In relation to Vitamin D, be careful with D3 for ferrets. The levels
which are safe for humans are not safe for a number of members of
Carnivora. This is currently a hot topic is veterinary nutrition
studies, and one I was recently discussing with Dr. Tom Willard of
Performance Foods whose doctorate and decades of work experience are
in that field.
Some members of Carnivora can too easily get levels that are too high
(toxic) of D3 (hypervitaminosis D3) and Dr. Willard indicated that
there is good reason to also study ferrets in this regard to avoid
problems and meanwhile to use caution.
To see Dr. Willard's comments on current D3 research and the possible
risk of toxicity, please, click open:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG1449
to read.
BTW, D3 is also produced in response to sunlight on bare skin.
Ferrets differ from humans in relations to levels of nutrients, for
example they deal fine with higher levels of Vitamin A then we humans
do, but like a number of their relatives they may need less Vitamin D
than humans (whereas there is current work indicating that humans --
or some humans -- may need more D than the current RDAs state).
This has links to many studies:
http://www.vitamindcouncil.com/researchVeterinary.shtml
Notice in the studies that this page links to that in members of
Carnivora hypercalaemia and hypocalcaemia are both things that can
happen if D3 balance to other nutrients is off, and that it can
throw off some other minerals as well. Hypercalaemia occurred with
hypervitaminosis of D3, and other problems like rickets with the
opposite.
Sukie (not a vet)
Current FHL address:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth
Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/http://ferrethealth.org/archive/http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.htmlhttp://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/http://www.ferretcongress.org/http://www.trifl.org/index.shtmlhttp://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
[Posted in FML 5553]
