From:
"SukieC"
Date: 2011-06-27 23:57:29 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Distemper
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Ferrets are descended from the dog branch of Carnivora. It is one of the two most recent branches to arise, about 30 million years ago. Early on there was even a mustelid, Aulurocyon, which was larger than the wolverine. So, we are speaking of a very long carnivorous ancestry as seen in form, nutrient needs, carnassial teeth, etc.
Humans are primates; our ancestors' diets (and current diets in many non-industrial areas) included insectivory, frugivory (fruit eating seen in features like our spatulate incisors and incisorform canines), grains (The Theropithecus complex, a suite of characters such as grinding molars, padding for comfy sitting, and more features is also shared by humans.), and other vegetable sources as the major sources of nutrients. Until quite recently, the Caloric division of nutrients of most earlier members of Homo sapiens, and also of many current non-industrial and non-farming locations appear to be about 75% vegetable matter and 25% animal matter (including insects) from observations of current groups and also bone and tooth analyses for components that vary with diet. Obviously, there are exceptions such as many of the extreme northern human populations, and Neanderthals in at least some of their range.
Mustelid ancestors (except for ones like Aulurocyon) were burrow dwellers, darkness adapted, and the European and Steepe Polecats are crepuscular (dawn and dusk being the times of peak outside activity.
Those factors make the nutrient needs of ferrets very different than those of humans.
You can use the referenced article to do the math and figure out how much A you can give.
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