Review: Stewart Pro-Treat For Ferrets

Disclaimer: I received two free bags of Stewart Pro-Treat to review. The opinions of my ferrets and me are our own and have received no further compensation for this post.

 

             

I love the face of the ferret that is on the bag of treats it is just adorable.

The bag is a little hard to open and can’t be resealed. The bag holds a good amount of freeze dried chicken liver. 

Which is rich in protein (70.45%) and many ferrets love the taste of chicken livers.

I like the fact it states right on the front of the bag that they are made in the USA and on the back states that is USDA inspected Chicken liver.

With so many recalls on pet treats from China it is refreshing to see that there are still companies that are made in the USA.

When I first opened the bag I had a lap full of ferrets trying to see what I had.

One by one they each stuck their nose in the bag and sniffed but only one took something.

That was Manny my treat connoisseur who will only take treats he thinks are worth taking.

The piece he took from the bag seemed a bit big but I had just opened the bag and hadn’t read the rest of the bag yet.

Which says “Stewart ® Pro-Treat® maintains the aroma, full-flavor and nutritional value of 100% raw Chicken Liver. Fresh, conveniently freeze dried and diced into Reward Size Treats, Pro-Treat® is an excellent obedience ad training too. Rich in protein and always preservative free, Pro-Treat® is the delicious and nutritious way to share your love.”

By now Manny was back asking for another treat. I reached into the bag and pulled out a piece that was about an inch thick and wide.

Breaking off a bite size piece for Manny who scampered off to enjoy his new found love. I looked inside the bag and was greet by several large slices.

To me diced means small squares. For a dog or a cat the size wouldn’t be an issue but with ferrets you have to worry about choking and internal obstructions.

Freeze dried items tend to expand when liquid is added and one of the things Manny does is dip his food into the water bowl to moisten it.

Thankfully he didn’t feel the need to do that with the first piece he had.

I do like the fact that they offer a Guaranteed Delicious encase a pet doesn’t like the treats and while I think the pieces are too big for ferrets they are not hard to break up and Manny has found where I’ve hidden them repeatedly to prove how much he loves them.

For me I would give the treats a 3 paw rating but then I don’t count in the rating system.

Manny gives them a five paw rating as it is the highest there is.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Are We Jeopardizing Our Pet’s Health?

I watched The Doctors yesterday, February 27, 2013; the show was titled Guilty Pleasures Jeopardizing your Health.

I am sure most of us try to eat healthy and avoid the sugar trap. I found that many of the foods we think are healthy really aren’t. The most disturbing fact was that most of us consume 150 pounds of sugar a year. The recommended about is 34 pounds. That equals out to 6 tablespoons of sugar daily for women and men get to consume 9 tablespoons.

Most of us blow those amounts out of the water with our first can of soda or with our daily coffee intake. One can of soda has 10 tablespoons of sugar.

These facts got me thinking about our pets and how much sugar do we give them unknowingly? We know that sugar plays a role in obesity, diabetes, and it has also been suspected as part of heart disease.

Most of us know to read labels on the foods we eat and some of us have started reading the labels on our pet’s food as well. The problem is that our food is required to have a nutrition facts panel that must have specific things such as serving size, the amount servings per contain/package, and the amounts per serving and what the recommended daily value.

One of these facts is the amount of sugars. Example did you know that a serving of Cheez-It® has 0 grams of sugar.

But most pet food labels have what is called the Guaranteed Analysis.

“At minimum, many state regulations require a pet food to guarantee the minimum percentages of crude protein and crude fat, and the maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture. The "crude" term refers to the specific method of testing the product, not to the quality of the nutrient itself.” Pet Food Labels – General

Typical Guaranteed Analysis for a Good Ferret Diet
Crude protein	38.0%
Crude fat	18.0%
Fiber	3.5%
Ash	6.5%
Moisture	10.0%

 

It is normal to see the following ingredients in ferret food.

Chicken by-products, herring meal, corn, cod fish, animal liver, dried beet pulp, brewer's dried yeast, cane molasses, salt, sodium propionate, DL-methionine, L-lysine, taurine, vitamin A, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, riboflavin supplement, niacin, biotin, choline chloride, folic acid, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, BHA, vitamin B12 supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (a source of vitamin K), D calcium pantothenate, manganese oxide, inositol, ascorbic acid, iron sulfate, copper sulfate, zinc oxide, cobalt carbonate, potassium iodide, sodium selenite.

