From:
ferret-health-list@por-torres.com
Date: 2004-05-18 03:53:35 UTC
Subject: RE: Bob C: Kibble diets
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <5296045.1084852415960.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
I have just finished going through Bob Church's post regarding kibble diet's ( from Sat Apr 14, 2001 11:41am). The comment about the hardness of the food seems logical. I will often watch my ferrets (and cat) eat, and I hate watching them struggle with the hard food. Being carnivores, the placement of their molars are different than that of omnivores/herbivores (from what I've read/observed). Subsequently, they have to chew on the side of their mouth in what appears to be an awkward and uncomfortable manner.
The ferrets have tried, several times, to sneak a bite of the canned cat food. I have read this is unhealthy for them as the nutrient:water ratio isn't sufficient for their relatively small digestive tract. I've also seen them dunk their kibble in their water dish from time to time. I am not sure if this behavior is accidental, learned, or a mixture of the two (I have read of other ferrets demonstrating the same behavior).
Could the "food dunking" sufficiently soften the food for them? I also add a bit of FerreTone to their food everyday. Mixing this liquid with their food seems to help soften it a little as well.
If the kibble is too hard for them, then why don't we see more semi-soft foods out there. Is it is merely a matter of tarter build-up? If so, wouldn't regular brushing (and yearly teeth cleaning?) compensate and allow the ferrets teeth to stay healthy while avoiding the cons of hard kibble.
Analogy: some breakfast cereals are so hard that one's mouth feels torn up after eating them. I really hope that's not what the ferrets are feeling.
-Tiffany Torres