Message Number: YPG82 | New FHL Archives Search
From: "Michelle"
Date: 2006-11-12 00:13:32 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Kibble vs. meat in acute care
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com

>So, if a kibble based soup does the trick in=20
> keeping a non-eater alive, I say go for it. Certainly,
> a protein- based diet is best for a ferret w/insulinoma, but
> if you can't get them to eat it, it's missing the point.

I have both types of ferrets-- kibble and natural diet -- and I
definately agree. I don't think anyone *wouldn't* agree. :)

> I've found that my rescue ferrets have never been much for
> meat, I think because they were conditioned to kibble.
> Those ferrets I've raised from kits had meats and a variety
> of textures introduced early, so they're more likely to go for
> new foods.

I have found this to also be the case. A shelter worker who is
looking after my natural fed boy noticed this right away--compared
to the many strictly kibble-fed ferrets, he has little interest in
sugary-foods. She pointed out a very excellent example one day:
I had put my bag on the floor and in one of the zippered pockets was
a candy bar. I had forgotten about that. At any rate, the shelter
ferrets--all kibble raised and fed--were INTENSELY interested in
that pocket, compared to my boy who, even after I removed it and
showed the candy to him, had no interest whatsoever in it.=20=20=20

I think she hit it right on the nose when she said "He hasn't
developed a taste for sweet things like kibble." And as we all
know, if you read the labelon any kibble, 3 of the top 5 ingredients
is a carbohydrate of some sort, ie *about* 50% of what a ferret will
take in is indigestible and high in sugar. (Wheat, etc does contain
a certain percentage of protein. Higher than you would think,
actually. That is why even though the food label may say "35%
protein", that does not mean all the protein comes froma meat
source.)

But as you mentioned in your example with Elmo, *food* itself is the
key. I have a friend whose ferret is so far into insulinoma that
she has him caged separately because he needs so much sugar just to
stay alive -- He drinks sugar-water, although he also has access to
regular water in his cage too.

Having both kibble eaters and natural eaters my advice to kibble-
only ferret-lovers who might feel guilty about that is that no
matter what, a *variety* of foods is the best--not just from a
nutrional standpoint, but from an Enrichment standpoint. To quote
one professional--"How would you like it if you had to eat the same
food day in and day out ?"

Good luck in getting Elmo to eat!!

MD

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Mahatma Gandhi:
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by
the way its animals are treated."=20