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Feeding a ferret
Knowledge about the nutritional needs of ferrets have made great progress in recent years and have questioned many of the concepts previously acquired. Several studies have recently shed light on the relationship between food and health problems of errors in the ferret, due to the inability of your body to process food (such as carbohydrates or protein, vegetable) for which is not suitable.
The ferret is a carnivore forced, as is shown by the teeth, specialized for grasping and tearing prey, from the apparatus and intestinal, capable of digesting foods of high biological value such as animal tissues are. To stay healthy, therefore, this animal needs to ingest only foods of animal origin: animal fats, that constitute its main energy source, and animal proteins of high quality. The metabolism of the ferret is not suitable for use carbohydrates, the fiber and proteins of plant origin.
In light of new knowledge about eating disorders in the ferret, should be totally banned foods rich in carbohydrates and sugars (fruit, ice cream, biscuits and sweets in general) and fiber (vegetables in general). Fruit, plants and products containing milk can also cause diarrhea. Chocolate is toxic to ferrets, as for other animals, and should never be offered. Occasionally, a ferret can develop dry skin and dull hair, which could benefit from integration with fatty acids. In this case, the veterinarian may prescribe any specific product. Obviously must never miss the water, which must always be clean and fresh. Is’ not recommended for use only drip watering, but we recommend the use of ceramic bowls or hung, because of the difficulty in drinking dall'abbeveratoio, the ferret may drink less than they should. Ferrets like to eat little and often: the ferret in nature does many small meals consisting of prey. It also does not tolerate fasting well, so you should always leave the food available, especially to the young growing. In normal conditions the ferret eats only to satisfy the energy and stop when you feel satisfied. Particularly appetizing foods may interfere with this mechanism and lead to obesity. If the ferret is too much fat you should not think of doing to lose weight using low-calorie food (fiber-rich, detrimental to the ferret); is instead necessary to reduce the amount of food available and promote physical activity. Often the ferret is an animal obese bored, constantly locked in a cage, that turns all its attention to food is not having other distractions. No word yet perfect food for a ferret, There are many conflicting ideas: There are those who basa feeding in the wild and then feeds your ferret with only small prey; some people use white meat slaughtered prey to replenish (not recommended without integrating at least the taurine) and finally there are those who cares for her ferret kibble or wet food exclusively with (power less recommended, as there are no commercially croquettes which satisfy the 100% fabisogno of the ferret).
Commercial diet
Unfortunately, commercial diets formulated for ferrets properly are not easy to find. Many food purchased in stores are woefully inadequate: the fact that the label setting out the photo of a ferret does not guarantee that its composition is appropriate for this species. Many diets contain ready for ferrets cereal and vegetable protein, ingredients much cheaper because of the flesh, but potential causes of health problems. Plant proteins cause urinary tract stones, skin problems (is. dull coat and poor), gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases, stunted growth. Carbohydrates, digested that lead to the formation of glucose, may predispose the ferret to the development of a tumor of the pancreas insulinoma said (that has a very high incidence in this species). The fiber found in plants, that the ferret is not able to digest, can cause intestinal disorders, inflammatory. An interesting alternative could be the use of newly developed food, formulated for cats, composed exclusively of ingredients of animal origin, still uncommon in 
Italian. The closer a food is high in cereal, vegetali, vegetable proteins and carbohydrates, less is suitable for ferrets; it is important to always check the ingredients list before you buy a feed, even if the package is a photo of a ferret. Recall that the label the ingredients are listed in descending order of quantity, then the first ingredients are the most abundant. In a good food to be the main ingredients of animal origin, and it is better if instead of meat products. The percentage composition gives us important information about the quality of the product. For an adult ferret under normal conditions the ideal composition of the food is as follows: proteins 36-38% (and not less than 32%), fat 22-24%. The fiber must be present in a minimum percentage, that is 1,5%; if it is present in a quantity exceeding, it is better to discard this product. The ferret is not properly assimilated fish protein (which can also cause vomiting), so this ingredient must be present in lower percentage can (therefore be listed among the last). And 'unfortunately hard to find diets prepared entirely without