Its always good to hear that one more ferret is getting a chance to be
loved, but sad to hear they were neglected in the first place. I've run
across a few rescues with matted fur and EVERY kibble fed ferret has
coarse fur when compared to a raw/natural fed ferret. There just is no
comparison to the texture of the coat of a naturally fed ferret with
a kibble fed ferret. Yes, some kibbles are better than others but you
only get the best coats, muscles, and lowest odor with natural feeding.

The mix offered may be only slightly better than the cheap cat food
because there may be a few more meat sources but at the same time
their are a tremendous amount of plant products (even whole pieces of
vegetables) being added. The enlarged belly is likely a direct result
of the ferret having to ingest massive amounts of dry indigestible
kibble in an attempt to gain nutrients. With no info offered on the
alternative "local brand" one can only assume that being compared to
Marshall's makes it a grain based fish meal type low grade kibble. For
the monies being spent on that current mix an awful lot is just money
being wasted literally in massive amounts of indigestible plant and
grain items. Cost savings would be gained by trading up to higher
quality grain free kibbles and even more savings would be realized
by converting to raw/natural. The higher quality grain free means
more digestible energy per ounce. Of course raw diets are the most
digestible and nutrient dense. The oily coat could be in response to
the drying effect of the wood chips. Or the oils typically sprayed on
cheap kibble to entice consumption. All the intakes with matted fur
get bathed with an oatmeal based gentle shampoo and conditioner. Lots
of fresh clean blankets for self grooming. Regular brushing, massage,
and romps in rice bins or outdoor dew bathes will polish that coat!

[Posted in FML 7506]