Little Norway Expansion

Page Three:

Vitamins: friend or foe?
by Crazy Lady

Vitamin D (calciferol)

Vitamin D is often called the sunshine vitamin as it is mainly associated with sunshine. A body can manufacture this on the skin from natural sunshine. A ferret needs vitamin d for many things. The most important being the absorpsion of calcium. Calcium is needed to ensure good bone density, good bone growth and strong heathy teeth. Vitamin d also helps control the amount of phosphorus in the body and it also helps maintain a healthy heart and nervous system. Vitamin d is not a water soluble vitamin so it must be used carefully. It is often offered in a supplement along with vitamin A which is a good way to use vitamin D so as not to to overdose. Ferrets with kidney or liver damage may need slightly higher than normal dose of vitamin d as the liver and kidneys are needed to activate this vitamin within the ferret's body.

Signs of vitamin D deficancy: The signs of vitamin d deficancy are many and varied according to the age of the ferret. When vit d deficiancy occurs in young ferrets it can cause soft bones which results in ricketts and the bones appear to be bent and deformed. In older ferrets there are many different signs such as muscle twitching, convulsions, bones appearing to be sore and weak and in some cases there can be sight problems.

Where can I get vitamin D: Vitamin D can be obtained at health food stores. This vitamin is best used along with vit A and is often offered with vit a in tablet form. As this vitamin is not water soluble it can be stored in the body and if too much is given calcium can be deposited in soft tissue throughout the body. This is one vitamin that must be used with caution. Fresh meat feeders can find vitamin D in sardines, salmon, tuna, mackerel, liver and egg yolks.

Vitamin E (tocopherol)

Vitamin E is a vitamin that has many fucntions throughout the ferret's
body. It has been called the "pick me up" vitamin for ferrets and many breeders believe it actually improves a ferret's abiity to produce kits! Vitamin e is an essential fat soluble vitamin and although excesses are not passed in urine it is thought not to be harmful as no cases of vit e toxicity have been recorded. Vit e as I have stated is an important vitamin it helps with the prevention of degenerative diseases such as heart disease, arthritis, diabetes and strokes. Vit e is also beneficial in preventing clots from forming in the ferret's body and also for preventing mastitis in nursing jills. Vitamin e oil from capsules can also be massaged on to the skin where there are signs of sores to assist with healing. It may also be used on small patches of dry skin safely. Vitamin e also helps protect the body from pollution, especially the lungs!

Vitamin E deficancy: The signs of vitamin E deficancy are many and varied and not all of them are recorded as they could be attributed to some other illness. Those that are known are tiredness, cuts, healing slowly, gallstones, shortened red blood cell life span, problems with fertility.

Where can I get vitamin E: Vitamin E comes in capsule form from your local health food store and is easily given. Simply prick the capsule and squeeze onto food. Meat feeding owners can find vitamin E in sunflower oil, beef and seafood. Please note vit E is easily destroyed by cooking, freezing even by leaving exposed for a long time in the air - it deteriorates rapidly.

Vitamin H (Biotin)

Vitamin H is an important vitamin for a ferret's diet. Although it is called vitamin H, in reality a lot of people class it as part of the b complex group as it needs to be given with the b vitamin group. Vitamin H is used in the body for the metabolisim of fats and proteIns and also for cell growth and the production of fatty acids. Vitamin H also plays a role in healthy coat, skin nerve tissue and bone marrow. It also helps in the releasing of energy from food. Vitamin H is a very important vitamin that also helps maintain sugar levels in the body.

Signs of a vitamin H deficency: When vitamin H is deficient there are a number of signs. A lot of these mimic other illnesses so if in doubt please consult your vet. Some of the signs are severe hair thinning or hair loss, dry scaley skin, loss of appetite, weight loss and tiredness.

Where can I get vitamin H: Vitamin H is available from local health food stores in tablet form. It is a water soluble vitamin and there have been no reports of toxic incidents from vitamin H. Excess vitamin h is easily passed in urine and feces as it is regarded as part of the b comlex group. It is advisable to give it at the same time as the b complex group as the results can only be beneficial. Meat feeding owners can find vitamin H in beef liver, cooked eggs, chicken
breast and salmon. Please note: raw eggs contain avidin which binds with biotin and can prevent biotin from being absorbed into the body. An odd raw egg once per week or every two weeks does no long term harm as long as they are not given too often.

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