"Science" started when humans trudged erect and began to wonder (and wander)! The very thought (philosophy) about a subject is the beginning of science. In simple terms science is investigating ideas, figuring out what makes things "tick". But when one thing is figured out, another question is raised and often times what you thought was a defined answer gets redefined as more input comes along, or the question gets rephrased. IF scientific studies actually offered finite proof then WHY do all these researched, studied ,tested, certified and approved products get recalled, or improved, or revised? Why do original scientific studies get revisited? Waiting for a scientific study to prove what, for the ferret, Mother Nature has already figured out - would be ludicrous. Some think it ludicrous that others are willing to put the health of their companions in the hands of profiteers and ad marketers. Ferrets have been living with man for what has been determined about 2500 years. Originally employed as vermin control (still working as such in several countries) but the ferret family has been evolving for eons. Thriving on natural food long before cereals and kibbles were marketed, that IS FACT! Like it or not, another fact is that countless ferrets have met their demise from employment by the modern scientific community for the benefit of humankind simply because ferrets DO have amazing physiological and neurological as well as endocrinal similarities with humans! Says so here: <http://www.genome.gov/Pages/Research/Sequencing/SeqProposals/FerretSeq.pdf> (Excerpted Abstract): "The six areas of biomedical research that most commonly use ferrets (cystic fibrosis, influenza and other respiratory diseases, lung cancer, reproductive and fetal biology, neuroscience, and specific forms of cancer) are collectively responsible for over 12 billion dollars of funding from the National Institutes of Health alone for 2006. This total represents about 44% of the NIH annual grant monies. Additionally, ferrets have the potential of becoming an important system for drug and vaccine development, including validation and toxicity studies." Many vaccines for humans have come about using ferrets as models. As recently as Jan 2012 a halt was placed upon research using ferrets as transmission models for a SCIENTIFICALLY CREATED variant of the H1N1 (Bird Flu) virus - labeled H5N1. The 60 day halt called because of real concerns about the possibility of the virus being transported into the general populace! Check it out here: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/758880 Too little has been scientifically defined about the ferret itself, certainly not enough to bolster kibble manufacturers advertisements that their food is adequate, nutritionally complete or beneficial! Ever look into the AAFCO requirements for pet foods (none done for ferrets)? http://wdcusick.com/04.html check out the AAFCO site itself http://www.aafco.org/ and how they say its up to the STATES to regulate the pet foods - all the AAFCO does is establish nutritional requirements - but they have NOT done so for ferrets - only cats and dogs. Go to the NRC (National Research Council) page <http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupname?key=National%20Research%20Council%20Committee%20on%20Animal%20Nutrition> and the closest thing available is diets for mink and foxes (of course to benefit pelt production). Too many people express their views that the terrible maladies considered NORMAL for ferrets is attributable to genetic shortcomings instead of the tremendous daily stress placed upon ferrets by early altering, unnatural housing/lighting, and indigestible foods! Feed and house the way you want - but don't chalk up the ferret's troubles to genetics or classify the problems as "NORMAL" when the poor ferret doesn't even get the chance to be a ferret! With all these ferrets being used for research and considering the NEW discoveries being made regarding the eCB and it's influence on an organism's development, stress handling, digestion, and well being - just what research findings would be changed if the ferrets were left intact until fully mature and were housed naturally AND were fed naturally? New people venture into the ferret world daily. These new folks often have no clue and the ONLY info they get is from the pet store associate and the kibble bag ads! Some folks have been doing the same thing for years and think that what their ferrets endure is normal. The ferrets end up paying the price for such lack of information. The FML is supposed to be a place where EVERYONE can share info - not just a few to monopolize. Its amazing how so many are opposed to learning. Food is an integral part of an organism's health, vitality and well being. If you want to stick your fingers in your ears, blindfold yourself, bury your head in the sand - then scroll past! Claiming annoyance when posts disseminate thought provoking ideas (bolstered with scientific data links) only shows an unwillingness to learn. Food for ferrets is a consistent topic because many people do want to offer the best they can for their beloved companion. Open minds broaden horizons, is yours open? Cheers, Kim please visit: for ferret help and info: http://holisticferret.proboards60.com/index.cgi http://ferretopia.proboards51.com/index.cgi yahoo groups Natural Ferrets [Moderator's note: OK, time start wrapping up the food debate. One or two days more and if it gets nowhere, as it always does, I'll have to start rejecting posts. Thanks! BIG] [Posted in FML 7354]