Hello,

I just wanted to correct a common misconception about raw eggs.

They are safe for ferrets (and dogs and cats). The myth originated
from the fact that raw egg whites contain an enzyme, called avidin.
This enzyme sequesters biotin and makes it unavailable.

However, here's why you don't have to worry.

1) Raw egg whites are only 0.05% avidin.
2) Raw egg yolks contain one of the highest concentrations of biotin
found in nature.

There is plenty of biotin available in the egg yolk to overcompensate
for the avidin in the egg white. As long as the entire egg is fed,
there are no risks of biotin deficiency.

Obviously a diet of only egg whites would be an issue, but a couple
raw eggs a week is definitely not dangerous in any way at all.

Now the topic of salmonella in eggs. Does anyone know the rate of
salmonella in eggs? Based on info from 2002, 2.3 million out of every
69 BILLION. That's about 0.003% of all eggs. So it's pretty unlikely
you'll end up feeding your ferret a salmonella infected egg. And it's
not like there aren't pet food recalls every single year with
salmonella contamination. Eggs are human grade, and are controlled
and monitored much more closely than the pet food industry.

Next, the acidic stomach of a ferret is a bacteria-colonizing
deterrent. This means the environment discourages any bacteria from
taking over the host.

Lastly, the digestive track of ferrets is so short that it's extremely
unlikely the ferret would become infected.

Even kibble fed ferrets shed salmonella in their stools. This just
shows that most ferrets are not susceptible to salmonella and
efficiently pass it without infection. When was the last time there
was a report of a ferret with salmonella?

Wild polecats don't cook their eggs.

I will add a caveat that care should be taken with immunosuppressed
ferrets. Nevertheless, the chances of your ferret getting salmonella
from eggs is lower than the likelihood of it coming from kibble.

Eggs are also very rich in thiamine.

So to summarize my post:

1) Biotin deficiency will not result from feeding whole raw eggs.
2) Salmonella is generally not a risk in ferrets

Thanks,

Jaclynn
Chemistry/Biology

[Posted in FML 7192]