From:
Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2001-12-30 09:31:00 UTC
Subject: RE: [Ferret-Health-list] healthy diet with less waste
Hi,
> Being new to this group I can only offer this to you:
> Please do change his food. There isn't enough protein in it for him. Ferrets
> need at least 36% protein and 20% fat in their diet.
Kaytee Forti-Diet exceeds those numbers. It is a decent food for kits
because it is softer than traditional kibble. At nine weeks, though, I
would start moving over to another food. The main objection to
Forti-Diet is the fish in it, I believe, and the fact that it's soft,
which doesn't help clean their teeth.
> When changing foods do it very slowly as well, over a 7-10 period. See if
> you can't locate one of the following foods for him: Totally Ferret,
> Marshall's or Mazuri.
I don't care much for Marshall's (what we started with when we didn't
know anything)--mountains of smelly poop. 8-in-1 Ultimate, Zupreem
Ferret Diet, and Path Valley are also really good. We mainly feed our
ferrets Totally Ferret, but mix in Zupreem or The Ferret Store food so
that they get some variety. My little guys threw the 8-in-1 around as
if it were a toy and refused to eat it, but other people's ferts seem to
thrive on it.
> Make sure he has a constant supply of food and water
> as ferrets digest their food very quickly (in about 3 hours after eating).
> You might want to consider backing off the treats a little bit as well. Try
> Cheerios or Kix cereal instead.
Meat based treats, especially those with high protein and fat
percentages, are healthier, IMHO.
All the best,
Caity and the terrific 10