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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2014 5:26:53 GMT -5
I recently heard that Wysong had changed their Epigen 90 formula. I didn't think too much of this comment. However, I've been reading through the forum and found some people complaining about this recent(?) formula change. There was one post that had a link to Facebook reviews on the food... and there I read several people issuing some heavy and serious complaints to Wysong for this formula change, claiming it was toxic to ferrets and making a lot of them sick with diarrhea. One commenter even claimed this new Epigen 90 formula killed her 2 ferrets! D:  Does anyone have any more information about this? When exactly did this unannounced formula change happen?? I'm asking because my Kuzco passed away just 3 days ago, after about 2-3 months of being sick and having constant diarrhea. And it was during these last few months that he was on a new bag of Wysong Epigen 90. Before that, he was eating a mix of Epigen 90 and Zupreem Grain Free, because I was transitioning him to Epigen 90 from Zupreem after the vet told me Epigen 90 was supposed to be the best kibble for ferrets. He had been diagnosed with lymphoma about a month prior to his passing, but I would still like to know more about this Wysong business. I obviously do not want to be condoning this food as the "best ferret kibble" if this is something that is actually true... smh  |
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Post by bitbyter on Sept 5, 2014 7:55:32 GMT -5
I believe they brought the old formula back under a new name due to customer complaints regarding the new formulation. Not sure what it is called though. I wouldn't call the new one "Toxic" but it was certainly causing tummy troubles for many ferrets. Honestly, this is one of the main problems with kibble. The company can change the formula anytime they want with no warning since you are not in control of the product. This is also true of commercial raw. With a Frankenprey diet you are in control.
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Post by Sherry on Sept 5, 2014 8:54:32 GMT -5
The chia seed used in the new formula is what was evidently causing the diarrhea.
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Post by bitbyter on Sept 5, 2014 9:17:49 GMT -5
:face: Another example of what is healthy for us must be healthy for them!
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Post by msav on Sept 5, 2014 10:26:01 GMT -5
The new formulas came in plastic 5 lb bags and was not in their regular 3 lb foil bags.
They dig not exactly bring back the old formula. However they did remove the chia seed.
This did not make all ferrets ill. I am guessing that their was a high percentage of ferrets that had a reaction to the new food. They still sell the new food, they rolled out a digestive support formula instead.
Mine would not eat the new formula and that is when I started the switch to raw and I am glad I did. I figured why go through the switching process twice.
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Post by raynebc on Sept 5, 2014 15:14:26 GMT -5
The "digestive support" variation of Epigen 90 is the one that is similar, but not identical, to the original. I'm still moving away from kibble, but my ferrets have been doing well on the Epigen as part of their kibble mix. There probably aren't any better kibbles marketed for ferrets, and to get a better dry food you may have to explore something like freeze dried raw or a carb-free pet food like Young Again cat (which is similarly free-form because it has no carbs to bind it).
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2014 13:43:28 GMT -5
Ehhh this is why I've always said there is something that I can't quite put my finger on that makes me leery about Wysong as a company. I'll stick with Orijen - they've changed their formulas twice in the time I've been feeding it to Rolo, and each time it was only for the better and Rolo had no issues switching. Each time there was enough warning before the change so that I could stock up and make a gradual shift though. The first time was when they went from 70% meat to 80%, and then the second time was their new "whole prey" formula where they again increased the meat content slightly and reduced the carb content by substituting certain ingredients.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2014 16:20:02 GMT -5
My two ferrets were on this and when the new bags came, they got diarrhea. I had their stools tested and they came back with E. Coli. Daisy is also in kidney failure and Mozart has insulinoma. I don't know if the last two problems were because of the new formula. I now am in the process of switching them to raw.
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Post by raynebc on Dec 29, 2014 18:12:10 GMT -5
Supposedly, ferret digestive systems commonly have E. Coli already so I don't think that's necessarily alarming to find it in their droppings. Testing their food instead may give more information, but most people seem to think it was just the ingredients that aren't tolerated well by some ferrets. It probably wasn't any more likely to cause kidney problems (due to dehydrating the ferrets) or insulinoma (due to carbs) than any other kibble, although it was still one of the better kibbles.
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Post by Sherry on Dec 29, 2014 20:21:24 GMT -5
The new formula wysong's would not have caused either ECE, nor would it have likely caused the insu any more than any other kibble would have. In fact less so than most as it doesn't have the carbs or starches
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2015 18:08:51 GMT -5
My senior was on epigen 90. She itched like crazy. Since on raw she is doing a whole lot better. Also she was skinny and poohed a lot on epigen.certainly better than kibble with peas--unless they have added that--have not checked their ingredients since on raw.
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Post by raynebc on Jan 2, 2015 21:26:40 GMT -5
They haven't added peas, but they still sell the two varieties (normal and "digestive support"). Anybody having problems with the normal one should try the digestive support version instead, it is nearly the same as the version that everybody liked (before the formula change).
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