Ferret Nutrition
Ferret Nutrition can be an overwhelming subject. For many ferret owners, deciding on what food to feed can be an overwhelming task!
All natural? Holistic? Premium? What do these terms mean?
Can a ferret eat cat food? What about dog food? What treats are good for them?
Then there is the question of kibble vs. raw. What's all the hype about raw feeding? The article below will break down all of these questions, and more!
All natural? Holistic? Premium? What do these terms mean?
Can a ferret eat cat food? What about dog food? What treats are good for them?
Then there is the question of kibble vs. raw. What's all the hype about raw feeding? The article below will break down all of these questions, and more!
Ferret Nutrition: The Basics
So you just got a ferret, congrats! Next comes the task of deciding what to feed him/her.
The first thing you should know is that ferrets are obligate carnivores. This means that they get all necessary nutrition from meat. So what does that mean? It means that feeding items other than meats is unnecessary, and that the ferret will not get any nutrition from these items.
Taking into account that a ferret lacks a cecum to digest fruit/vegetable/grain matter, it's obvious to see why feeding these items is undesirable. Feeding excessive amounts of grains and carbs has been linked to a disease called insulinoma. (see more in Health section)
The first thing you should know is that ferrets are obligate carnivores. This means that they get all necessary nutrition from meat. So what does that mean? It means that feeding items other than meats is unnecessary, and that the ferret will not get any nutrition from these items.
Taking into account that a ferret lacks a cecum to digest fruit/vegetable/grain matter, it's obvious to see why feeding these items is undesirable. Feeding excessive amounts of grains and carbs has been linked to a disease called insulinoma. (see more in Health section)
Kibble: The lowdown on labeling
The first, and perhaps most convenient option ferret owners encounter when acquiring a ferret is kibble, or dry food. Kibble is essentially meats, binders, and vitamins/minerals all mixed together in a mash, and then extruded through dies (think pasta) or pressed, and then dried.
Feeding kibble is simple, simply pour into a bowl and serve. But there are so many choices available! How can I know that the kibble I choose is a good one?
I hope you're ready to read some labels!
First, let's look at the "Guaranteed Analysis". This information is commonly found on the back or side panel of the bag.
Next, we want to make sure that the protein, fat, and fiber percentages are appropriate for a ferret. Ideal percentages are as follows:
-At least 35% protein
-At least 20% fat
-Less than 3% fiber.
Unfortunately, these numbers alone can't tell us if a food is appropriate for a ferret. We also need to look at the ingredients. Some foods may boost protein percentages using plant-based ingredients. Since ferrets are carnivores, we want to choose a kibble high in meat based ingredients. At least 4 of the first 6 ingredients should be meat-based. You want to look for named meats such as:
-chicken
-chicken meal
-chicken fat
-chicken by-products
(this applies to other proteins such as duck, turkey, etc)
You want to avoid low quality proteins such as:
-meat and bone meal
-poultry meal/fat (what poultry? what animals does this meat come from? we don't know!)
-Animal fat (again, unnamed sources are undesirable. You don't know what animals are being used)
-chicken flavor
-chicken digest
Now, lets compare two commercial kibbles!
Feeding kibble is simple, simply pour into a bowl and serve. But there are so many choices available! How can I know that the kibble I choose is a good one?
I hope you're ready to read some labels!
First, let's look at the "Guaranteed Analysis". This information is commonly found on the back or side panel of the bag.
Next, we want to make sure that the protein, fat, and fiber percentages are appropriate for a ferret. Ideal percentages are as follows:
-At least 35% protein
-At least 20% fat
-Less than 3% fiber.
Unfortunately, these numbers alone can't tell us if a food is appropriate for a ferret. We also need to look at the ingredients. Some foods may boost protein percentages using plant-based ingredients. Since ferrets are carnivores, we want to choose a kibble high in meat based ingredients. At least 4 of the first 6 ingredients should be meat-based. You want to look for named meats such as:
-chicken
-chicken meal
-chicken fat
-chicken by-products
(this applies to other proteins such as duck, turkey, etc)
You want to avoid low quality proteins such as:
-meat and bone meal
-poultry meal/fat (what poultry? what animals does this meat come from? we don't know!)
