Dog Biscuits

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

If feeding a diet of predominantly raw food for the ferrets then would it still be a bad idea to feed dog biscuits instead of ferret biscuits.

 

Purely cost cutting.

 

I feed them day old chicks, rabbit, horse meat etc every evening and sometimes through the day aswell and like to leave a bowl of dry food down for them 24/7.

 

Is it unhealthy to feed dog biscuits? I was told it is too low in protein alone but thought that maybe with the amount of raw food and how little dry they eat then it might be okay?

 

Gaz

[theferreter 311]

mate leave the dog biscuits for the dogs

[ferret100 47]

Dog food is no use to a ferret, so you'd be wasting your money. Someone else started a thread on getting good deals on ferret kibble, might be worth a look and you could end up with a bargain!

[The one 8,593]

Check out the name DOG BISCUITS ferrets have a faster digestive track so dog or cat food no much use to them .if your feeding raw grub that should be enough

[Rake aboot 4,936]

If it`s only a side treat, or a bit of variety,, then theres no harm in it,, there is nothing in the dug food thats bad for them,, so carry on,, save a bit of cash bud, they will get all they need from the meat diet you feed them.

 

ATB

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

theferreter - Why?

 

ferret100 - why is dog food no use to a ferret? The nutrients is still present. Granted, too low in protein, but they get a raw meal of some description daily. Rabbit, Chicks, Chicken Wings, Horse Meat etc.

 

the one - your correct that ferrets have a faster digestive tract, but i dont think ferret biscuits are made any differently to dog biscuits are they?

 

Rake - Cheers. As you say the biscuits are there just as a side offering in case they get peckish inbetween raw meals, and i know they like to nibble 24/7 so thats what the dry food will be there for. I didnt think there was any harm in feeding dog biscuits as a side meal or as you say for a bit of variety.

 

Thanks

 

Gaz

[rob190364 2,594]

Dog biscuits much lower % protein because of the other stuff that's in there (rice, corn etc)....stuff that ferrets don't need and can't digest.

 

I think I'm right in thinking that neither dog or cat biscuits are good for ferrets, but if you're going to give either you're better with cat biscuits as it's higher in protein so better matched to what ferrets need, but still not ideal.

[The one 8,593]

Pretty sure that i read somewhere that the ash contents different due to the ferrets digestive needs , But there must be a difference between dog ,cat and ferret food ,biscuits or they would just be labeled dry pet food ????

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

Cheers for replies.

 

I don't doubt there's a difference and they arent ideal. But being short of cash and feeding MOSTLY raw I was thinking they may be okay.

 

Gaz

[patterdalejoel 669]

where do you get the horse meat from mate?

[theferreter 311]

theferreter - Why?

 

ferret100 - why is dog food no use to a ferret? The nutrients is still present. Granted, too low in protein, but they get a raw meal of some description daily. Rabbit, Chicks, Chicken Wings, Horse Meat etc.

 

the one - your correct that ferrets have a faster digestive tract, but i dont think ferret biscuits are made any differently to dog biscuits are they?

 

Rake - Cheers. As you say the biscuits are there just as a side offering in case they get peckish inbetween raw meals, and i know they like to nibble 24/7 so thats what the dry food will be there for. I didnt think there was any harm in feeding dog biscuits as a side meal or as you say for a bit of variety.

 

Thanks

 

Gaz

why cause there for dogs thats why feed them till them if you want its just pointless just stick to the raw food

[B.P.R 2,798]

Mine get cat biscuits 24/7 just as a backup. They get raw every night as their main. They di fine on it

[dogger 100]

ive used dog biscuits on the odd occasion that ive run out of anything else and they seemed ok on it but like i say it was an emergency measure

[skycat 6,174]

Here you go: copied from another site:

Ferrets are carnivores

 

Ferrets, like cats, are obligate carnivores (meat eaters). They cannot survive without meat in their diet. However, although fresh raw meat is part of the ferret's natural diet, it may contain harmful parasites and micro-organisms that create risks unacceptable to pet owners. Meat is only part of a natural diet: predators eat not only the muscle meat of their prey, they also eat the liver, kidneys, and intestinal tract, and crunch up bones as well. A diet limited to meat alone would cause harmful and eventually fatal nutritional imbalances.

So… what do I feed my ferret?

Not dog food. Ferrets fed only dog food will eventually die of malnutrition. Obligate carnivores have special requirements for several nutrients missing from commercial dog foods. In addition, ferrets are unable to digest the high levels of carbohydrate in dog food. They need to get most of their calories from simple carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Ferrets have such a short intestinal tract they can't eat very much at a time, and therefore need a concentrated diet. They should get most of the calories in their diet from fat, the most concentrated source of energy.

[The one 8,593]

'Veedublee' timestamp='1313455782' post='2195279']

Mine get cat biscuits 24/7 just as a backup. They get raw every night as their main. They di fine on it

 

But your a nugget ,there's no reason for you buying or feeding then cat biscuits feeding raw at night will be plenty there no kits any more and youv'e enough raw ?.