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Much to our utter frustration, EVO has once again been recalled. They aren’t messing around with lot numbers this time … anything made by Natura Pet with an expiration date earlier than June 10, 2014 has been recalled. There is a form you can fill out to be reimbursed on their website.

I have used EVO for years and I can’t remember a single recall until after they were purchased by Proctor & Gamble. It’s frustrating and disheartening.

Replacement Foods:

In rough order of my preference

Orijen Cat/Kitten: Ingredients: Boneless chicken*, chicken meal, chicken liver*, whole herring*, boneless turkey*, turkey meal, turkey liver*, whole eggs*, boneless walleye*, whole salmon*, chicken heart*, chicken cartilage*, herring meal, salmon meal, chicken liver oil, chicken fat*, red lentils, green peas, green lentils, sun-cured alfalfa, yams*, pea fibre, chickpeas, pumpkin*, butternut squash*, spinach greens*, carrots*, Red Delicious apples*, Bartlett pears*, cranberries*, blueberries*, kelp, licorice root, angelica root, fenugreek, marigold flowers, sweet fennel, peppermint leaf, chamomile, dandelion, summer savory, rosemary, Enterococcus faecium. *FRESH AND PRESERVATIVE-FREE

Analysis:
Crude protein (min.) 42%
Crude fat (min.) 20%
Crude fiber (max.) 3%

Wysong Epigen 90: Ingredients: Organic Chicken, Chicken Meal, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols as a source of Vitamin E), Chicken Giblets, Gelatin (source of collagen and proteoglycans), Apple (source of soluble fiber), Beet Pulp (source of prebiotics), Plums (antioxidant source), Inulin (prebiotic), Blueberries (antioxidant source), Tomato (source of lutein), Taurine (amino acid), Oregano Extract (antioxidant source), Sage Extract (antioxidant source), Rosemary Extract (antioxidant source), Probiotic Microorganisms (Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus lactis), Ascorbic Acid, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement.

Analysis:
Crude Protein (Min) 60.0%
Crude Fat (Min) 20.0%
Crude Fiber (Max) 3.5%

Wellness Core Kitten Ingredients: Deboned Turkey, Whitefish Meal, Deboned Chicken, Herring Meal, Chicken Meal, Peas, Turkey Meal, Potatoes, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Tomato Pomace, Natural Chicken Flavor, Ground Flaxseed, Cranberries, Chicory Root Extract, Choline Chloride, Salmon Oil, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)], Minerals [Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate], Taurine, Mixed Tocopherols added to preserve freshness, Dried Kelp, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract.

Analysis:
Crude Protein (min) 45.0%
Crude Fat (min) 18.0%
Crude Fiber (max) 3.0%

Wellness CORE Cat Ingredients: Deboned Turkey, Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whitefish Meal, Herring Meal, Peas, Turkey Meal, Potatoes, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Tomato Pomace, Natural Chicken Flavor, Flaxseed, Cranberries, Chicory Root Extract, Choline Chloride, Salmon Oil, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Biotin],Minerals [Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate], Taurine, Mixed Tocopherols added to preserve freshness, Dried Kelp, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract.

Analysis:
Protein: 45% (min)
Fat: 18% (min)
Fiber: 3% (max)

Blue Wilderness Kitten Ingredients: Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Potato Starch, Fish Meal (source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids), Fish Oil (source of DHA-Docosahexaenoic Acid), Peas, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Flaxseed (source of Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids), Natural Chicken Flavor, Potatoes, Potato Protein, Sunflower Oil (source of Omega 6 Fatty Acids), Alfalfa Meal, Whole Carrots, Whole Sweet Potatoes, Cranberries, Blueberries, Barley Grass, Dried Parsley, Dried Kelp, Taurine, Yucca Schidigera Extract, L-Carnitine, L-Lysine, Turmeric, Oil of Rosemary, Beta Carotene, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Niacin (Vitamin B3), d-Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Biotin (Vitamin B7), Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Ascorbate (source of Vitamin C), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Choline Chloride, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Salt, Caramel, Potassium Chloride, Dried Yeast (source of Saccharomyces cerevisiae), Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, Dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product.

Analysis:
Protein: 40% (min)
Fat: 20% (min)
Fiber: 3.5% (max)

You can use any food that has no grain, has meat as the first 3-5 ingredients (more is okay) and at least 38% protein and 18% fat (more is better).

Stay away from Zupreme Grain-Free as the pea protein has been linked to bladder stones in some ferrets. Peas are okay if they are listed 6th or later. Zupreem Grain-Free’s first 6 ingredients: Chicken meal, Dried sweet potatoes, Dried peas, Chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Potato protein. This is bad because the 2nd ingredient is non-meat and the 3rd ingredient is peas.

