>I noticed that a couple of people posted about Eight in One Ultimate (not
>Ultra).  Just curious - why not the Ultra?  I don't think I get the Ultra
>here, but one store just started carrying the Ultimate.  What is the
>difference between them?  Thanks
>TJ
 
Dear TJ--
 
There is a significant difference between 8-in-1 Ultra and 8-in-1 Ultimate,
similar to the difference between Purina's basic dog chow and their newer
'premium' food, Purina ONE.  The two 8-in-1 foods have very different
ingredients and nutritional value, even though they're made by the same
manufacturer.
 
A quick rule of thumb is that ferret chow should list meat (chicken or
beef, not fish) as the first or second ingredient.  Shortly after meat, the
label should list fat, another critical ingredient.  Fat should be at least
20% of the ferret's total diet and meat protein (not soy or other plant
stuff) should be over 30%.  I have noticed that finding chow with over 30%
protein isn't that hard, but not that many cat or ferret chows have
adequate amounts of fat.
 
Here is some info off the labels of two ferret chows:
 
Totally Ferret: Chicken by-product meal, rice flour, egg product, chicken
fat, poultry fat....36% protein, crude fat 22%
8-in-1 Ultimate:  Chicken, chicken meal, ground rice, chicken fat, ascorbic
acid....38% protein, fat 19%
 
And just to make your hair stand up in horror (it is Halloween), here's a
low-priced grocery store cat food: ground corn, soybean meal, corn gluten
meal, wheat middlings, animal fat, poultry by-product meal...protein 30%,
fat 8%.
 
Here's what one well-known ferret vet said  (Dr. Wardell, Spring 1996
edition of The Independent Voice. Copyright 1996, Acme Ferret Company):
 
"It is important for ferrets to have a diet fairly high in animal fat
(18-22% is recommended).  It is also important for ferrets to have a diet
high in MEAT protein such as chicken, beef, or liver.  Fish-based foods are
not well tolerated or accepted by ferrets, and frequently result in
vomiting.  Moreover, fish does not have the proper protein or amino acids
needed.  This is because animals don't need protein per se.  Rather they
need the amino acids used to build protein.  Ferrets can only use amino
acids from meat proteins; they cannot use amino acid from plant proteins.
A meat (chicken, beef, or liver, for example) should be listed in the first
3 ingredients on a label to ensure it has enough protein.
 
Ferrets require 21 amino acids which are either manufactured metabolically
or which are obtained from the digestion of food.  This latter group is
referred to as "essential amino acids"--the word "essential" here means
that the amino acid must be obtained from the diet, as ferrets are unable
to synthesize them.
 
When reading the label, make sure the protein level is at least 31 or 32%.
One exception to this is with older ferrets, where a higher protein content
(>38%) may be detrimental to the kidneys.
 
Many cat foods sold in grocery stores have cereal or plant proteins in
their formulations and as such are not the best dietary choices. I suggest
use of a high quality cat food such as IAMS."
 
Jacqueline
[Posted in FML issue 2852]