QUESTION:
I recently switched my ferrets from a big chain store brand name cat food to Innova Evo Ferret food and they've totally changed.? Their coats are soft and silky, they don't smell strongly at all (hardly, actually), and I'm very satisfied with the nutritional content in the food.? However, I think my ferrets are detoxing.? Their stools have been soft and very weird (like gray jelly and all sorts of things), which I'm sure is just a result of the cleansing of all the toxins in their bodies from eating the old food for 2/3 years (they're a year apart).? I just wanted to ask if you knew how long, typically, detox takes?? I got their food about two weeks ago and their stools have been constantly sick looking.? I'm not too concerned, because I think it's going to go away eventually (I understand detox doesn't happen overnight), but one of my ferrets is very thin and very lethargic all of the sudden.? Is that a sign he's just under the weather from the detox, you think (like, is that a common symptom?), or should I be very concerned?? He is pooing so I don't think it's a blockage, but he seems a bit under the weather.

ANSWER:
Actually I have never heard of ferrets detoxifying on food! I am sure the food you were feeding was not that bad or your ferrets would have been quite sick before. First of all is the Evo fresh? Did you change the food slowly, or overnight? For older ferrets it is best to change their diet by adding the new food to the side of the original food in the same bowl, not mixing it. The reason for this is a sudden switch can cause digestive upsets, which sounds like that is happening to your ferrets.

Evo is high meat protein whereas the food you were feeding before may have had more carbohydrates, which turn to sugar. Since one of your ferrets is lethargic, my concern would be that he could possibly be hypoglycemic (low blood sugar), partly because of the change in content of food and also the stress caused by changing the food. If you can take him to the vet to get a 'blood glucose level' on him, it will help you determine if he needs medicine for it. Until you see a vet, start supplementing his diet with Gerbers (blue label) chicken baby food about 3-4 teaspoonfuls twice a day, it is bland and easily digested and the protein will help level off his blood glucose, just incase. Evo is a great food, I feed it to my ferrets along with Wysong foods for ferrets.

QUESTION:
I have 3 ferrets that are currently eating meow mix. I know, that's a big "no no". I've tried to get them off of it... When I adopted my first, Preston, I looked around to find one that met all the requirements and he seemed to eat it. When I adopted my second, Fred, he was left behind locked in a cage with no food or water. The local shelter said the only thing he would eat was meow mix. He's been through some problems and frankly, we were just happy he was eating. I tried slowing mixing Fred's food over the months. Nothing worked, he just picked around. When I purchased your tri level cage last year I decided to put Preston and Fred in the cage together. I had them in separate cages because of the food issue, and I didn't want Preston or Roxy eating that junk either. So.. my question is, Can you recommend food that my ferrets will most likely eat?

ANSWER:
Food is one of those things that is hard for me to say what to use or not, it will depend wholly on what your ferrets will eat! Whatever food you decide to introduce should be added gradually by adding a little in the same dish, at the SIDE OF THE FOOD you are feeding now, do NOT MIX, as the ferrets may decide to not eat at all, then you will have real problems.

New food can cause gastric disturbances, however if introduced slowly the ferrets will try it and yet still have their own food available. Add a little more of the new food as you see them eating it, separating it on the side of the dish will help you determine if they are eating it, or not.

When choosing a new food, buy one with MEAT PROTEIN as the first on the list of ingredients. I personally feed the foods that are on my site as they are all natural, however you may want to get your food locally rather than pay shipping, so you would need to make a choice of what is available in your area. It is good to use more than one ferret food, as there may be a time when one of them is not available, then at least you will have something they are used to, without having to make a sudden change.

QUESTION:
How do I go about changing my ferret's regular food?

ANSWER:
There are many foods on the market for ferrets, some good, some not so good and some food that ferrets just will not eat! If you decide to change your ferret's food then you will need to make a gradual change. DO NOT switch foods overnight, as this will cause gastric disturbances, that may need some medical intervention to cure.

The recommendation is to gradually add the new food starting with about 10% and then each day add a little more to the dish, until the ferret has completely changed over.

My recommendation is to add the new food in the same dish, but at the side of the original food, DO NOT MIX it in. The ferret will start to eat the new food once the original food is gone and you will be able to tell if he/she is actually eating the new food.