From:
twpfi@aol.com
Date: 2001-05-04 23:59:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Digest Number 162/Mike on low
protein for ferrets
Hills A/D is for cats. When was the last time anyone checked with
the Hills
company to see if the cat A/D had been tested and works on ferrets?
If not,
why not?
Canned food is about 75% water. So on a dry matter basis, it
contains 32%
protein. And as I said previously that is definitely borderline low
for
ferrets. What about the extra vitamins, and minerals that are
needed in a
recovering or sick ferret. Does the A/D have extra? What about the
energy
level. A recovering animal can have as much as a 200% increase in
energy
requirements over maintenance.
Please, all of you veterinarians who routinely recommend "Low
Protein" foods
or diet such as Hills A/D for ferrets please at least call Hills and
find out
if they have tested it for ferrets. If you are recommending
Eukanuba or
Purina recovery diets please at least check with the manufacturers
and see
what they recommend for ferrets. That is what they can support with
research
not how they feel.
Sincerely,
DR Tom Willard