HPM Ferret nutrition

Introduction

The ferret (Mustela putorius furo) is a strict carnivore, whose food preference is determined early (between 4-6 months of age) [1,2,3]. This species is neophobic; therefore, change the diet of an adult ferret is very difficult [4]. A new range of dry foods with high protein and low carbohydrate content has been recently released. The formulation for VETERINARY HPM^® BABY PRE NEUTERED CAT kittens able to meet the nutritional requirements of ferrets [1,2,4], the objective of this study was to assess, in breeding breeding ferrets and ferrets sterilized domestic, palatability and tolerance digestive tract of this new food.

Material and method 

The study was conducted in France in 2016 on 87 ferrets: 38 whole ferrets (22 females and 16 males) from breeding, during the breeding period and 49 sterilized domestic ferrets (28 females and 21 males) from owners. The duration of the study was 22 days. It consisted of introducing the new food during a 10-day food transition and then observing palatability and tolerance

Results 

Prior to the study, farm ferrets consumed dry industrial food daily and also had access to a variety of meat foods. Domestic ferrets were fed either dry industrial food and / or a meat ration. It is common for owners to offer different types of rationing at the same time or at different times in the life of the animal: it was therefore important to establish the palatability and the digestive tolerance of the food tested whatever the rationing. prior. The new food was offered individually to assess immediate palatability. At the initial presentation, 26.31% (10/38) of breeding ferrets after the clinical inclusion examination (D0) and 38% of domestic ferrets in the first 4 days immediately consumed the new food. 100% of farm ferrets consumed it at the end of the food transition and 80% of domestic ferrets at the end of the study. A continuous presentation of the new food to domestic ferrets over a period of at least three weeks improved its palatability, already high initially. The digestive tolerance was good. Some stool changes were observed during the transition period, but faeces then quickly returned to normal for most animals. No liquid stool was observed during the study. The occurrence of muddy or grainy stools spontaneously retroceding without treatment (favored by changes in diet or lifestyle), in the absence of a decline in general condition is frequent in this species. Compared to the same period of the year in 2012 (unpublished results), the proportion of farmed ferrets having maintained (29% in 2016 vs 14% in 2012) or taken (53% in 2016 vs 45% in 2012 ) weight is improved with this new food which is favorable at the end of the breeding season.

Conclusions

The new VETERINARY HPM^® BABY PRE NEUTERED CAT kibbles seem to be a balanced nutritional alternative, very palatable and well tolerated from a digestive point of view by breeding ferrets and domestic ferrets. It would be interesting in new studies to assess the digestibility of this food and to measure certain biochemical parameters (total protein, urinary pH).