To:    Heather Jane Bilicki & Lance McLeroy
Subject: Ferret Nutrition
 
Actually, Heather was not asking about nutrition at all, and neither was the
study Lance was reading about.
 
Ferrets can be very picky at times.  Historically, I have found ferrets
brought up on Science Diet are the HARDEST to convert over to other brands of
foods, and ferrets used to junk foods (grocery store cat foods) are the next
most dificult group to convert to a healthier diet.
Now, there is nothing wrong with feeding a ferret Sci Diet, but most grocery
store cat foods do not contain the TYPE (meat) protein ferrets need.
A ferret will eat junk food and it will sustain life, but not as healthy a
one as possible.  NO TRUE RESEARCH HAS BEEN DONE ON FERRET'S SPECIFIC
NUTRITIONAL NEEDS, but with 10 years and 1000+ ferrets through my home, I
have a good idea what works and what does not.
 
Heather - your ferret(s) will probably choose NOT to starve with a diet
change, but do it gradually and mix the foods ahead of time so the
smells/flavors blend some.  This process can take a week to a month of
Sundays.  You might have to lace the food with Linatone/Ferretone to help
encourage a taste.
 
Lance - don't believe everything you read.  Lab ferrets are very different
from pet ferrets in many ways, as are their handlers.  Ferrets may gorge
themselves in order to get the same amount of food, but given a different
brand or flavor, they can turn their noses up and choose to starve!  Just go
to the local pet shop and bring home samplers for your ferret to try - set in
seperate bowls, ferrets will love some and ignore others (especially those
that are fishy).
 
Pam/STAR*
[Posted in FML issue 1103]