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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2012 0:40:00 GMT -5
Hey! So it's been increasingly difficult to get some NV freeze dried in, and then, this suddenly appeared: www.naturesvariety.com/products/treats/instinct/boost/bitesMy friend who owns a TailBlazer told me that they seem to be essentially the same as their freeze dried. Also, it appreats their freeze dried good line is not gonna be made anymore... I got a few boxes a few weeks ago, and my kids saw no difference. It seems the taste is the same.... And I looked at the ingredients, it seems that the only difference is that they took all eggs out.... Think it's safe to feed this as a part of a diet? Thanks!!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2012 1:52:35 GMT -5
I would just use it as a treat. Stella and Chewys has carnivore crunch, which is similar to your find.
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Post by Sherry on Feb 11, 2012 9:59:22 GMT -5
No reason it can't be part of a balanced rotation! One question- NV freeze dried used to be notorious for having chunks of pumpkin seed in their mix. I gather it's now ground?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2012 16:03:44 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2012 16:37:31 GMT -5
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Post by Sherry on Feb 11, 2012 19:03:39 GMT -5
It is a little on the higher end, that's for sure. If you do use it, you'll likely notice larger stools from them because of this.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2012 0:04:01 GMT -5
Weloveourweasels, I've tried a large variety of everything CHP has of S&C, and they're always the last ones to be eaten (with GREAT protest...), other than the lamb.... lol! Sherry, I've been breaking up the medallions in tiny pieces before because of this issue, but... in 6 months, I've never found any whole seeds bigger than a flax seed (and that was maybe one seed per 4-6 meladdions)... And now, with these boost bites, I don't even find these seeds anymore... so I guess... not? I couldn't say for sure, as I've been using them for only a month now, but there's nothing at all that stands out... So I guess that maybe a good sign! Is it a bad thing that fiber is high? Is it bad for their health in any way (other than larger poops?) Thanks!
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Post by Sherry on Feb 12, 2012 0:39:52 GMT -5
It's just that they can't digest it. It's not overly high, but good rule of thumb is about 5% max. These are 8%. That said, when I can get Boris to eat pumpkin, he gets a tbsp twice a day, which really helps with his ibd.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2012 1:21:44 GMT -5
I wasn't suggesting you feed s&c instead of nv. Just that they are similar, and both expensive and not nutritionally complete. I wouldn't use either as a meal by itself but I do break up a nugget of s&c carnivore crunch over their regular food occasionally. When the fiber is that high, it means the fruit and veggie content is higher along with natural sugar levels. But if you have a ferret with IBD it *might* help.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2012 1:16:32 GMT -5
THanks!!
None of mine have IBS, and all seem to be fine otherwise.
Each ferret eats differently...
Lyla eats mainly only the freeze dried, Baloo eats about 1/3 of the freeze dried, 2/3 of raw soup I make here, and Meeko eats maybe 4/5th of raw soup, and 1/5 of freeze dried...
So only Lyla eats lots off reeze dried...
But it says that they only have 5% fruits and veggies... though they do add Inulin, but they say that helps with probiotics... is that true? If so, it could be a very good thing for raw feeding, no?
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Post by Sherry on Feb 13, 2012 9:42:34 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2012 12:16:51 GMT -5
Hmmm, from one of those, I read this: Inulin decreases the body's ability to make certain kinds of fats. Is that a bad thing? Or does it help prevent the creation of fat from eating excess fat from a diet? Or does it prevent from processing certain fats? If it's the former, I guess it's not overly bad for the ferrets, but if it's the lather, that could be quite problematic since ferrets use fat as their energy source... I am currently reading the second link... It may be hard to weigh out the good and the bad... Is it worth keeping in a ferret diet, or no? I looked at the labels, it is in most of the freeze dried or dehydrated foods I feed. Hmmmmm...... Gotta keep reading now.... lol
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2012 12:43:19 GMT -5
I'll attach an article about inulin (it's kinda heavy) Here's the summary A relatively small amount of research exists concerning supplementation of fructans and other oligosaccharides in the diets of companion animals, livestock, and poultry. Studies to date indicate a generally positive effect of fructans on colonic microbial ecology, host health, and growth performance. However, more research remains to be done to determine the appropriate role of these oligosaccharides in animal nutrition Inulin Article
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2012 12:48:25 GMT -5
I'm attaching another document as a PDF - It's very long !
Title is Nutritional Responses to the Presence of Inulin and Oligofructose in the Diets of Domesticated Animals: A Review
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2012 13:26:09 GMT -5
Thank you Jackie! I'll have to wait a bit until I find the time to read that, but I truly appreciate!!
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