This product is very well known, in fact you probably have it right now, or have likely had it at one stage. FerreTone is a supplement which is said to be ‘specifically made for the unique nutritional needs of ferrets’. Ferrets do indeed have a unique nutritional need, but as of 2009 there is no nutritional standard for ferrets.
Let’s have a close look at the ingredients for this supplement. I will show you the ones that are the major red lights for why many people say to never use this product, especially long term.
Ferretone contains:
Soybean oil, cod liver oil, lecithin, wheat germ oil, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin, mono and diglycerides, BHT and propyl paraben (as preservatives).
Plant based oils, such as soybean oil, aren’t easily absorbed compared to that of animal based oils. Soybean oil and or soy products in particular is suggested to be avoided as ferrets are prone to endocrine issues and soy contains estrogen analogues that have been recently reported to negatively impact human development. Genistein, one of the estrogen-mimicking isoflavones in soy, could be even be responsible for the high incidence of adrenal gland disease.
Feeding too much Ferretone to your ferret could also potentially reach toxic levels of many of the nutrients in the product. For example, this product contains Cod Liver Oil which is HIGH in Vitamin A. It also contains Vitamin A Supplement; Vitamin A can cause toxicity in ferrets if fed in large amounts.
Two other controversial ingredients are BHT & Propylparaben, which will be listed below. I also have explained Parabens and BHA&BHT in general.
BHA & BHT - These are a very well known ingredient. You may have seen it in such products as Ferretone.
BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) are widely used by the food industry as preservatives, mainly to prevent oils in foods from oxidizing and becoming rancid. Oxidation affects the flavor, color and odor of foods and reduces some nutrients. BHA and BHT may have some antimicrobial properties, too. BHT is even sold in supplements, as an antioxidant. BHA &BHT are banned from human use in many countries but still permitted in the US. Possible human carcinogen, apparently carcinogenic in animal experiments. The oxidative characteristics and/or metabolites of BHA and BHT may contribute to carcinogenicity or tumorigenicity.
Parabens - Parabens (methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben and isobutylparaben)are used as preservatives and are more commonly seen used in personal care products like cosmetics and lotions. They’ve also been seen use in human food, and pet food or pet supplements. Ferretone, contains propylparaben. They stop fungus, bacteria and microbial growth but have also been known to disrupt the endocrine system. Ingested butylparaben is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, metabolized, and excreted in the urine. Large doses, however, may cause irritation to the GI tract. In mice, rats, rabbits, and dogs, butylparaben was reported to be practically nontoxic. Results from one chronic feeding study in mice showed that butylparaben caused a high incidence of amyloidosis, affecting the spleen, liver, kidney, and/or adrenal gland. It was cytotoxic in isolated rat hepatocytes and mitochondria and in other animal cells in vitro. Parabens (esters of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid [4-HBA], also known as alkyl p-hydroxybenzoates), in particular propylparaben and butylparaben, have recently been reported to have adverse effects on the male reproductive system in rodents. In rats, propylparaben (0.01-1.0%) in the diet for four weeks caused a dose-dependent decrease in cauda epididymal sperm reserves and concentrations and in the serum testosterone level. Additionally, daily sperm production and efficiency in the testis were significantly decreased in all treated animals. Propylparaben was reported to be weakly estrogenic (30,000-fold less potent than 17β-estradiol in an in vitro yeast-based estrogen assay). In mice, s.c. administration of isobutylparaben (1.2 and 12 mg/mouse) and topical application of benzylparaben (7.5 g/kg bw) for three days produced increases in uterine weight.
With all this being said, long term use of Ferretone could very well be potentially dangerous. There are many alternatives to this if you want to feed treats. The best recommendation would be to use an animal or fish based oil such as Salmon Oil. Steer clear of Cod liver oil as it contains large amounts of Vitamin A and wouldn’t be recommended as something that should be used all the time. Treats should be fed in moderations. Too much oils for treats can cause smelly and runny poop, so limit how much you use. If you’re feeding a balanced natural diet of raw meat/whole prey, then your ferret should already be getting all the vitamins and minerals it needs to be healthy; this means there is no need for any supplements. :)
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