Stay away from foods that have starches or grains in the first 5 ingredients and certainly stay away from any food that has peas in the first 5 ingredients.

Good Foods not all ferrets will eat:

Wysong Archetypal 1 This is a raw, freeze-dried food that looks like shredded meat. It is most often served rehydrated with hot water, although ferrets who like it will often eat it dry like a treat. Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Hearts, Chicken Livers, Ground Chicken Bone, Milk Calcium, Fish Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Coral Calcium, Organic Mung Bean Sprouts, Organic Millet Sprouts, Organic Quinoa Sprouts, Organic Blueberries, Organic Apples, Plums, Barley Grass, Wheat Grass, Dried Whey, Kelp, Dried Seaweed, Artichoke, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus lactis Fermentation Product, Dried Yeast Culture, Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus niger Fermentation Product, Phytase, Sage Extract, Rosemary Extract, Choline Chloride, Ascorbic Acid, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement.

Analysis:
Crude Protein (Min) 45.0 %
Crude Fat (Min) 33.0 %
Crude Fiber (Max) 2.0 %

Raw/whole prey

There are strong indications that ferrets (cats & dogs) should really be fed a raw/whole prey diet. We know this is not for everyone, and you have to become educated in the right balance. Feeding only meat (muscle) will have serious consequences. Carnivores need meat, bone and organ meats to be healthy. It’s not hard once you (a) understand what to do and (b) convince your ferret it’s food. The latter is usually the harder of the two. If you have a baby ferret (under 3-4 months old) you can just start right in with raw. They will eat pretty much anything at this point. The Holistic Ferrets group has a lot of advice on how to convert older ferrets. Some people use commercially prepared ground frozen raw, but this will not keep the teeth as clean as when they chew on raw bones (of an appropriate size).

75%- Meat (flesh, tendons, fat, skin)
15%- Edible bone (RAW chicken bones, mouse bones, SOME rabbit bones)
10%- Organ meat (livers, gizzards, Hearts, etc)

Search for Holistic Ferrets online or on Facebook for more information on how to properly feed raw.

Billy: 2.5 year old male
Brody: 2.5 year old female

From the owners:

Billie and Brody love people, and they love to play together. They’ve been roommates for about two years now. They have the run of the game room for at least two hours each day, but usually crawl under their favorite blanket to sleep before it’s time to return to their cage. They don’t play with toys too often, but do like the types of things they can hide in. They’re adorable and sweet, and also very curious. They will try to escape any environment until you create one where it’s impossible to escape.

If you are interested in Billie and Brody, please fill out an adoption application.

Adoption donation is a discounted $100 for both until June 30 (normally $75 each). Their Ferret Nation cage can be purchased for $100, or you can have one of our extra cages for free.

The Humane Society called and said a ferret had been found. They were not clear what area it was, but the ferret is a chocolate male. They say he’s unneutered, but it does not look like any whole male I’ve ever seen. They don’t show the “nether regions” in the photo, so I can’t confirm or deny. They seemed to think it might have been mine, which I find somewhat mystifying. The last time I lost a ferret, it was a black sable female — nothing at all like a chocolate male. (I got her back, by the way.)

If you have lost a chocolate male, check out the Humane Society website:

Humane Society Lost and Found

Mercury is due to be spayed in 2 weeks. She’s a crazy ferret. Mercury SCREAMS at the cat. She really doesn’t like cats. She dooks constantly, plays for hours and can be nippy when excited.

Peekaboo got a Deslorelin implant and is busy growing his lovely hair back and has not (knock on wood) had any peeing problems. He’s not a young ferret, but he’s sweet and likes to play.

I also have Trixie, a marked white female with a slight nipping problem. She’s gotten much better since we separated her from other ferrets. She’d be a single. She’s young, lively and playful. With a little work, she should stop nipping. She hasn’t bitten me at all, and I think she’s been better with the volunteers over the last week or so.

I have a set of middle-aged ferrets (around 4) (Bear and Sydney) that someone was supposed to take and it sounds like they are backing out. I plan to get them both an implant and they’d be good for at least a year. They are both active and loving. Bear likes to be cuddled, Sydney likes to run around.

I have a lovely set of females named Sydney and Sasha (yes we have two Sydneys) who are around 4. Sasha might be 5, we’re not sure. Sasha was naked but she’s working on some fur since her implant, and her energy has really come up. They’re both really playful. Sydney likes to be cuddled. Sasha likes to be chased. I believe they are the ones who hide most of the toys.