this ingredient, because it is an inexpensive source of protein. Remember that some premium brands (of superior quality) of cat food are more than the average quality of food for ferret. The dog food, instead, are always inappropriate for the ferret. They are completely unsuitable, and potential causes of serious health problems, food for carnivores exclusive vegetable origin (so-called vegetarian diets for dogs or cats). If, for ethical reasons do not want to use foods of animal origin, The most consistent thing is not to keep a ferret rather than force him to eat a poor diet and harmful. The wet food (cans, pate and similar) are not shown in the feeding of ferrets as, regardless of the goodness of their composition, predispose to problems such as dental plaque and gingivitis. Ferrets tend to determine their eating habits early in life, and later can be difficult to accept their brand to which they were not used. However, if pressed, resign to accept a new food when they are driven by hunger. Having to make a change of food you can and try not to act gradually but completely replace the type of dog food. However, to avoid that the ferret is fixed with only one type of food, some suggest mix two or three different brands. The croquettes highlighted as Very good is the best on the market so far and can also be given alone or mixed with each other. The croquettes highlighted as Discrete it is advisable to mix them kibble higher quality because they contain an amount still too high in carbohydrates. The croquettes highlighted with Good can be administered in small quantities, only if added to a mix, but if you avoid is even better, contain the right percentage of protein and fat, but a high percentage of carbohydrates and do not contain fresh meat. The croquettes highlighted as Mediocre, at last, must not be absolutely dates, I added in the list as in cases of emergency, If your ferret is not eating other foods besides the kibble and are finite stocks, these are the solutions “least worst” and can be easily found in shops all cities, but try as soon as possible to get you the best brands, long term will cause severe damage to the digestive system of your friend.
Croquettes
Orjen e Cat KittenVery good
Acana Wild Prairie Feast al polloVery good
Acana Grasslands lamb and duck Very good
GranataPet Kitten Pollo Discrete
Adult Chicken Granatapet Discrete
Adult Granatapet Anatra Discrete
Taste Of Wild – Rocky Mountain Feline Very good
Applaws Gattini Good
Applaws Pollo Good
Port 21 Feline Finest Sensible – Grain Free Discrete
Farmina N&D Low Grain Chicken and Melograno Good
Farmina N&D Low Grain Lamb and Blueberry Good
Hill’s Kitten al Pollo Mediocre
Optima Super Premium Ferret Good
Royal Canin Mother & Babycat Mediocre
Eukanuba Kitten Mediocre
Totally Ferret Baby Good
Totally Ferret Active Good
Totally Ferret Senior Good
Zupreem Mediocre
James Wellbeloved Good
Pet's Life, Chicken and Beef Good
Fernando Good
Selective Ferret Mediocre
Wet Food
Only DNR quail |
Only DNR Rabbit |
DNR Only Cockerel |
DNR Solo Oca |
A/D Hill’s |
Boos Pollo |
Royal Canin Vet Convalescence |
Carnivore Care |
Thrive Complete Pollo
|
Cosma Nature Chicken Filet |
Happy Dog Pur Tacchino Puro |
O’Canis for Cats Oca Pollo & Oil Cardo |
Kattovit Sensitive Pollo |
Mac’s Cat Sensitive Tacchino |
Feline Porta 21 Natural Chicken |
Snack e Premi
Thrive Snack Pollo |
Orijen Snack Duck |
Cosma Snackies Pollo |
Cookie’s Delicatess Pollo |
Pro
- Food convenient to administer.
- Nothing happens if the ferret hide the kibble around the house.
- They contain controlled doses of all substances in our ferret needs.
Against
- Very expensive, if we want to buy the best brands.
- Each brand always contains a minimum of carbohydrates, that not being easily digestible by the ferret, can cause diseases such as insulinoma.
- The stools are abundant and strong odor.
- Ferrets fed exclusively on dry food tend to gain weight.
Barf Diet
Quail sold online by RAPAX Mangimi.
The power of the ferret in nature is represented by prey animals whole as small birds, rodents and insects. Unfortunately it is extremely difficult to provide the domestic ferret this type of power (not to mention the ethical). Is’ You can order online prey whole frozen, intended for birds of prey and reptiles. An alternative may be the use of meat readily available at the supermarket, remember, however, that is a very different composition of a whole prey (with lots of skin, fat, bones, viscera and their contents) from that of the one flesh, composed almost entirely of protein and therefore completely lacking as diet. As a matter of fact, was observed a high rate of chronic renal failure in patients fed exclusively on meat, probably due to the excessive amount of protein or the lack of substances essential for the proper functioning of the kidneys (potassium, trace elements, coenzyme Q10 and vitamins B and C). The ideal would be to alternate the meat of good quality commercial foods that contain balanced amounts of protein, fat, football, vitamins and substances such as taurine (that are degraded by freezing). There are specific supplements as an alternative BARF Diet, but still do not know the results of these diets in the long term.
