SUKIE Noted Regarding dental health:
>scientists have discovered a genetic link between the dental disease
>periodontitis and coronary heart disease, according to a new study.
>
>German researchers said they have found a genetic variant situated on
>chromosome 9 that is shared between the two diseases.
...
>"These factors already indicated a possible mutual genetic basis
>underlying the two diseases. Now we know for sure that there is a
>strong genetic link, patients with periodontitis should try to reduce
>their risk factors and take preventative measures at an early stage,"
>Dr. Arne Schaefer of the Institute for Clinical Molecular Biology at
>the University of Kiel in Germany was quoted as saying.
>
>SOURCE: Study presented on May 25, 2009 at the annual conference of
>the European Society of Human Genetic

Please before you chalk up any ferret's dental health issues to,
"Oh its just simply bad genes." Realize that the study was one done
regarding HUMAN genetics: last I knew ferrets and humans did not share
similar genetic coding. It serves no purpose to extrapolate studies
done on human genetics and then make the leap that the same or similar
thing happens in ferrets! This is a premise consistently repeated by
many noted professors, scientists. veterinarians and pathologists like
Dr. Bruce Williams, Dr. Nico Johannes Schoemaker to name just a couple!
Ferrets are their own unique species, neither info from cats NOR dogs
and especially not humans applies when trying to determine causes of
disease or health issues.

Something to keep in mind regarding ferrets and dental health.
Something that Bob Church has noted speaks about surface area of the
teeth. Ferret teeth just simply do NOT have the smae surface area of
a dog or a cat - so this means there would be less time for bacteria
to invade tooth enamel and cause problems.

Anytime calculus or tartar is scraped from the teeth the enamel gets
scratched, this only sets up the tooth for more bacterial harbors,
and runs the risk of actually cracking the enamel too.

Saliva is well known to keep teeth in good condition. Saliva washes
the teeth and has natural bactericides. An interesting anatomical fact
about ferrets is that unlike dogs and cats that each have 4 pairs of
salivary glands - ferrets have 5 pairs! Ferrets have TEN salivary
glands in their mouths compared to the 8 glands of dogs and cats!
These extra glands are near the back teeth of the ferret.

Saliva is triggered from many inputs - smells and sight of food nto
to mention chewing and gnawing. The chewing and gnawing required when
eating a raw meaty bone is definitely a more lengthy process than the
crack, crunch and gulp of kibble or the grab and swallow of mushy foods
or the lick and swallow of soups; so more saliva gets produced to keep
the teeth clean when eating a natural diet.

Ferrets (dogs or cats) do not produce amylase - a digestive enzyme
necessary for carbohydrate digestion. Humans DO produce amylase in
their Salivary glands as well as their pancreas - but ferrets do not
produce amylase at all.

Something else to note regarding saliva and its benefits to oral health
are that during sleep less saliva is produced - so it's likely ferrets
that sleep a lot and that are on kibble or soft diets just are not
producing enough saliva to keep their teeth clean naturally!

Ferret's teeth are designed to chew and gnaw raw meaty bones and whole
prey, apparently their saliva glands respond to this too and that keeps
their teeth healthy!

Cheers!
Kim

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[Posted in FML 6588]