I have another set named Balto and Demon. Pretty young, a little wild. Someone might be interested in them.

I still have Sydd and Simon and they’re still quite playful and very sweet.

I have a little light chocolate female named Cinnamon who was found wandering around outside. We’re pretty sure she’s no more than a year and she likes people, other ferrets, and I’m pretty sure is okay with the dog and the cat.

And then there is Pookie. She’s privately bred, spayed, albino, very good construction but she’s quite nippy. She doesn’t bite me anymore but when she bites, she makes you bleed. She’s sort of super-charged. This is something like her 5th home 🙁

Last but not least is Blizzard. He’s old, mostly blind, almost naked, fat, slow, has weak back legs, but that little guy loves to roll in the peanuts, on the little beds we have out, and generally has a perfectly fine time all by himself. We just got him an implant and we’re hoping he’ll get some fur so he looks more respectable.

The older ones have a low adoption fee.

It’s been an interesting month or so. Then again, I guess it’s always interesting here.

We got a ferret named Mickey in from an outlying Humane Society. Nice ferret, doesn’t bite. Then we discovered he was deaf as a stone and blind as, well, blinder than a bat. He navigated by nose. He knew when you would come up to his cage, and he most certainly knew if you were carrying the famed Hide-E-Hole version of duck soup (or dook soup and some people call it). He was thin when he came in, but after some excellent food and fattening duck soup, he filled out nicely. He was adopted by a nice lady who is somewhat disabled and wanted a ferret to love. It turned out that Mickey loves to be with his people, and he climbed her leg to get on the couch to nap with her! [Maybe I should have charged more?! LOL]

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We also got in a little female named Mercury. She’d been purchased at Roger’s Flea Mart in Ohio to save her from dying in 95 degree weather. He hadn’t planned to get a ferret, but he couldn’t leave her panting in the hot sun with no food or water. [If anyone has the time to fight to get the sale of live animals at Roger’s banned, it needs to be done.] He’d been told she was spayed. Well … apparently not because she came into season big time. He thought it was adrenal disease and couldn’t afford treatment. He was also a pre-med student and going into med school in a year, so he decided it would be better for her to be surrendered. He didn’t really want to surrender her. The quote he got for adrenal surgery (no one around here even does that anymore except in unusual cases) was over $1,000. A Deslorelin implant is around $150-$200 and works better. But what she really needs is to be spayed. We got her a hormone shot and we’re waiting for things to calm down so we can spay her. She will be available for adoption once she is spayed.

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This little girl was found wandering around outside. The time to claim her has past, so she’s available for adoption now. She’s sweet, mild, playful and really quite beautiful. She is a chocolate, but a rather light one. Her body is a little too dark to be a champagne. We’ve tried her with a few ferrets, but she keeps getting beat up. We don’t know if she’s aggressive out of fear or if she’s just plain being picked on. At any rate, even as a single ferret, she’s quite happy. Anyone adopting would need to take special care to keep her from escaping. She has shown absolutely no sign of biting (even while being chased for hours by a group of kids trying to catch her).

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This is Blizzard. He’s been here for over a year, so he’s not new, but he’s still cute. He originally came in with Scooter, but Scooter (even though he was much younger) died of lymphoma. Blizzard has gone completely blind and lost most of his fur. He’s scheduled for a Deslorelin implant (or at least a Lupron shot, depending on what the vet says). He’s deaf, too. But when you let this scruffy little dark-eye white guy out (he’s really a darked-eyed pink right now) he plays and has a marvelous time. He loves to roll in the bin of cornstarch peanuts, scratch his back on rough-textured things, dance, explore — all the things ferrets do. He doesn’t play long these days, but we think he has some fun in him yet. If someone would be willing to take him in, the adoption donation would be very low. He just needs his own place with his own people to cuddle him like he deserves.

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This is Pookie. She’s privately bred and very beautiful. She dooks a lot, plays fast and is quite the wired little weasel girl. Her big problem is that she is nippy. She tries to see what she can get away with and will nip when she wants to be put down. When she was young, the owner put her down when she bit, so now she thinks that’s how she’s supposed to do it. She will nip if she thinks you aren’t paying attention, too. She doesn’t bite me or my daughter, but does like to chomp on a couple of my volunteers! So she needs to go to someone who can handle nippy little shit ferrets. I think with the right handling, she will settle down some. I wouldn’t trust her around kids, though.

I will be working to get these ferrets listed on the adoption pages, but I just wanted to give everyone an update on what’s happening.