I've read that In the wild mustelids live only 2-3 years.  The majority
of domestic ferrets live much longer, even when being fed kibble their
entire lives.  Wild mustelids eat prey or raw from the beginning.  I
would guess if they were given kibble as a food source they wouldn't
know it was food either.  The domestic ferrets that are raised on kibble
view prey or raw food the same, not knowing it is a food source
 
With any feeding regime, the species must have specific nutrient needs
met, such as minerals and vitamins.  When an animal doesnt get the
right amount of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients they become
malnourished.  As an example - Taurine.  Studies indicate that a
deficiency of taurine contributes to certain heart ailments.  In Bob's
Chicken Gravy, he added ingredients to complete the nutritional balance
that wasnt met by the whole chicken.  Wild mustelids wouldnt naturally
have access to these additional ingredients.  Maybe the ferretvite and
honey trees are where the kibble tree is?  ;-)
 
The body needs energy to accomplish things like growth and repair.  The
body needs fluids to keep the blood thin enough to flow, help with the
process of digestion, transport wastes, and help rid toxins and other
undesirable or no longer needed by-products of digestion and daily
functioning.  When ferrets are deprived of food, or what they perceive
of as food, they will sleep more and drink less which can lead to
dehydration.
 
Malnutrition occurs over time and develops in stages.  First, nutrient
levels in blood and/or tissue change, then intracellular changes in
biochemical functions and structure.  Malnutrition can retard growth
and may allow underlying medical problems to surface.  Inadequate food
intake causes a rapid decrease of bacteria and protozoa and in the
volatile fatty acid concentration in the stomach.  In ferrets, this
may lead to an overgrowth of bad bacteria.
 
If an animal is forced into an inadequate plane of nutrition, in ferrets
being switched to a different diet this would include inadequate food
intake, there are many physiological changes as the body tries to meet
energy requirements.  At the cellular level, catabolism (breaking down
of complex chemical compounds into simpler ones) continues to supply
the substances required for anabolism (usage of nutritive matter and
conversion to living substance) and to continue vital functions.  Reserve
stores of nutrients in the individual are utilized to compensate for the
lack of nutritional intake.  Energy is generated from the utilization of
proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.  The most readily usable material, the
carbohydrate glycogen, is utilized first.  This is derived from glycogen
stored in the liver and is exhausted within a few hours.  This is
followed by stored fat from subcutaneous deposits, around the kidney, and
in the mesentery and omentum tissue.  Fat deposits in the parenchymatous
organs are utilized next.  The last area of the body to lose its fat
deposits is the marrow of the bones.  The final source of energy
available is the protein comprising the cytoplasm of the cells.  It is at
this time that ketosis and an increase in nitrogen excretion may occur.
Ketosis (a condition in which ketone substances appear in the blood and
urine) is commonly seen in malnourished animals.  This is because it is
necessary for the animal to derive its energy from the stored fat and
protein.  After all the fat reserves have been exhausted, nitrogen
excretion rises due to the protein catabolism which occurs just prior
to death.  The animal will eventually reach a point where the cells of
the body are unable to perform the functions necessary for life.  Death
results from lack of sufficient blood glucose to provide the energy
needs of the brain and hypoglycemic shock occurs.
 
Stay tuned for part 2!
[Posted in FML issue 5206]