Minerals are extremely important in the diet, and its safe to say without
them, life (as we know it) would be pretty darn impossible.  Some mammals
have special dietary requirements that others lack because of subtle
evolutionary differencess.  Kibbles, in general, are good in the respect
that they are loaded with the offically recognized mineral requirements for
the animal they were designed for.  However, they are bad in that not all
are exactly balanced.  In terms of minerals, cat chow is geared towards the
mineral requirements of cats, dog chow for dogs, etc.  It is presumed that
ferret chows have the minerals in the minimum doses required for ferrets,
but since many of those levels have not been described well in print, it is
hard to know if they are factual or not.
 
Essential minerals (or elements) in mammalian systems include Calcium,
Phosphorus, Potassium, Chlorine, Sodium, Zinc, Molybdenum, Selenium,
Sulpher, Magnesium, Iron, Copper, Cobalt, Manganese and Iodine.  Elements
that are probably essential are Fluorine, Silicon, Titanium, Vanadium,
Chromium, Nickel, Arsenic, Bromine, Strontium, and Cadmium.  Elements that
might be essential, but the jury is still out include Lithium, Beryllium,
Boron, Scandium, Aluminium, Gallium, Gemanium, Rubidium, Zirconium, Silver,
Lead, Antimony, Caesium, Barium, Mercury, Tin, Bismuth, Radium, Thorium and
Uranium.  In the last set of elements, the function is currently unknown,
imperfectly known, or controversial.
 
Calcium (Ca) is essential in bone and tooth formation, blood coagulation,
muscle contraction, nerve function, and milk production.  Deficiency
symptoms include osteomalacia, weakness, reproductive problems, milk fever
and can result in the disease called Rickets.  Severe deficiency interferes
with heart muscle contractions resulting in death.
 
Phosphorus (P) is essential in bone and tooth formation, metabolic
functions, energy production, and blood pH regulation.  Deficiency symptoms
include osteomalacia, weakness, and rickets.
 
Potassium (K) is essential for life.  It is important for osmotic balance,
cellular pH, cell transportation of nutrients and cell products, and muscle
cell function.  Deficiency symptoms include reduced growth and blood and
cellular pH imbalances.  Severe deficiency results in death.
 
Chorine (Cl) is essential for life.  It is important for osmotic balance,
cellular pH, formation of stomach acids, cell transportation of nutrients
and cell products, and muscle cell function.  Deficiency symptoms include
reduced growth and blood and cellular pH imbalances.  Severe deficiency
results in death.
 
Sodium (Na) is essential for life.  It is important for osmotic balance,
cellular pH, cell transportation of nutrients and cell products, and muscle
cell function.  Deficiency symptoms include reduced growth, visual problems,
and reproductive problems.  Severe deficiency results in death.
 
Zinc (Zn) is essential for proper growth and development, reproductive
function, bone formation, blood formation and metabolic functions.
Deficiency symptoms include retarded growth, rough hair, impaired
reproductive ability, inflamation of moist tissues, skin disorders, and
bleeding.
 
Molybdenum (Mo) is essential in the formation of the enzyme xanthine oxidase
which is essential in the metabolism of purines into uric acids.  Deficiency
symptoms include kidney stones but deficiency uncommon.
 
Selenium (Se) is essential for the formation of some animo acids, is tied to
Vitamin E absorption, and assists in vision and hair production.  Deficiency
symptoms include impaired growth, and loss of hair, liver necrosis and
muscular dysfunction.
 
Sulphur (S) is essential for the formation of amino acids, tissue
respiration, and in the formation of Biotin and Thiamine.  Deficiency
symptoms include poor or stunted growth.
 
Magnesium (Mg) is essential for bone formation and in the function of
certain enzymes.  Deficiency symptoms include flushing, hyperirritability,
loss of equilibrium and trembling.
 
Iron (Fe) is mostly found in the body as organic compounds, such as
hemoglobin in the red blood cells, and as myoglobin in the muscles.
However, a small portion of ionic iron is found in the blood plasma.  It
is important in blood formation, muscle growth and formation, and tissue
respiration.  Deficiency symptoms include anaemia, weakness and retarded
growth and can result in Microcytic Hypochromic Anemia.
 
Copper (Cu) is essential for blood formation, helping put iron into the
hemoglobin molecule and assists maturation of the blood cells.  It also
helps in bone formation and as a component in various enzymes.  Deficiency
symptoms include anemia, weakness or lameness, bleeding, retarded growth,
diarrhoea, depigmentation, weak bones and nerve degeneration.
 
Cobalt (Co) is essential in the synthesis of Vitamin B-12, important in
blood formation and metabolic functions.  Deficiency symptoms include
anemia, impaired appetite, weakness, distortions of the spine and rough
hair.
 
Manganese (Mn) is essential in bone formation, tissue respiration, growth,
blood formation, production of amino acids and the function of some glands.
Deficiency symptoms include weakness, low fertility, testicular
degeneration, retarded skeletal growth, and the drying up of milk during
lactation.
 
Iodine (I) is essential in the thyroid hormones which regulate basic
metabolism and growth.  Deficiency symptoms include the enlargement of the
thyroid gland, skin disorders, loss of hair, debilitation and can result in
a disease called Thyroid Goiter.
 
Bob C and 20 MO Rockin' Raisinettes
[Posted in FML issue 2317]