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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2015 11:50:57 GMT -5
I've been researching the market for freeze dried raw ferret food. I've found a few. I just need some opinions before I buy. I would like to get Loki on a better diet (unable to raw feed at this time). I've seen wysong ferret food, the ingredients look great, the reviews look awful. Also I saw Steve's real food. Any recommendations?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2015 11:56:15 GMT -5
It's been a few years now, since I fed FDR. With recalls and changes, I'm not sure what products are currently best.
At the time that I fed FDR to my (then) four, I bought:
Wysong Archetypal 1 (fdr)
Stella and Chewy's duck,duck,goose and tummy ticklin turkey
Whole Life Cod
Whole Life rabbit and a few other of their 'flavors'
Fresh is best turkey hearts
Nature's instinct raw boost bites, grain free.
I averaged close to $200 or more a month. Frankenprey is alot less costly.
Look on Amazon under Pet Supplies and type in FDR for Felines. You can see the varieties available and then price shop it on other sites.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2015 11:59:08 GMT -5
He's eating natures instinct now. But he is still getting seedy poops. He seems healthy and happy. Should I stick with that? Or should I try and head towards a more raw diet?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2015 12:13:26 GMT -5
Seedy poops are undigested fats. Fat is good for ferrets, Fat equals energy.
As a Holistic Forum, we're more likely to point you to a raw diet, like the Frankenprey model.
Everything can be bought at a local grocery store (you might need an Asian market for organs), it's better for their teeth and alot less expensive.
I loved using FDR. It was convenient and felt it was safe, while I was learning about Frankenprey.
It doesn't help clean teeth though and is so expensive for four ferrets.
I also tried to follow the Frankenprey menu and gave them a minimum of three proteins.
Which Nature's instinct are you using? Any FDR product should be grain free and you want the ones that are designed for felines. Canine versions will have more fruits/grain/starches and carbs and no Taurine.
Even with FDR sometimes they use other ingredients to help it hold its shape.
If you have the time and are willing, then a raw meat diet is best for ferrets. They simply are not designed to process anything but meat.
If that doesn't work for you, then I'd rather help you find a good product than lose you because you can't feed full on raw.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2015 12:17:10 GMT -5
He's eating the chicken meal formula for felines. It's grain free. I just know if I can do raw right now. I would love to get him pointed that direction so I'm wanting to find something as close to that as possible. I've been wetting his food too.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2015 12:31:46 GMT -5
Okay, let's look at the ingredients and I'll Bold the ones that concern me: Chicken Meal, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Tapioca, Chicken, Menhaden Fish Meal, Tomato Pomace, Suncured Alfalfa Meal, Natural Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Montmorillonite Clay, Choline Chloride, DLMethionine, Carrots, Apples, Cranberries, Salt, Vitamins (Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Taurine, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Sodium Selenite), Freeze Dried Turkey, Freeze Dried Chicken (including Freeze Dried Ground Chicken Bone), Freeze Dried Turkey Liver, Pumpkinseeds, Dried Bacillus coagulans Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract, Butternut Squash, Ground Flaxseed, Dried Kelp, Broccoli, Apple Cider Vinegar, Salmon Oil, Dried Chicory Root, BlueberriesGuaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min) 45.0%, Crude Fat (min) 19.0%, Crude Fiber (max) 3.0%, Moisture (max) 10.0%. So, your first ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal actually has a higher protein content than plain chicken. That's a plus. Much further down on the ingredient list is Fish meal and FDR turkey and FDR chicken. We would like to see three for optimum nutrients and this product has that. There is chicken bone and turkey bones in there. There is liver and Taurine, Choline and Vitamin B. Where I put the fruits and veggies in bold is my concern. That's alot of fruits and veggies. The good thing is that there are no peas. They are linked to kidney stones. The 'filler' of fruits and veggies are there to appeal to the pet owner and also help the meal hold it's shape. All in all, it's not a bad product. It's not a great product, but it's healthier than alot of products out there. Hydrating it is good, ferrets on kibble tend to be slightly dehydrated. There is a very good website that teaches you how to look at ingredients and ranks kibbles: moredooks.herobo.com/search.php?chart=ferret |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2015 12:39:21 GMT -5
I have to run a few errands but I'll check back in a little later.
:wave3:
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2015 18:53:46 GMT -5
Is there a better kibble I can give him? The wysong kibble kinks amazing but everybody that has given their ferrets the new formula are writing in reviews saying it made their ferrets sick.
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Post by raynebc on Jul 19, 2015 20:30:10 GMT -5
The "digestive support" version is pretty close or identical to the original Epigen 90. As far as kibbles go, I'm not aware of a better one.
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Post by msav on Jul 19, 2015 21:30:35 GMT -5
I believe If I remember correctly All of Natures Variety Instinct raw line Adheres to the 95% meat, organs and bones 5% fruits and veggies. (does not include the kibble) only the frozen and the FDR
it has been a while so this may have changed.
remember while FDR does not clean teeth it also does not destroy teeth like kibble does.
Wysong's change is the final push to get me to go to raw. My ferrets refuse to eat the new formula.
Self preservation I am sure They must have knew it would make them sick.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2015 21:31:59 GMT -5
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Post by msav on Jul 19, 2015 21:42:22 GMT -5
Your right to be, I would never recommend wysong ferret food to anyone. They refused to refund me for the case of ferret food I bought that my ferrets would not eat. The company does not care about it's customers. They have gone the way of most other pet food companies in my mind |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2015 21:51:07 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2015 21:55:01 GMT -5
There is a natures instinct rabbit meal formula too with rabbit turkey and chicken
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2015 22:01:31 GMT -5
Never mind I answered my own question LOL
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