From:
AFERRETVET@cs.com
Date: 2001-05-04 07:33:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Re: Food for Sick Ferret
Hi Katharine,
The food companies are required to list
the crude protein, fat, fiber, and moisture
levels of the food on an "as is basis."
To compare dry food to can food you have to
put it into a "dry matter basis." Most dry foods
will have 10-15% moisture (water). The can foods
will vary from 60-80% moisture.
I do not have the dry/can K/D here, but yes, they
are going to be similiar in protein level when compared
on a dry matter basis.
A/D on the other hand is a high protein, high fat food.
That is why it is often recommended for feeding sick
ferrets, ferrets with insulinomas, and for ferrets recovering
from surgery. The high water content also helps to correct
the dehydration in ECE ferrets. Hopefully Dr Willard will
be able to explain how to convert food values from an
"as is basis" to a "dry matter basis" in an easy to understand
way for everybody.
Hope that helps,
Jerry Murray, DVM