Evo ferret food

Question
Hi, I will soon be switching my ferrets to Evo ferret food. I've read it's a very high protein food and should be mixed with a lower protein food, is that true? They are currently on Marchall's, so should I leave that as the 2nd choice or something else? Do you have any suggestions to mix with the Evo? Thank you.

Answer
Hello Veronica,

Thank you for doing your research!  You will notice a drastic improvement in coat condition and health with a better quality diet.  I appreciate that you went out of your way to learn about proper ferret nutrition since it is ESSENTIAL to health.  

I have heard conflicting advice about protein levels  Like cats, ferrets are obligate carnivores that need a high protein/low carbohydrate diet that is easily digestible. It is thought that in older ferrets, a diet too rich in protein can stress the kidneys.  I try to keep the protein at about 40-45%, since my ferret's stool becomes watery if the protein level nears the 50% mark.  You do not want to have less than 40% protein in your ferret's diet.  

I agree that 50% protein (as in EVO) is a bit high.  It is a great diet, but in my opinion it is best to mix two or three.  No one specific type is perfect, and it is much better to have a food that contains two or more high-quality brands.  This is especially important if the food you choose is difficult to find or not readily available. A ferret can become very ill if his body is not used to a new brand suddenly without mixing it into his normal diet first. I would mix it with a lower protein brand such as Serengetti Cat (36%) or Wilderness Blue Buffalo (40%).  Like Evo, Wellness Core and Wysong both contain 50% protein, which would not be of help to you.  

Guidelines for selecting ferret food:

The first three ingredients should be meat-based, and not contain by-products since these are devoid of valuable nutrition.  The food should be low in carbohydrates (corn, rice, etc) since ferrets are obligate carnivores and cannot digest plant material. It should contain between 40-50% protein and roughly 20% fat.   I have noticed that the stool can get a bit watery once it approaches the 50% mark, which is yet another reason for mixing the diet with several brands.  

Brands I highly recommend:     

Wysong Archetypal-1 (beef) or Archetypal-2 (chicken) (both have 50% protein)
http://www.wysong.net/products/archetypal-1-natural-healthy-ferret-food.php
http://www.wysong.net/products/archetypal-2-natural-healthy-ferret-food.php

Wellness Core Feline (50% protein)
http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/cat_wellness_dry_core.html
*Easiest to find in most pet stores and a very good brand*

Innova Ferret EVO (Or cat version if not available) (50% protein)
http://www.evopet.com/products/default.asp?id=1502

Wilderness by Blue Buffalo (40% protein)
http://www.bluebuff.com/products/cats/wilderness-cat.shtml

Serengeti Cat (Timberwolf brand) (36% protein)
http://www.timberwolforganics.com/Pet-Foods/Serengetii
*Should be mixed due to a lower protein content)*

All but the Wysong kibble can be purchased from PetFoodDirect.com  I find ordering is far easier than driving all over the state to find some of the more obscure brands such as EVO Ferret and Serengeti Cat.  Wellness Core is readily available at almost any pet store, which makes it a great brand to mix.    

Brands I Do NOT recommend:  Marshall Farms, Totally Ferret, 8-in-one, IAMS, Kaycee ferret, etc.   

This list is by no means all inclusive.  There are many other good types available, just check the labels. Not all premium kitten/cat kibble is good for these guys, and not even all brands of ferret-specific food!  Every brand is different, and that is why I tend to choose 3 of the best, and create a mixture. I currently feed a mix of Core Wellness (50% protein) which is about half of the mixture and  Wilderness (40%)/Serengeti Cat (36%) make up the rest.  This varies from month to month with what brands are available.   

I do not recommend feeding a raw diet.  Bacteria and other harmful pathogens and can be transferred by feeding raw meat.  These can include tapeworms, salmonella, and e-coli.

It is difficult to change a ferret's diet once they have imprinted on a certain brand.  Imprinting on certain foods happens at a very young age, and most will turn up their noses to anything else!   If you decide to switch brands, always introduce the new type by mixing it in with the old kibble.  I generally start with a 25/75 mixture, then increase the amount of new food over the next few days.  This allows the sensitive ferret tummies and taste buds to get used to the new diet.  Changing food too quickly can result in nasty vomiting and diarrhea and a very sick ferret.

Remember to store all extra food in airtight containers (Such as for cereal storage).  If you buy three kinds of kibble, it will last you awhile!  Also, change the kibble in your ferret's bowl DAILY.  high quality brands will contain contain vitamins and can go rancid quickly and cause stomach problems.  

You probably know this, but stay away from vegetables, fruits and milk products as treats.  Raisins can cause kidney failure, and too much sugar (anything that ends with -ose) can lead to insulinoma and other complications. I feed my guys dehydrated 100% chicken treats with no additives as snacks.  These can be found in the canine section of your local pet store.  Another obscure (but healthy) treat is live meal worms.  These can be found at any pet store, and I haven't met a ferret who didn't love them yet.

There is a short FAQ that contains some info on nutrition from the AFA's Official Website:

http://www.ferret.org/read/faq.html

I hope this answers your question!  Sorry that my response is so lengthy, but I wanted to cover all of the important points =3

Remember... Always check the ingredients for whatever you buy, since most store bought brands are not good for the little guys!

If you have any other questions, you know where to find me.  
-Cindy P.