bob Church said Kibble will also cause an unnatural
wear problem in the back teeth, but this is only a problem if you want
to switch older ferrets to a natural diet. By the time a ferret is 3 or
4 years old, their back molars, which are necessary for proper tearing
of animal tissue and cracking of bones, may be too worn to allow them
to properly eat whole prey.
We need to take this into account when considering switching older
ferrets to raw feeding. Also consider that while the ferrets might
initially show excitement in eating raw foods, that doesn't mean they
realize that this is now their sole means of nutrition and that they
have to eat the prey to survive.
Even though someone is excited about a home study and the findings are
interesting, one person doing a home study without specific guidelines
and time of results needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
Each of us must research our options for our particular situation and
decide for ourselves, without pressure, to do what is best for those in
our care. If someone disagrees with the way someone does something,
keep the responses polite and non-critical. There is no reason to be
rude because someone doesn't believe as another does.
I don't feed raw for several reasons, including ethical reasons. My
choice. I also do a lot of things others would think were wrong but it
is my choice and I'm going on what I've researched, imperical evidence,
and what I've found to work best for those in my care. If I'm harming
my ferrets in this way it is news to me. I see glistening soft coats,
bright eyes and adequate muscle tone and body weight. I have ferrets
that live well commonly to the ages of 9-10 years and some of these are
ferrets that came to me incredibly compromised to begin with.
tle
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