Mary Jane wrote:
>Somebody posted that they were trying ZuPreem.  I checked the label and
>thought 40% protein level was awful high and, sure enough, when I asked
>the GCFA's shelter vet (Dr. Richard Nye of Midwest Bird & Exotic Animal
>Hospital), he agreed.  Too high a protein level can cause kidney problems.
 
I know this is a very common belief and stated by many vets, but I question
it.  I have a hard time with the concept that a carnivore, whose diet is
supposed to be mostly protein, would develop kidney problems from meat.
This theory just doesn't make sense to my way of thinking.
 
In "Natural Healing for Dogs and Cats" by Diane Stein, I read a statement
that makes much more sense to me.  It said that *poor* quality protein is
implicated in kidney disease.
 
I would think that kibbled food is not as good of a source of protein as
real meat.  The high quality kibbled food (Totally Ferret, Iams, etc) would
be next high quality, and then the other "junk" foods (Friskies and other
grocery store brands).  Although I know some people use it, I wouldn't
feed Mazuri or any other least cost brand because it is *not* a consistent
formula - you simply don't know what you are getting from one batch to
another!
 
I think that this is where Bob's Chicken Gravy comes in.  It would
definitely be at the top of the list for a high quality diet.  It would
sure be interesting to find out if any ferrets that are fed this diet as a
high portion of their food intake ever suffer from kidney disease.
 
    -Carla
[Posted in FML issue 2873]