Message Number: YG12880 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2002-05-04 11:32:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Easily digested kibble

Hi, Kelly, amd everyone else,

> Does anyone have any suggestions on which brands of kibble would be
> the best for ferrets with sensitive tummys(ie. birdseed poops, loose
> poo(:)?

It may not be a "sensitive tummy" but rather a medical problem, such as
heliobacter or giardia. Adric and Romana went through a bout with
giardia -- lots of loose poo. I think a visit to your vet is definitely
in order.

> I want
> to eventually get one of my ferrets eating solid food again someday!
> Currently I feed Marshalls, Iams, Eukanuba and Maxi cat.

There is nothing wrong with Marshalls, but it is not a dense food so
your fert has to eat more of it to sustain himself. Perhaps if less was
passing through his or her system he/she would be doing better. Iams
and Eukanuba (kitten formulas only) are also OK, but my vet believes
that foods specifically formulated for ferrets are better choices.
Adult cat food, including Maxi cat, does not provide the nutrition a
ferret needs.

> I have four ferrets and they like variety?!

That is actually a good thing. This way if one food isn't available or
has a problem they will still have plenty to eat.

Are any of these food a really bad choice? I was
> thinking they may need less fat?

Ferrets need high protein, high fat diets. Less fat is almost certainly
not the answer.

Here are the foods I generally recommend. I do not know which your
ferret will tolerate best, but all of these are excellent foods, and
probably better than what you are feeding your ferret now.

-Totally Ferret
-Mazuri
-8-in-1 Ultimate (not Ulta)
-Zupreem
-The Ferret Store Superior Choice

All are probably more expensive than what you are feeding now, but your
ferts will eat less of it to get the nutrition they need, so in the long
run your cost may not be more at all.

All the best,
Caity and the notorious (and finally all healthy) nine