You can see there is no mention of the amount of sugar on the Guarantee Analysis. For ferrets that develop Insulinoma these ingredients can play a devastating role.

One of the ingredients Brewer’s Yeast is used to lower blood sugar which is something we don’t want to do in a ferret with insulinoma as his/her blood sugar is already low due to having too much insulin in his/her blood stream.

The other ingredient is cane molasses, which is a byproduct of white sugar, and the gram amount is 55-70 per 100 grams of molasses.

Just by having these two ingredients, we are causing a blood sugar drop only to have it spike again in our ferrets.

It would be interesting to know if these two ingredients could be causing the Insulinoma to show up in so many ferrets over the age of three.

Learning what goes into our pet’s food needs to become as high of a priority as knowing what is in our own food. By learning this we can better help our pets live longer and have happier lives.

What is your opinion? Of this list of ingredients do you know what they do or where they come from?

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Duck Soup

 

Over the weekend I was talking on twitter about feeding Marcuz his duck soup forgetting that most of my twitter followers are dog, cat, and other pet owners and don’t know much if anything about ferrets.

Duck soup named after a ferret named Lucky Duck whose owner and vet came up with a food he could eat when he was very ill and now the name is given to many concoctions that help a sick or injured ferret get back on their tiny paws when they don’t feel like eating.

Marcuz is getting both his regular kibble and his duck soup as he just doesn’t have the energy to eat enough of his hard food to keep his weight up.

Next to Marcuz Manny looks like extremely fat. Which he isn’t but he is a big boy to say the least.

Most duck soups are just that a soupy consistency that can be lapped up easily and are just as easily digested.

There are many recipes for Duck soup but I just make mine as needed from the boys kibble.

My recipe is:

1/2 cup of Marshall’s Ferret Food

1/2 to 1 cup of Water depending on the consistency I want

3 T of Ferretone

1 T of Ferretvite

1-2 T of Chicken baby food (omitted because Marcuz doesn’t like chicken)

I mix this all together and heat it for 4 minutes in the microwave then stir it until the kibble becomes a soft mush. The more water the more soup like it becomes.

I store this in the refrigerator and scoop out the amount I need for a serving.  This makes enough to fill a small margarine tub.

Last night I added some bacon drippings to the mush and Marcuz ate it up a lot faster and he also ate more of it. I give him the soup twice a day so that he thinks he is getting a treat before getting his meds.

I let Manny have some just so he doesn’t feel left out.

Marcuz is playing more as well and he pinned Manny during a wrestling match. I think Manny let him win though.

 

Have a Chittering Good Day,

 

Jo

End of Month Review

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be my end of the month post so I went back and read what I had written about for the month. In doing so I realized that some of the information was important and I wanted to be sure it was understood.

From that came the idea of a Month in Review post only instead of my just repeating what I’ve told you I made up a test to do two things.

1. To see if I have been clear in my writing

2. To see who does read my blog.

E-mail Address: *

What species are ferrets * A. Rodent B. Canine C. Mustelidea

This includes * A. Badger otter, mink, and weasel B. Mice, rats, voles, and moles C. Cats, cougar, lions

Ferrets have been used in what jobs * A. Wiring buildings B. Pest Control C. Both A & B

How long has the ferret been domesticated * A. 1000 years B. Over 3000 years C. Never we scoop them up out of the wild

What is the best food for ferrets * A. Cat food B. Dog food C. Raw or Made for Ferret food D. High quality kitten food E. C & D

Ferrets need what type of fat * A. Low fat content B. They shouldn't have any fat C. High Fat content

What are the steps to ferret proofing * A. Child Proofing B. Pet Proofing C. You don't have to ferret proof D. Ferret proofing is an ongoing thing E. A & B F. A, B, & D

Ferrets are allowed everywhere * Yes No

What else would you like to learn

* Required Powered by myContactForm.com

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Feeding Your Ferret

There are several views on what a ferret should be fed. Raw vs. Processed. Both have their merits in the well-being of your ferret it comes down to how you feel about feeding your ferret unprocessed, uncooked, and/or live meat. Or just being able to pour the food out of a bag.

I personally don’t have the time or the finances to feed Manny and Marcuz a raw diet so they get most of their food out of bag but I do supplement it with treats of chicken liver offered both raw and boiled. The verdict is still out on which way is preferred.

There are many articles online about feeding your ferret a raw diet but do your research carefully and ask a lot of questions before you decide this is the best diet for your ferret.

