From:
"Danee DeVore"
Date: 2008-11-07 19:35:13 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Different Food Question
To: <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>
>Re: Different Food Question
>Thu Nov 6, 2008 4:51 pm (PST)
>wrong there are not supposed to have a high fat diet. high protein >and low carb.
Ferrets do not use carbohydrates the way humans and some other mammals do.
They are not able to process carbohydrates effectively, so instead of
getting energy from carbs, they get it directly from animal based fats.
This is the reason ferrets need a diet high in animal based fats. Now, as
to what constitutes a high fat amount is open to question. I personally
look for animal based fats to make up about 20 to 22% of the total, and I
like a protein level of 45 to 50%. In wild prey that a polecat would eat,
the fat amount would be around 20% and the protein level could be as high as
70%.
The following paragraph is taken from an online article written by Dr. Susan
Brown, a well know veterinarian who specializes in exotics. I have included
the link, for those who want to read the full article. It is a good one,
and while it is pro feeding a raw prey diet, it does go into how to choose a
commercially prepared kibble that is healthy.
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=479&S=1&SourceID=43
Because of the short GI tract and the poor absorption of nutrients, ferrets
require a diet that is highly concentrated with FAT as the main source of
calories (energy) and highly digestible MEAT-BASED PROTEIN. This would match
the basic composition of a prey animal not excluding the essential vitamins
and minerals it also contains. Ferrets should never be fed carbohydrates
(such as vegetable, fruit or grains) as the main source of energy in the
diet. Ferrets cannot digest fiber, as is found in some vegetable and fruit
sources. If there is a significant amount of fiber in the diet it serves to
lower the nutritional value of the food. As mentioned, ferrets need a highly
digestible meat-based protein in the diet. Vegetable protein is poorly
utilized. In the presence of excess vegetable protein the ferret can suffer
from such diseases as bladder stones, poor coat and skin quality,
eosinophilic gastroenteritis (wasting, diarrhea, ulcerations of the skin and
ear tips and swollen feet) poor growth of kits and decreased reproduction.
Dog food and vegetarian-type pet foods are completely inappropriate for use
in ferrets because of the high level of vegetable protein and fiber. The
bottom line is that ferrets use fat for energy not carbohydrates and they
need a highly digestible meat-based protein not vegetable protein.
The idea that wild animals have a low fat percentage is misleading. Muscle
meat may be low in fat, but there is fat in other parts of the body. The
brain is mostly fat. Ferrets fed a prey diet will almost always eat the
head of the prey first. This is to get the fat, and replenish energy.
Also, fat amount vary greatly by the age of the prey. Babies will have a
very high fat content, while the older prey will have less. Eggs are also
high in fat. In the wild, polecats eat prey of varying ages, as well as
eggs.
Here is a link to an article that contains a table that gives the average
percentage of various nutritional components found in various prey animals.
http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/zoo/WholePreyFinal02May29.pdf
The table alone can be found here as well:
http://rodentpro.com/qpage_articles_03.asp
In another message, someone had asked about feeding raw, if it was
necessary, and what to feed if trying it.
A natural diet for polecats, which are the close relatives of ferrets,
consists mostly of small prey animals, insects, and eggs. So, if ferrets
were wild, they would likely eat a similar diet. It is important to note,
though, that ferrets are not meat eaters, they are whole prey eaters.
The meat we buy at the grocery store and eat is muscle meat, and muscle meat
is lacking in many important nutrients. For a raw diet to be balanced for a
ferret, it needs to include organ meats and bone. That is why many people
who choose to feed a raw diet buy frozen prey (mice, chicks, rats, etc,)
from a reputable dealer. This way, the prey has been humanly euthanized,
and quick frozen for safer handling.
For people who want to feed raw, but are not comfortable feeding whole prey
animals, there are some commercially prepared raw diets. These are usually
sold in tubes of what looks like ground meat (but includes bones, organ
meats, etc.) or in patties. One manufacturer of this type of food is
Nature's Variety. Here is a link:
http://www.naturesvariety.com/raw
This is a subject that has been discussed in great detail on the FML and
probably here on the FHL as well, I know, and so I will not go into more
detail here. I would suggest that people who are interested check the FHL
and FML archives for more information. Alternatively, I would be happy to
forward posts I have made in the past to people who are interested (please
email me privately). I do not favor any one feeding technique, and I
currently feed a variety of things, including prey, kibble, commercially
prepared raw diets, and canned meats. My personal belief is that a ferrets
nutritional needs can be met in a variety of ways.
Danee DeVore
ADV - If your ferret hasn't been tested, you don't know!
For more information visit:
http://www.ferretadv.com
ADV - Find out how you can help:
http://help4adv.terrabox.com/
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:ferrethealth-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:ferrethealth-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ferrethealth-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/