From:
twpfi@aol.com
Date: 2001-03-21 11:19:00 UTC
Subject: Re: kevin feeding cat food to ferrets
This is one reason I joined this group at the request of DR Bruce
Williams,
DVM. There is no cat food on the market today that has been tested
and
proven to be nutritionally complete and balanced for ferrets. Until
8 years
ago there were no good ferret foods on the market. Non which had
been
developed, tested and proven to meet pet ferret's nutritional
requirements.
Many veterinarians recommended feeding premium (?) cat foods because
they
were nutritionally better than the pelleted ferret foods they were
available
at that time. They still are. This situation has changed. Totally
Ferret
was introduced to the market in the spring of 1994. It was
developed,
tested, and proven to support growth for kits, pregnancy, lactation
and
maintenance for ferrets of all ages. Marshall Farms also produced a
ferret
diet similar to the one they feed in their breeding facility later
that same
year. Totally Ferret is the only one who has ever presented their
data to
several veterinarian conference.
So, there is no reason for veterinarians who treat ferrets to not be
aware of
these foods. With the advent of the Internet and the continuing
education
classes available, there is no reason for them to keep recommending
cat foods
for ferrets. They are busy as is everyone else but they still have
a
responsibility to stay informed of the latest information on
nutrition as
well as medical information.
Cat foods as well as most commercial ferret foods do not have the
level and
quality of animal protein that is necessary for ferrets. Even for
maintenance without supplementation.
Sincerely,
Thomas R. Willard, Ph.D.