Supplements for Barf
Felini Complete |
Felini Taurin |
Fortan Catfortan |
Bone Meal for Cats and Dogs Grau |
If you choose to use the meat purchased butcher, There must be directed on chicken meat, rabbit
, turkey, quail, father, duck, etc, in maiale assolutamente. Is’ need to take any of the meat, skin, fat, bones and organs such as liver and heart (be spotted.) No need to cut, unless it is excessively abundant, ferrets clean up in a few minutes a full range of thigh bone, and so every part of the animal, also chew the meat and bones helps to clean the teeth and make them white and shiny. Is’ advisable to freeze the meat after purchase and administer it after it has been thawed, room temperature, so as to minimize the bacterial load. Egg yolk and chicks can be given, but not frequently, no more than once a week.
Wanting to provide some special tidbit or an occasional reward you must opt for foods of animal origin such as a piece of cooked meat, liver or egg.
Pro
- Power totally natural, no harmful substances.
- Both the prey whole that meat from butcher, are cheaper compared to commercial foods.
- Chew the meat promotes proper cleaning of the teeth.
- The feces of ferrets fed meat are less abundant and less smelly because assimilating almost all of the meat.
- The ferret fed meat tends to have a better shape, and in the event of a tendency to obesity, just give leaner meat.
Against
- The meat is frozen when it loses many nutrients essential, that must be integrated.
- There is a risk from contracting intestinal infections, if the meat is fresh or not checks were performed, to reduce to a minimum, must be previously frozen.
- The ferret has a habit of hiding the meat, so you have to be careful.
- Is’ a diet very high in protein and there have been cases of renal failure, due to excessive fatigue of the kidneys.
Home-made soup
For those who prefer to prepare if the wet food for our friends, here is a great recipe.
What if
the net:
- Carne intera(preferably from organic agriculture), with skin, bones and offal if possible (hearts, fegati, guts, green tripe…) we can choose between chicken, rabbit, turkey and any other white meat (except pork). The amount is at our discretion, if preparing to give only the time or want to freeze.
- A pot and at least 3 containers that can contain the amount of choice meat.
- A blender with medium / high.
- Optional: wet suit ferret; seed oil olive, linseed, cod liver or salmon; egg yolk or various supplements such as calcium, Taurine, etc.…
Preparation:
- Divide the meat offal
- Soak the meat in a pot with water and bring to a boil, simmer until the meat becomes soft enough to detach itself from the bones (test with a fork).
- Pour into the pan with the meat offal, boil the last 5 minutes, turn off the stove and let the meat is cool enough to be handled without burning.
- Take it piece by piece the meat from the pot and start all over bone, being very careful not to let even the smallest bone (cooked bones should never be given as chips that form are very sharp and hard, compared to those raw), trying instead of letting cartilage.
- Do not throw the broth in which the meat was boiled.
- Using the blender, blend the boned meat and offal using the broth to dilute all (if the meat is so great and the food processor is small, obviously whip several times). The final density will be similar all'omogeneizzato.
- The soup is ready, you can choose whether to make it more or less liquid, adding more broth or water.
The soup can be divided into containers and frozen for later give (try to have to use it up within 30 days). To make it more palatable and more nutritious it is useful to mix the wet trade which our friend is already used. It can be integrated with egg yolk (no more than once a week); few drops of oils mentioned above (very useful in moult); supplements such as taurine (in case of BARF diet over the soup), football (useful in puppies, less than in adults), biotin (improves the quality of the hair); blood freeze-dried or liquid.
Attention: unless this is integrated with at least the 30% wet food trade, not good as only feeding your ferret, as it is lacking in certain essential substances, which instead were added in canned foods.
Pro
- Is’ very useful in ferrets sick or debilitated, to recover quickly lost weight.
- In ferrets used to wet food, can be a help to dilute the harmful components of cans and reduce the number of boxes to buy.
- Being very attractive offers us a help to administer medications or supplements.
- Date once a week, with the addition of wet food trade and taurine, is useful as a supplement to a diet barf.
Against
- It does not contain all the substances in the ferret needs in his life.
- Does not promote tooth cleaning, then the tartar will always accumulate.
- Ferrets fed only soup tend to gain weight fast.
- With an exclusive supply of wet food, the feces tend to be particularly liquid.
