I'd recommend if anyone is considering what to feed to look the subject
up in the archives so they can be well informed on all sides.
Very important information is that not all ferrets will accept the
foods we want to feed and that can be detrimental to them if we don't
monitor carefully, especially when changing what they are imprinted
on. Trying to do what an individual believes is better for their ferret
may have dire consequences, no matter how good the intention is.
Personally, I feed kibble, always have. I let the ferrets eat Beneful
puppy food because they like it, I give them Marshmallow mateys because
they like it, I feed a liquid kibble/AD/supplement recipe morning and
evening, I let them eat from my plate if they want to, that includes
cereal, pasta, pizza, whatever I'm eating that won't cause a possible
blockage or cause them to be sick. I've had hundreds of ferrets since
1985 and the ferrets I have now live longer. Years ago 5-6 was the
average age, now it's 8-9, with several reaching 10 and one reaching
12. I can't say it is what I am feeding because logically it involves
multiple factors including nutrition.
I spend an hour a day making recipe, less time making the other two
recipes, I have to know which of the 22 kibble brands go in which bowl
in which room and which kibbles are to be mixed together to get the
blend that certain ferrets like. Put the wrong kibble in the wrong bowl
and it ends up being shoved out onto the floor, put the wrong kibble in
the wrong room and someone may not eat, put the wrong mix together and
the ferrets won't eat it.
Just because I choose to feed kibble doesn't mean I'm failing
nutritionally for the ferrets that share my home. Feeding type is a
personal choice that should be made by researching all sides and
monitoring our ferrets closely.
tle
www.ferretfamilyservices.org
[Posted in FML 6061]
=========================================================================Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:28:49 -0700
From: Kim <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: about more info for e coli
Suki posted this link:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11504237
which states:
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infection in captive black-footed
ferrets.
Bradley GA, Orr K, Reggiardo C, Glock RD.
Department of Veterinary Science and Microbiology, The University of
Arizona, Tucson 85705, USA. [log in to unmask]
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli with genes for heat stabile toxins
Sta and STb was isolated from the gastrointestinal tract and multiple
visceral organs of three adult and three juvenile black-footed ferrets
(Mustela nigripes) that died in a captive breeding colony between 24
May 1998 and 2 July 1998. Similar isolates were obtained from rectal
swabs of one adult and one juvenile that were clinically ill. All were
fed a diet composed of mink chow, raw rabbit meat, beef liver powder,
blood meal and lard. Escherichia coli of the same toxin genotype was
isolated from the mixed ration. Clinical signs included sudden death,
dehydration, anorexia and diarrhea. Necropsy lesions included acute
enteritis with large numbers of rod shaped bacteria microscopically
visible on intestinal villi.
PMID: 11504237 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Observe the time line: May 24 to July 2 1998, almost 6 weeks that isn't
"sudden death". Observe the diet fed: diet composed of mink chow, raw
rabbit meat, beef liver powder, blood meal and lard.
any one of those ingredients could have harbored the e.coli bacteria.
Even ALL of them especially if the diet was mixed together and stored
for later use. Mink chow is typically made with high amounts of fish.
Observe the report says that e.coli bacteria were found in the MIXED
ration - but they do NOT mention how long that ration was mixed before
feeding, NOR do they mention if the individual ingredients of the
ration were tested to locate the source of the e.coli.
Anyone familiar with handling raw meats is aware that mixing meats
increases the bacteria exposure and count. It is advisable to only
mix what you will be feeding that particular meal. However knowing
that this was a breeding colony and likely there were numerous animals
being fed, its a fairly safe bet that a large amount of the ration was
premixed and stored for later use.
It could be very likely that the mixing was done improperly, that the
ration had been stored improperly, or that any one of the ingredients
had been stored improperly allowing the growth of the bacteria.
Observing that the necropsies showed internal lesions indicates that
the same infected ration was being fed even though the animals were
already showing signs of illness.
So was the raw meat to blame or the storage and handling of that meat?
Could the animals have survived if they weren't repeatedly infected by
being fed the same tainted ration? Which of the five ingredients used
could have been the culprit? If the finished ration was stored and
handled improperly- what are the chances the ingredients were equally
mishandled? Since the bacteria had heat stable genes could they have
originated in the mink chow- which is usually processed by cooking?
Or maybe they were in the blood meal which is alos subjected to heat?
Maybe the bacteria simply originated upon the mixing utensils that
weren't washed and dried proeperly?
You cannot extrapolate from this one sad instance that ferrets are at
high risk for contracting e.coli to the point of it being their demise.
This in no way indicates feeding a raw diet to ferrets is dangerous.
Regards,
Kim
please visit :
for ferret help and info:
http://holisticferret.proboards80.com/index.cgi
http://ferretopia.proboards51.com/index.cgi
yahoo groups Natural Ferrets
for fun:
www.vanityferret.com
please visit :
for ferret help and info:
http://holisticferret.proboards80.com/index.cgi
http://ferretopia.proboards51.com/index.cgi
yahoo groups Natural Ferrets
for fun:
www.vanityferret.com
[Posted in FML 6061]
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