Dear Ferret Folks- You can. You absolutely can. Some of you may know the name Jacquie Rodgers. She and I have been trying to think of some ways to get the message out that there has been what amounts to a war declared against the manufacturers of unsafe ferret treats and kibble mixes. Jacqui has been gathering the names and contact information of people who have reason to believe that at their ferrets have been injured or killed by eating things that just don't belong in a ferret's mouth, like dehydrated fruit chunks, dried vegetables, nut chunks, or some of the really low grade meat jerkies out there on the market. These substances can cause intestinal blockages that can kill in hours. Occasionally they clear on their own, but all too often the only recourse is surgery. She may be filing a class action lawsuit on behalf of owners whose ferrets have been injured or killed by these unsafe items in their treats of kibbled diet. Think. Off of the top of your head, do you know the symptoms of an intestinal blockage? Your ferret can't tell you. He can only look at you with those liquid, trusting eyes, and hope that his hoomin will make it better, soon. Sometimes soon doesn't come soon enough. Can you stand the thought? I can't. Not for a minute. Here is the problem. A ferret is an obligate carnivore. That means they eat meat, and meat products, period. That's what they are designed to do. But like a little child, they will put things in their mouth that are simply not good for them. They don't know any better. The makers of ferret treats and kibbled diets often want to market products that look tasty and appealing to humans, so they add "sweets" and "healthy vegetables", peanut butter and yogurt coatings. Well, a ferret doesn't even have a structure called a cecum,that is in humans, the part of the colon with the widest diameter, and vital to the digestion of fiber. Dried fruits and vegetables, and nut chunks are mostly fiber, and FERRETS CAN'T DIGEST THEM. At all. They can't derive any nutrition from them. Best case scenario, the fiber passes right through them, and comes out the other end. Worst case scenario, the poorly chewed chunks enter the intestines almost exactly as they left the mouth (ferret teeth are designed to shred and shear meat, not mince dried pineapple) and block the intestine. It doesn't help that the ferret digestive system has a fast transit time. What they eat goes through them very quickly, and something very tough like fiber just doesn't get broken down. The meat diet they were designed to eat is much easier to digest, even in kibbled form. So how can you make a difference? Write the manufacturers of these unhealthy treats and kibbled diets, and tell them that we want the dehydrated fruit, vegetables, nut chunks, and high sugar items like yougirt and peanut butter (the high sugar content is suspected to contribute to insulinoma in the ferret) OUT of our ferret's food! Write the retailers and tell them we would like to see healthy treats and kibbled diets on the shelves! They are listening. Between the campaign that the International Ferret Congress and Jacqui Rodgers have waged for reform, what was probably the worst of the bunch, Kaytee Fiesta for Ferrets, has been removed for sale from the Ferret Depot, and they have put up a warning linking the product to intestinal blockages and a high sugar content. The Ferret Store is no longer carrying it, either, and has issued its' own warning. Would you like a list of treats and kibbled diets currently deemed safe? Would you be interested in information about Jacquie Rodger's class action lawsuit on behalf of ferrets injured or killed by dehydrated fruit, vegetables, or nuts? Please write mail [log in to unmask] She has a spam blocker, so write "ferret" in the subject line, and it will go through. She can also help you with a few few form letters, if you would like to write a manufacturer or retailer. So can I [log in to unmask] The more letters we can get to them, the harder they will listen, just like the APHIS standards letters. We can make a difference. Here are some treats and diets considered unsafe: NOT RECOMMENDED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES - THESE ITEMS ALL CONTAIN DANGEROUS DEHYDRATED FRUITS, VEGETABLES, NUTS or MEATS or BLOCKAGE POTENTIAL: ************************************************************************* The following contain dehydrated fruit or vegetable pieces and/or nuts: (ANY food or treat with pieces of dehydrated FRUITS or NUTS OF ANY KIND are blockage hazards are always "NO-NO's" without exception Dehydrated Fruits, whole or pieces: as plant proteins, they are not digested and are blockage material Kaytee Fiesta Ferret Food Kaytee Select Blend Ferret Food Kaytee Ferret Fun Treat Stick Nuts of any kind: as plant proteins, they are not digested and are blockage material. 8 in 1 Chicken Ferret Bites 8 in 1 Ferret Fruit Cakes 8 in 1 Ferret Peanut Butter Crunch 8 in 1 Ferret Fruit Frenzy 8 in 1 Fruit & Crunch 8 in 1 Marshmallow Cakes Super Pet Nutri-Nibbles (dehydrated papaya centers) **(for now) Any FM Brown Brand Food & Treats (appear to have dried fruits and nuts and there is inadequate information regarding contents; in addition to much inaccurate ferret information on their website) They are not replying to emails requesting more information on their products. **(for now) Any VitaKraft Brand Food & Treats (appear to have dried fruit and there is inadequate information regarding contents; in addition to much inaccurate ferret information on their website) They are not replying to emails requesting more information on their products. ************************************************************************* THE ABOVE LISTS HAVE BEEN COMPILED FROM A VARIETY OF RELIABLE VETERINARY SOURCES. THE LIST IS NOT COMPLETE - THERE ARE STILL SOME OUT THERE THAT ARE NOT ON THIS LIST, BUT HOPEFULLY AS FERRET OWNERS WHO NOW KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR AND WILL NOW READ LABELS, YOU ARE PREPARED TO MAKE BETTER CHOICES, WHICH MAY WELL SAVE THE LIVES OF YOUR FERRETS. List compiled by Jacquie Rodgers and updated 1-18-06, with the help and guidance of various veterinary information sites and advice, along with ferret health specialists. If you come across a listing you disagree with, or something you believe should be added, please don't hesitate to email me with full ingredient and manufacturer information on the product. If we all work together, we CAN make this a safer place for ferrets everywhere! Jacquie Rodgers (just a determined and concerned ferret mom) Current as of 01-15- Here are some manfacturers and retailers you can contact directly. Right now they seem to be manufacturing most of the worst treats. 8 in 1: EMAIL: [log in to unmask] ONLINE FORM TO CONTACT KAYTEE: http://www.kaytee.com/ask_the_experts/contact_us/ ONLINE FORM TO CONTACT WALMART: http://walmartstores.com/GlobalWMStoresWeb/navigate.do?catg=221 FM BROWN EMAIL: [log in to unmask] PET CARE CENTRAL.COM EMAIL: [log in to unmask] ONLINE FORM TO CONTACT PETCO: http://www.petco.com/Content/ContactUs.aspx?PC=contactus&Nav= PETSMART EMAIL: [log in to unmask] FERRETMART.COM EMAIL: [log in to unmask] ******************************************* WHEW! I hope I never write an e-mail that long again! I wouldn't, if I didn't think of that ferret, wishing his hoomin would make it better.... Alexandra in MA Communications Coordinator International Ferret Congress [Posted in FML issue 5128]