Here is a copy of my most recent reply, with the person's name removed. Oh, gosh, I wish that I knew one. I'd have posted it. Offhand, I think some past Bob Church posts in the FML Archives (and FHL Archives?) might discuss nutrients (His chicken gravy is an example of a made-at-home balanced diet.), and I think some Tom Willard ones in the FHL Archives might (posts from twillard). Okay, I will do some searching. I guess I should share the links with the FML afterward because you are not the first to ask, and I am not the best to answer. Just know that on some points there IS controversy, with ferret expert vets not even agreeing, because there are up-sides and down sides to each viewpoint. (See past posts in the FML and FHL.) Actually, in your case i know that you will look at both sides and be thorough while keeping an open mind that conditions and data are always in flux, thank goodness that you will! http://www.peteducation.com/category_summary.cfm?cls=11&cat=1296 includes http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=11&cat=1296&articleid=498 which is on basic nutrition BUT NOTICE THAT IT PREDATES THE DISCOVERY THAT RAISINS CAN CAUSE KIDNEY FAILURE IN FERRETS and some other stuff http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=11&cat=1296&articleid=573 has some info for you http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/duck_soup.htm http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=11&cat=1296&articleid=1491 diseases influenced by diet is also slightly outdated http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=11&cat=1296&articleid=540 is on feeding sick ferrets as is http://www.afip.org/ferrets/babyfood.html Info on food and labels: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=11&cat=1296&articleid=563 http://www.fda.gov/cvm/index.html http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Spring04/Perhach/PetFood/Ingredients.htm I DO NOT KNOW HOW ACCURATE OR INACCURATE THAT SOURCE IS, NOR IF IT IS SCIENTIFICALLY RIGOROUS. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=479 http://www.ohioferret.org/INFO/nutri.asp http://www.ohioferret.org/info/nutri_prn.asp http://www.totallyferret.com/ferret101.asp#Q14 fiber Some states have their own regulations on top of federal ones. For example: http://www.1000petstores.com/Licensing/pet_food_regs/pet_food_regs.html Of course, this last week the Republican majority in the House in Congress voted to remove prevent further state regulations on food labeling and content that are at all stricter than federal ones for human foods, so who knows it they may challenge stricter state laws on pet food? Please, note that I don't know about other nations' regulations and laws at all. Sorry. Pet food storage: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=11&cat=1296&articleid=2804 Notice that pet diets tend to contain food sources like skin, cartilage, and organ meats. These are excellent sources of many minerals and other nutrients. Calcium can even come from some safe calcium tablets like Tums. -- Sukie (not a vet) Ferret Health List co-moderator http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth FHL Archives fan http://ferrethealth.org/archive/ replacing http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org International Ferret Congress advisor http://www.ferretcongress.org [Posted in FML issue 5181]
