Food Recommendation

[Leeloo]

Hello,

I want to start off by saying that I know raw is the best choice for a ferret. I was originally going to do grinds when I get my ferret but I am immunocompromised and my doctor doesn’t want me handling raw meat (especially since ferrets can sometimes stash meat pieces and bacteria could potentially grow). So I spoke to my vet about it and he said if I want to do something raw to feed FDR in the morning and remove the bowl before I go to work (sanitize the bowl) and leave kibble in their cage until I come home from work and I can feed them FDR again when I come home and remove the bowl and leave them with kibble over night. The idea is to limit the chance for bacteria growth that can make me sick while I go through treatment. I think I want to use the Stella and Chewys for FDR but for the kibble should I use the Wysong Epigen 90 digestive support or the non-digestive support version? I think I saw beets in the digestive support version which makes me nervous but everyone seems to like it more than the other version? Thank you for your help!

[abbeytheferret6]

Wysong has really, really low carb count I think 2.7 or 2.9, so evidently the beet hardly plays that much significance. The other that gives loose stool is even lower at 2.0 carbs, but I may have this totally backwards. Anyway, the numbers are really shocking when comparing this to Marshalls and other ferret food companies. Their carb count will be in the 30's, 20's and high teens. This includes the name brand cat kibble people use in place of ferret kibble like Orijen. 


Years ago I used the original Wysong, but my Abbey could not tolerate Wysong as it made her itch really bad, and she was so little she could go under our washing machine. She did not thrive at all on it---it was one reason I searched the internet and found this site. It could have been the chicken or some other ingredient or not enough fat. That is was what my vet said. But then again, she could not even tolerate raw chicken (my vet found ulcers in her throat probably from the acid coming up from the stomach from eating raw chicken).

ferretlover.com/wysong-ferret-food-epigen-90-digestive-support-review/
Here is their number if you want to call and verify carb count and get their input.
1-800-748-0188

Some of the members may have better info concerning this than me.

[Leeloo]

Thank you for your feedback!

[Corvidophile]

Even kibble is teeming with bacteria. Don’t think because it’s dry to the touch it’s safe, always wash your hands after handling it if you’re immunocompromised. That being said, ensuring that the ferret eats the food quickly is your best bet at avoiding excess bacterial load. With wet food, whether it’s freeze dried or fresh raw, try to give servings that they can finish in one sitting, then refrigerate the leftovers if there are any. Grab yourself some disposable gloves to use, though that might be difficult due to the covid scare now that I think about it!

[Leeloo]

Using gloves is a great idea, I will do that. Luckily I had already bought quite a few gloves and masks before this whole situation happened so I am all set!...now if only I had bought a bunch of toilet paper beforehand as well, hehe.