Even with feeding a processed bagged food there are many things you need to know.

1. A ferret’s digestive process takes 2-3 hours from mouth to elimination.
2. Ferrets need quick digestible protein.
3. Ferrets need high levels of fat
4. Ferrets don’t have a Cecum so they can’t process plants

You need to learn how to read the food labels on bags of ferret food to get them the best one for their needs. Pet food labels are regulated by two agencies in the United States.

The federal regulations are enforced by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).

“The FDA established standards applicable for all animal feeds, including but not limited to the proper identification, the proper listing of ingredients.”(2)

“The AAFCO are more specific in that they cover the labeling name of a product, the guaranteed analysis, feeding directions.” (3)

Start with the ingredients the first two should be meat based. Often this is chicken meal, chicken digest, and/or chicken fat. These seem like a great start until you learn that chicken meal is “rendered from mammal tissues which could also contain parts of the animal you wouldn’t think of as meat. “ (1)

Chicken digest basically is stock. Like you use to create some soups, dressings, gravies. It gives the food some flavor but doesn’t have any chicken. Chicken fat is self-explanatory.

With ferret food chicken or any fowl is a good start and won’t often lead to a heavier musky scent like foods that have herring or any fish as the main ingredient.

Another ingredient to look for is Brewers’ yeast. This natural supplement is added to most processed ferret foods and because of its blood sugar lowering properties could be problematic to a ferret with Insulinoma (4)

Learning about what goes into your ferret’s food will help you pick the best diet for them and it will help them to live longer and healthier lives.

(1) Ingredient list 3rd par
(2) FDA 1st par
(3) AFFCO 1st par
(4) Brewers’ Yeast

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Holiday Ferret Gift Guide

Do you have a ferret owner on your gift list and have absolutely no idea what to get them?  This list should help you bring a smile to their face.

Gift Certificates

Gift Certificates in amounts of $25 allow the ferret owner to spoil their fuzzys.

Stores that you can get GC include

Ferret.com

Ferret Depot

PetCo

Petsmart

The local pet store that carries ferret food and stuff

Wal-Mart: Many toys are gotten here from the infant section.

Supermarkets: Baby food for duck soup can be purchased

Socks

Socks are a ferret’s love and the more the better.

Any type will work as long as they are not unraveling.

Sock monkeys are fun too.

Soft Toys

Plushies

Teddy bears without plastic eyes and noses or other easily removable things

Stuffed mice: Doesn’t matter if they are stuffed with catnip as ferrets aren’t affected by it. Again make sure there are no easily removable items.

Other Toys

Hartz® mini mice

Hartz® Tuff Stuff Nose Diver Duck

Hartz® Feathered ball on a string

Purrfect Play™ wool ball

Tunnels

Balls

Grooming

Cat nail clippers

FURminator® is a wonderful grooming tool.

Baby toothbrush

Feline toothpaste

Q-tips®

Feralax

Ferivite

Treats

Bandit treats come in many flavors

Ferretone is a liquid vitamin supplement that many ferrets love.

Greenies® Feline dental treats. These are small enough that ferrets can easily grip them.

Nutro® crunchy treats. My boys love these and while I have to break them into smaller pieces they eat them up as fast as they can.

Other supplies

Sleepy sacks

Hammocks

Litter boxes

Litter

Potty Pads.

Leashes

Harnesses

Carrier

Ferret Food

Food dishes

Water bottles and/or dishes

Other

Some ferret owners like to dress up their ferrets. Clothing can be varied and depending on the sex of the ferret it can be difficult to find items that are both fashionable and functional.

Some good places to look for unique ferret clothing are Etsy and Ebay by using search terms ferret and clothing will give you several listings.

Hope this guide gives you some ideas for that ferret owner this Holiday Season.

 

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Review of Young Again Ferret Food

      On May 5^th I received a free bag of Young Again Ferret food from Young Again Pet Foods.

     When I was asked if I would like to receive a bag I expected a small trial size bag that would maybe hold enough for three days of feeding. What a surprise it was to receive a full size bag of food.

     Because Manny has a warranty on him I have to feed him a “Named” food for a year.

     James on the other paw got to do the taste test of the new food. At first I had to mix the food he had been eating with the Young Again Ferret food for a couple of days so it didn’t upset his tummy.

     The first couple of days James ignored the tiny pellets because they weren’t molded into the shapes he was used to. During that time frame I also used the pellets as treats for when he was playing outside his cage. I am sure there is a mound of Young Again Ferret food in one of his hidey-holes but it did do the trick by the third day he was eating both foods.

