From:
"sukiedaviscrandall"
Date: 2009-08-25 15:23:46 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Ingredients Links - Probiotics
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Human and ferret digestion are greatly dissimilar.
There are some similarities such as both getting
helicobacter species, but ferrets differ significantly
in multiple ways from humans in terms of digestion.
Symbiotic bacteria (***which is what probiotics are***)
are bacteria which have a long evolutionary history in
whichever species in which they live to the point where
both the bacteria and hosts help each other. Which
bacterial species are best can therefore differ among
different types of creatures.
Symbiotic bacteria are more common when a diet is high
in plant matter, which they help digest, and when the
transit time through the digestive tract is relatively long.
They are sheltered in the appendix in species with an
appendix, making them less likely to be fully lost to
bouts of diarrhea. (Per research reported upon this
month the appendix also serves as a factory for
white blood cells and performs immune functions in
species which have it.) Ferrets do not have an appendix.
In those species which have them symbiotic bacteria
can also help crowd out invading bacteria, reducing
infection risks in species with them.
Symbiotic bacteria are not involved with the immune
system ***as far as is known***. If they turn out to be
involved that may also differ among species of
bacteria and species of host.
You will see in
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19656293
that there is still a huge amount more that needs to
be understood about symbiotic bacteria such as
those in probiotics.
All that said, remember that it may mean that there
is less need for symbiotic bacteria in ferrets than in
humans, though no use under normal conditions
during health or otherwise is possible -- notice that
needs can vary individuals depending on health.
Nor does it mean that all probiotics which are the
right bacterial species for humans will be of any use
in ferrets, so know that the contents designed for
humans may not work for any other species not
studied in relation to symbiotic bacteria. On the
other hand, given past posts and past experiences,
it seems unlikely to hurt for the types that people
have reported using so far and might help some
individuals. We've given small amounts of yogurt with
active cultures to some ferrets who have been on
antibiotics but have not always seen any need.
Note that sometimes an inappropriate symbiotic
bacterial species can cause as many problems as an
infection type if it is inappropriate for the host species
that gets it. 30 years ago I picked up a chimp symbiotic
bacterial species from some chimps I worked with and it
was just different enough from what is normal for humans
that I spent 3 months with bad enough diarrhea that I was
unable to finish my course load that semester and lost a
significant amount of weight that I could not really afford
to lose back then since I already had a hard enough time
affording both food and books. So, if a symbiotic bacterium
is inappropriate but close enough to what normally exists
then it can cause an infection situation which may persist
long term. On the other hand, if it is far enough different
that it can not set up house that may not happen.
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/
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
all ferret topics:
http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html
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