Raw Performance Dog Food

[Lily]

Has anyone tried feeding their ferrets "Raw Performance Dog Food"? It's a commercially prepared raw diet, a local business where I am in Ontario, Canada. The owner doesn't know about ferrets much, but the one that I am looking at is pure meat with no vegetables or fruit. I'm just worried it may not be high enough in taurine if it's just for dogs... 

Has anyone heard of this brand? Even though it's 100% meat with bones, liver, and heart, is it safe for ferrets? Or maybe it's just advertised for dogs.

[LindaM]

I think there are members who have probably fed their ferrets commercially prepared raw branded for dogs, I know most of the ones that contain beef/red meat and organs are usually marked for dogs versus cats. And we know that giving ferrets beef (red meat) can be beneficial in their diets. So if it's all meat, then it would probably be just fine, it's pretty hard coming across a 100% meat one here.

With most commercially prepared frozen raw, I have noticed as well that the feline versions have more taurine, or list taurine as an ingredient versus the dog ones that usually have less, or don't even show any in the ingredient list. My ferrets currently eat some of the Nature's Variety Instinct Raw Bites and Stella & Chewys, which are 95% meat product. For example, the NV Raw bites, the feline version lists taurine in like the rabbit and chicken bags, and the beef which is a canine one, doesn't. I only do the beef a few meals in the week, and more of the others because of the lower amount/lack of taurine myself though.

[Lily]

The one I am specifically looking at is duck, not a fan of chicken due to the links of gastro-intestinal issues. Lexy won't eat beef or lamb, so I'm not so sure where else she could get the added taurine or the red meat. From my quick research, taurine can come from chicken hearts, which I can buy separately from the grocery store and put it in their blend once a week, but the recipe already includes duck heart, liver, etc. so it seems balanced enough?

I am hoping to offer my ferrets a variety of meat, ranging from duck, lamb, rabbit, beef, etc. Only issue I have is my ferrets are super picky and aren't too willing to try new meat that isn't poultry.

[Sherry]

The duck looks okay for a start As for other possible red meats- rabbit, goat, pork is borderline, and whole prey.
With Lexi have you tried blending the beef/lamb with something else? Some of my guys don't like them much either but I don't give them an option lol. They either eat or I hand feed small amounts frequently until they start!

[Lily]

Sherry, what do you mean rabbit, goat, pork, and whole prey is borderline? I actually thought rabbit and whole prey was one of the best you could feed for ferrets.

They do have other blends, such as turkey, chicken & beef blend (Ground chicken meat and bone, beef liver, kidney, spleen, heart and tripe). I just want to get my guys used to variety instead of feeding them the same meat/recipe throughout their life.

Lexy's one of those ferrets who will absolutely refuse to eat anything that she does not like. She will surely pick a fight, and sometimes I get a nip every once in a while, haha. Ramsey is fine with beef, just needs to mix it in the blend, but Lexy will absolutely refuse to eat anything! There is a 1lb of the chicken & beef blend that I could try, I just don't want to waste any money or food as the store is all final sales with no exchange or refunds.

[Lily]

Just got an email back from them and they shared their portion:

For poultry it is 10 organ, 15-20 bone, and remaining is meat. They said they grind down the entire bird.

For beef, it is 10 organ, 10 bone, and 80 meat.

[Sherry]

Dec 14, 2016 12:12:31 GMT -5 Lily said:

Sherry, what do you mean rabbit, goat, pork, and whole prey is borderline? I actually thought rabbit and whole prey was one of the best you could feed for ferrets.

What I had referred to as "borderline" was pork being a red meat
Some call it red, some refer to it as white meat.