From:
"Tressie"
Date: 2008-11-07 14:50:29 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Different Food Question
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "Terry" <Keene_terry@...> wrote:
>
> wrong there are not supposed to have a high fat diet. high protein and
low carb. ok I'll agree with that but definitely not a high fat diet! I
don't know where this has come in but think of it this way ferrets are
mammals just like us humans. ..
Hi, I think it is important to make the distinction among species as to
what would be considered too high fat for a particular species.
Relative to a ferret's nutritional requirements, here is an excerpt
from Bixler & Ellis' paper on ferret care and husbandry (p. 229,
2004): 3. Nutrition
The ferret is an obligate carnivore with a short intestinal tract, no
cecum or ileocolic valve, and a short colon. The gastrointestinal (GI)
transit time is rapid (3 to 4 hours), so food must be easily digestible.
Although the exact nutritional requirements of the ferret have not been
established, most premium cat foods and ferret diets appear to be
adequate for ferrets. Dry foods may be offered ad libitum. It is
generally accepted that adult neutered ferrets require 30% to 40%
protein, 18% to 20% fat, and 2% fiber in the diet [1
<http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.library.dal.ca/science?_ob=Article\
URL&_udi=B75M8-4CCNKS3-5&_user=1069263&_coverDate=05%2F31%2F2004&_alid=8\
20306247&_rdoc=22&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_cdi=13200&_sort=d&_docanchor=&\
view=c&_ct=27&_acct=C000051270&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1069263&\
md5=ff69a135aeacbdcc3857b21a9042f67f#bib1#bib1> , 6
<http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.library.dal.ca/science?_ob=Article\
URL&_udi=B75M8-4CCNKS3-5&_user=1069263&_coverDate=05%2F31%2F2004&_alid=8\
20306247&_rdoc=22&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_cdi=13200&_sort=d&_docanchor=&\
view=c&_ct=27&_acct=C000051270&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1069263&\
md5=ff69a135aeacbdcc3857b21a9042f67f#bib6#bib6> and 7
<http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.library.dal.ca/science?_ob=Article\
URL&_udi=B75M8-4CCNKS3-5&_user=1069263&_coverDate=05%2F31%2F2004&_alid=8\
20306247&_rdoc=22&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_cdi=13200&_sort=d&_docanchor=&\
view=c&_ct=27&_acct=C000051270&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1069263&\
md5=ff69a135aeacbdcc3857b21a9042f67f#bib7#bib7> ]. Breeding animals and
kits require diets higher in protein and fat [1
<http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.library.dal.ca/science?_ob=Article\
URL&_udi=B75M8-4CCNKS3-5&_user=1069263&_coverDate=05%2F31%2F2004&_alid=8\
20306247&_rdoc=22&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_cdi=13200&_sort=d&_docanchor=&\
view=c&_ct=27&_acct=C000051270&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1069263&\
md5=ff69a135aeacbdcc3857b21a9042f67f#bib1#bib1> ]. Carbohydrates are not
required in significant amounts and should be limited [6
<http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.library.dal.ca/science?_ob=Article\
URL&_udi=B75M8-4CCNKS3-5&_user=1069263&_coverDate=05%2F31%2F2004&_alid=8\
20306247&_rdoc=22&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_cdi=13200&_sort=d&_docanchor=&\
view=c&_ct=27&_acct=C000051270&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1069263&\
md5=ff69a135aeacbdcc3857b21a9042f67f#bib6#bib6> ]. High fiber diets
should not be fed to ferrets because they increase stool volume, and can
induce a relative protein:calorie deficiency [6
<http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.library.dal.ca/science?_ob=Article\
URL&_udi=B75M8-4CCNKS3-5&_user=1069263&_coverDate=05%2F31%2F2004&_alid=8\
20306247&_rdoc=22&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_cdi=13200&_sort=d&_docanchor=&\
view=c&_ct=27&_acct=C000051270&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1069263&\
md5=ff69a135aeacbdcc3857b21a9042f67f#bib6#bib6> and 8
<http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.library.dal.ca/science?_ob=Article\
URL&_udi=B75M8-4CCNKS3-5&_user=1069263&_coverDate=05%2F31%2F2004&_alid=8\
20306247&_rdoc=22&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_cdi=13200&_sort=d&_docanchor=&\
view=c&_ct=27&_acct=C000051270&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1069263&\
md5=ff69a135aeacbdcc3857b21a9042f67f#bib8#bib8> ].