     The first time James shed he lost most of his black and gray coloring leaving him to look like Dark Eyed White (DEW) when in fact he was considered a silver mitt. James now has color returning to his fur.

James has been eating this food for just over two months now and can I see more differences than just his color returning. His eyes are alert and sparkling. His fur is a lot softer than it has been in a long time.

Their site states that in a few short weeks you will see these differences in your ferret:

· Soft, luxurious fur

· Promotes proper weight management

· Helps promote fat loss and increases muscle density

· Less waste in the litter box

· More sociable behavior

· More Positive energy

· Helps prevent urinary bladder and kidney disease

· Helps prevent insulinoma and diabetes mellitus.

· Ferrets love the taste so it is easily adapted

     Out of their list I have seen a difference in James fur, his weight has gone up a little bit and he has bulked up in his muscles. I am changing the litter box less and the odor isn’t as bad as it has been. James has always been sociable so I can’t really comment on that area but he does have more energy than most 10 year olds I have seen.

     While Manny isn’t suppose to get any other food but the one recommend for him it hasn’t stopped him from sneaking a nibble or two of James food. He really likes it also.

     The food has shown some great improvements in James there are some down points to it.

1. It isn’t’ available in stores which adds to the cost of a bag of food.
2. The zip lock closer doesn’t always stay closed and has lead to some spills. (Not that Trixie minded)
3. It only comes in 8lb bags. For many this is the perfect size but for others it may not be.

     These may seem like petty down points but ferret food is expensive to being with and sometimes an extra shipping charge takes to big of a bite out a person’s budget.

     I do like the fact they do offer you two different ways of getting free shipping but until I know how long it will take James to eat a bag of food the bottomless bag option is out of the question. At the moment we aren’t even half way through the bag.

     Out of a paw rating of one to five we give Young Again Ferret Food a Four paw rating.

Be sure to check out Young Again Pet Foods and tell them Enlightened Ferret sent ya.

 

Jo

Feeding the Ferret: The Ugly

     Humans are able to eat almost all foods without giving it much though but we must be aware of what we can give our pets without dire consequences.

      We know better than to give our pets even a tiny taste of some foods but we may not know the dangers of other foods until it is too late.

     Pet owners should know that chocolate is toxic to animals. The compound responsible for the toxicity is Theobromine. According to Vet Medicine, the toxic dosage for a dog is between 100-200 mg. It would take less to kill a ferret.

     Everyday in America new sugarless products emerge. These products contain the ingredient Xylitol. The most used item containing Xylitol is chewing gum. Chewing gum is a problem for ferrets in that they don’t know not to eat it. It can cause obstructions that can be fatal to a ferret. The Xylitol in sugarless gum has been linked to hypoglycemia better known as low blood sugar in animals. Ferrets with insulinoma are at higher risk.

     While not a lot is known about ferrets and how they do react to certain foods there have been incidents where a ferret has had a food allergy and like humans, it can be fatal.

     Peanuts may seem harmless but in reality, the hardness and small size can cause a host of problems including but not limited to intestinal blockage, choking, and seizures from allergic reaction.

     Popcorn may not seem like it could cause a problem but kernels that haven’t popped can choke a ferret. The soft part of the kernel once ingested can swell and cause blockages. Most popcorn is salted and buttered and this can lead to unhealthy weight gain.

     Seeds aren’t digestible and could cause blockages along with the possibility of choking.

     Avocados are poisonous to cats and with ferrets being even smaller; I would personally avoid giving any to a ferret.

     Onions contain disulphide that could lead to anemia.

     Corn is a plant material that isn’t digestible and passes though the intestinal system whole and can cause the soft lining to protrude though the anus. Known as a prolapsed rectum.

     Vegan pet food is on this list because of the controversy about how beneficial it is to animals such as cats, dogs, and ferrets. Which are carnivores and need meat in their diet to have proper nutrition.

     Sugar laden things such as candy, soda pop, energy drinks, and alcohol can cause blood sugar related problems along with tooth decay.

     Black licorice interferes with blood sugar levels. Which could be problematic to a ferret with insulinoma.

     Candy is known as lick and sticks in our house because my fur children don’t eat it. They will lick a pilfered piece until it is sticky and then leave it where I will usually step on it in my bare feet.

      Energy drinks have been linked to impaired adrenal responses in humans. Along with the adrenal interference, the sugar content would cause problems with a ferret that also has insulinoma.