-Animal fat (again, unnamed sources are undesirable. You don't know what animals are being used)
-chicken flavor
-chicken digest
Now, lets compare two commercial kibbles!
Marshall Ferret vs. Wysong Ferret Epigen 90
Marshall Premium Ferret Diet
Crude Protein 38.0% min
Crude Fat 18.0% max
Crude Fiber 3.5% min
Moisture 10.0% max
First 6 Ingredients: Chicken By-Products (organs only), Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Brewers Dried Yeast
Crude Protein 38.0% min
Crude Fat 18.0% max
Crude Fiber 3.5% min
Moisture 10.0% max
First 6 Ingredients: Chicken By-Products (organs only), Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Brewers Dried Yeast
Wysong Ferret Epigen 90 Digestive Support
(note that the Digestive Support is a repackaged/renamed version of the old Wysong Epigen 90 formula. I am no longer recommending the newer formulation (in 5lb bags) due to reports of digestive upset when feeding the new formula)
Protein 60%
Fat 16%
Fiber 5%
Moisture 10%
First 6 ingredients: Chicken meal, organic chicken, chicken giblets, chicken fat, dried plain beet pulp, meat protein isolates.
(note that the Digestive Support is a repackaged/renamed version of the old Wysong Epigen 90 formula. I am no longer recommending the newer formulation (in 5lb bags) due to reports of digestive upset when feeding the new formula)
Protein 60%
Fat 16%
Fiber 5%
Moisture 10%
First 6 ingredients: Chicken meal, organic chicken, chicken giblets, chicken fat, dried plain beet pulp, meat protein isolates.
Orijen Cat and Kitten
Protein 42%
Fat 20%
Fiber 3%
Moisture 10%
First 6 ingredients: Boneless chicken, chicken meal, chicken liver, whole herring, boneless turkey, turkey meal
Protein 42%
Fat 20%
Fiber 3%
Moisture 10%
First 6 ingredients: Boneless chicken, chicken meal, chicken liver, whole herring, boneless turkey, turkey meal
Marshalls has a significantly lower protein content compared to the Epigen and Orijen, but it's within acceptable range.
Orijen has the highest fat content at 20%. Marshalls does have a bit higher fat content compared to Epigen, but a lower fiber content.Orijen is lower than either at 3%.
Although I prefer to see less than 3% fiber in most foods, the Wysong is still considered in acceptable range.
We can see that the Marshalls only has 3 meat ingredients in the first 6, and the first is by-products. Although I do not mind by-products in food, I prefer not to see them as the first ingredient. The Marshalls also has corn meal, and beet pulp.
The Epigen has 4 meat ingredients in the first 6. Although this doesn't sound like a huge difference compared to Marshalls, the protein percentage clues us in that the actual meat content of the food is very high.
Orijen is our top leader with 6 meat ingredients in the first 6. Orijen is labeled as being 80% meat.
Orijen has the highest fat content at 20%. Marshalls does have a bit higher fat content compared to Epigen, but a lower fiber content.Orijen is lower than either at 3%.
Although I prefer to see less than 3% fiber in most foods, the Wysong is still considered in acceptable range.
We can see that the Marshalls only has 3 meat ingredients in the first 6, and the first is by-products. Although I do not mind by-products in food, I prefer not to see them as the first ingredient. The Marshalls also has corn meal, and beet pulp.
The Epigen has 4 meat ingredients in the first 6. Although this doesn't sound like a huge difference compared to Marshalls, the protein percentage clues us in that the actual meat content of the food is very high.
Orijen is our top leader with 6 meat ingredients in the first 6. Orijen is labeled as being 80% meat.