Ferret owners should be encouraged to read diet labels to ensure that
the diet they are feeding contains appropriate levels and sources of
protein and fat. The first three ingredients in a ferret diet should be
meat, poultry, meat and poultry meals, and other animal-based proteins
and fat [7
<http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.library.dal.ca/science?_ob=Article\
URL&_udi=B75M8-4CCNKS3-5&_user=1069263&_coverDate=05%2F31%2F2004&_alid=8\
20306247&_rdoc=22&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_cdi=13200&_sort=d&_docanchor=&\
view=c&_ct=27&_acct=C000051270&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1069263&\
md5=ff69a135aeacbdcc3857b21a9042f67f#bib7#bib7> and 8
<http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.library.dal.ca/science?_ob=Article\
URL&_udi=B75M8-4CCNKS3-5&_user=1069263&_coverDate=05%2F31%2F2004&_alid=8\
20306247&_rdoc=22&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_cdi=13200&_sort=d&_docanchor=&\
view=c&_ct=27&_acct=C000051270&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1069263&\
md5=ff69a135aeacbdcc3857b21a9042f67f#bib8#bib8> ]. Canine diets should
never be fed to ferrets because the protein, fat, and carbohydrate
content is not appropriate, and the diets often contain a high
percentage of grain and vegetable matter [1
<http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.library.dal.ca/science?_ob=Article\
URL&_udi=B75M8-4CCNKS3-5&_user=1069263&_coverDate=05%2F31%2F2004&_alid=8\
20306247&_rdoc=22&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_cdi=13200&_sort=d&_docanchor=&\
view=c&_ct=27&_acct=C000051270&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1069263&\
md5=ff69a135aeacbdcc3857b21a9042f67f#bib1#bib1> ].
An emerging question and controversy among many exotic animal
practitioners is the long-term effect of formulated dry and canned diets
on the overall health of ferrets, and the potential association of these
diets with the development of disease. Some practitioners feel strongly
that feeding commercial diets containing poor quality meat proteins or
large quantities of plant-based ingredients contributes to the
development of eosinophilic gastroenteritis, inflammatory bowel disease,
insulinoma, urolithiasis, and general unthriftiness [6
<http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.library.dal.ca/science?_ob=Article\
URL&_udi=B75M8-4CCNKS3-5&_user=1069263&_coverDate=05%2F31%2F2004&_alid=8\
20306247&_rdoc=22&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_cdi=13200&_sort=d&_docanchor=&\
view=c&_ct=27&_acct=C000051270&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1069263&\
md5=ff69a135aeacbdcc3857b21a9042f67f#bib6#bib6> and 7
<http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.library.dal.ca/science?_ob=Article\
URL&_udi=B75M8-4CCNKS3-5&_user=1069263&_coverDate=05%2F31%2F2004&_alid=8\
20306247&_rdoc=22&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_cdi=13200&_sort=d&_docanchor=&\
view=c&_ct=27&_acct=C000051270&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1069263&\
md5=ff69a135aeacbdcc3857b21a9042f67f#bib7#bib7> ]. For example, in the
United States where most ferrets are fed dry kibbled diets, the
incidence of insulinoma is high. In Europe and Australia, many ferrets
are fed whole prey items (ie, a "natural" diet), and the
incidence of insulinoma is low. A correlation between diet and the
development of certain diseases in ferrets is hypothetical at this point
in time, and while the authors do not necessarily advocate abandoning
the feeding of premium quality cat foods or ferret foods to ferrets,
this controversy demonstrates the need for long-term dietary studies in
ferrets. In the future, we may find that the current commercially
prepared diets containing cereal and plant-based materials are
ultimately not appropriate for the ferret.
Tressie
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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