     Alcoholic drinks convert into sugars and should never be given to animals.

     Dog food should never be given to a ferret as source of food because it lacks an amino acid called Taurine. An absence of taurine can result in eye problems that could eventually lead to blindness, hair loss, and tooth decay. It could also cause an enlargement of the heart in cats and possibly in ferrets.

     The ASPCA now has an Animal Poison Control Center that is open 24/7 year round. You can find some information on their site at http://aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control or if it is an emergency you can call (888) 426-4435. There could be a charge of $65 to your credit card for the use of the service. I didn’t find any information about ferrets so I am doubtful of how much knowledge they have about them.

     I hope you have found this series informational and given you some new information about giving our furry friends foods.

     Any remarks, thoughts, ideas, links to other blogs or websites are welcomed and appreciated.

Jo

     Please visit these places as they are great sources of information.

Veterinary Medicine http://vetmedicine.about.com

http://aspca.org

Feeding the Ferret: The Bad

     These foods are considered bad foods because they aren’t part of a ferret’s natural diet. Given in moderation they won’t kill a ferret.

     Ferrets are like small children in that everything goes into their mouths and need to be monitored about what goes into their little mouths.

     Ferrets are determined little animals and will demand what you are eating just because they see it going into your mouth.

Dairy Products:

     Ferrets are lactose intolerant meaning that any milk-based product is going to give them diarrhea. Although you can give them a baby spoon taste of what you are eating.

     By using a baby spoon accomplishes two things. It allows you to control how much a ferret is getting and it teaches them that if it is on the spoon they are allowed a taste.

     It should be noted here and will be again in the next post. Chocolate should never be given to a ferret or any other animal, as it is toxic to ALL animals.

Fruit and Vegetables:

     Ferrets lack a cecum (1) to process fruits and vegetables. They gain no nutritional value out of these items and are hard to digest. Knowing this you can allow a ferret a taste occasionally but no more than once or twice a month. There are exceptions of course.

     Raisins can be given but no more than ten a day and be sure they are being eaten and not stashed away for later.

     Baby carrots cut lengthwise and into thin strips. My boys like to chew on them until they are mushy then they are done with them.

     Celery cut into the size of baby carrots and cut the same way. Removing as much of the stringy part as you can.

     Strawberries only a small bite.

Nuts and Grains:

     Cheerios out of the box and only 10 a day. You can alternate this with raisins. Again, be sure they are actually eating them.

     Bread either can be out of the wrapper or toasted. Only a nibble now and then otherwise a ferret will try to eat your sandwich out of your hand.

     Peanut Butter no more than once a month and use the baby spoon leveled off. Peanut Butter is a good emergency laxative if you are out ferret lax.

Optional:

     These treats are made for animals but not for ferrets.

     Treats for cats: These include Pounce®, Greenies for Cats® pretty much any of the hard cat treats. If the serving says, five pieces a day only give one or two to a ferret.

     There are treats on the market for ferrets and are reasonable in price but I have found that not all ferrets share the same tastes and will turn their noses up at treats designed for them.

     Have lived with eight ferrets at one time you find that they can be demanding and will keep after something until either it is out of their sight or you let them have some.

     Galahad was a prime example of this. He loved coffee and would hunt down my coffee cup so he could have a drink. After losing three keyboards to ferret spilled coffee, I bought a doll’s tea set and gave him one of the cups.

     I would fill his cup with a small amount of my coffee. This did two things it kept him off my desk an away from my coffee and it allowed him to have some. He also knew that he only got one cup a day and would bring me his cup when he was ready for it.

     I don’t recommend giving ferrets coffee but I wanted to illustrate just how persistent they can be and one of the solutions I came up with.

     The last post in this series will cover the foods you should never give a ferret and the reasons why.

     I hope you have found these first two posts informational. Any feedback, comment, links to other blogs is encouraged and welcomed.

Jo

     1. Cecum or caecum comes from the Latin caecus meaning blind. It is a pouch that connects the ileum with the ascending colon of the large intestines. Herbivores have a relatively large cecum that host bacteria that helps to break down plant materials. 

     Obligatory carnivores whose diet contains little or no plant material have a reduced cecum that is either partially or completely replaced by the vermiform appendix(2) http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecum

     2.Vermiform appendix is a blind-ended tube connected to the cecum. Vermiform comes from Latin and means worm-shaped. http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veriform_appendix