Product Name: FerretVite™ Daily Moist Treats

Today I will be looking at Ferretvite moist treats since it was requested a while ago. Actually, quite a long long time ago. I'm sorry for the delay to the person who asked me about this. It really should have been out months ago but I've been quite busy and haven't had much time for researching. I did do a majority of the research a couple of months back but was side tracked with life.  Anyway, I hope that this is helpful to you in some way and if you are interested in another "Label break down" feel free to shoot me an email or leave a comment on this post. 

I was planning on doing both Ferretvite and Ferretone treats, but for now I've just done the ferretvite. I did overlook the ferretone ones and just like this, that too is very... crap.

FerretVite™ Daily Moist Treats This product says:

*	Soft and chewy moist treats made with a taste your ferret will willingly eat

*	Treats offer opportunities for essential nutrition

*	Give treats to your ferret daily to encourage the best results possible

Give your ferret a tasty, chewy treat that actually encourages good health. FerretVite Multi-Vitamin Moist Treats contain vitamins and minerals to encourage good overall ferret health. Formulated as a daily treat you can feed up to four times a day. Soft, chewy texture is easily chewed by the oldest ferret and is a tasty texture your ferret will crave. Resealable packages help keep treats fresh, soft, and moist. 3-ounce package.

Suggested daily use: Feed up to 4 treats.

Please see below for ingredients. I will go into each ingredient thoroughly.

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FerretVite Multivitamin Treats

Ingredients: Wheat Flour, Corn Syrup, Glycerin, Chicken Byproduct Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken Liver Digest, Beef Tallow (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Gelatin, Beef, Chicken, Pregelatinized Corn Starch, Taurine, Lecithin, Phosphoric Acid, Flax Seed, Potassium Sorbate, Dried Cheese Product, Caramel Color, Fish Meal, Canola Oil, Salt, Ascorbic Acid (Source Of Vitamin C), Vitamin A Supplement, D-Activated Animal Sterol (Source Of Vitamin D3), Natural-Source Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, and Calcium Pantothenate.

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Wheat Flour -

Wheat flour is a common filler in pet foods, even treats. It also acts as a binder to bring all the ingredients together in a dry kibble form. Grain flours are necessary for carbohydrates and as you may already be aware, they are junk food to our ferrets. Vegetable proteins such as Soybeans and or cereal grains (Corn, Wheat, Oats, Barley, Rye, Or Rice) Should be avoided as much as possible. Especially if any of these are listed as one of the first ingredients. They should never be fed to a ferret in large quantities. Wheat flour is very poorly digested and has been known to can cause allergies and bowel problems in pets. Probably not ideal for pets with IBD.

Note: This is a main product, so you're basically feeding Wheat flour treats to your ferret. Obviously in small amounts this is okay, but long term this really isn't healthy. Small amounts add up over time, just keep this in mind. Ingredients are listed in order by weight, from greatest to least. 

Corn Syrup -

This is a syrup prepared from cornstarch, used in industry and in numerous food products as a sweetener in order to make their pet food palatable. Sugar or sweetener is an absolutely unnecessary ingredient in pet foods, added to make the product more attractive. Continuous intake can promote hypoglycemia, obesity, nervousness, cataracts, tooth decay, arthritis and allergies. Pets also get addicted to foods that contain sugars, so it can be a tough piece of work to make them eat something healthier. Remember, Sugar + Ferrets = Increased chances of Insulinoma. Corn syrup may be used in small amounts to take a ferret out of an insulinoma seizure but it certainly is not something they should be eating as treats or long term kibbles. Corn in general, is an inexpensive filler, so over time it may develop mold or fungus; in turn, may result in death.

Glycerin-

Glycerin, is a sweetener and binder (humectant) that is commonly produced as a byproduct of soap making. It has traditionally been used in pet food as a texturing and sweetening agent. Glycerin is more common in treats than in regular food. The most common name variations of Glycerin include glycerol, vegetable glycerin or glycerine. Glycerin is added to pet food for three key reasons: 1) as a binder for canned foods and treats (to make them chewy), 2) as a preservative against mold, and 3) as a sweetener. Glycerin doesn’t provide much nutritional benefit to your pet. Glycerin’s ‘benefits’ are related to its properties as a binder and sweetener. Glycerin that is derived from animal and plant sources is generally considered a ‘safe’, albeit nutritionally void ingredient. Risks: Some pet food manufacturers are using Glycerin that is derived from biofuel (e.g. diesel fuel) processing. This processing leads to significant amounts of residual methanol (wood alcohol) and sodium that remain in the Glycerin. Methanol, a flammable, poisonous liquid used in making formaldehyde, is not something that you want to feed your pet. Take away: Avoid foods and treats with Glycerin in favor of those that explicitly list vegetable Glycerin or those with no Glycerin at all. 

Chicken Byproduct Meal -

AAFCO says this consists of the dry, ground, rendered, clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chicken, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs, and intestines -- exclusive of feathers except in such amounts as might occur unavoidably in good processing practices. Chicken byproducts are much less expensive and less digestible than the chicken muscle meat.The ingredients of each batch can vary drastically in ingredients (heads, feet, bones etc.) as well as quality, thus the nutritional value is also not consistent. Don't forget that byproducts consist of any parts of the animal OTHER than meat. If there is any use for any part of the animal that brings more profit than selling it as "byproduct", rest assured it will appear in such a product rather than in the "byproduct" dumpster.

Corn Gluten Meal -

This is the dried residue from corn after the removal of the larger part of the starch and germ, and the separation of the bran by the process employed in the wet milling manufacture of corn starch or syrup, or by enzymatic treatment of the endosperm. It's an inexpensive by-product of human food processing which contains some protein but serves mainly to bind food together. It is not a harmful ingredient but should not rank high in the ingredient list of a quality product.

Chicken Liver Digest -

Chicken liver digest is a material which results from chemical and/or enzymatic hydrolysis of clean and undecomposed chicken liver tissue. Chicken liver digest is used by some manufacturers as a flavor enhancer. Organ meats, such as liver, can contain variable nutrient levels. Any kind of animal can be included for any type of digest: "4-D animals" (dead, diseased, disabled, or dying prior to slaughter), roadkill, animals euthanized at shelters, restaurant and supermarket refuse and so on.

Beef Tallow -

AAFCO describes this as the fat with titer above 40 degrees Celsius, which is obtained from the tissue of cattle in the commercial process of rendering. It is also known as Beef Fat. Pet's such as dogs and cats are very fond of the taste of this fat, so it is often used to make low-quality food more palatable. Beef tallow is very low in linoleic acid and much cheaper for the pet food industry to use than a good quality vegetable oil or nutritionally rich chicken fat.

Note: Mixed tocopherols is a natural Vitamin E preservative.

Gelatin -

Gelatin is a hydrolyzate of naturally occurring collagen, an ingredient of commonly consumed foods of animal origin. Gelatin, comes from animal bones, connective tissue, and organs. It is used as a Filler / binder in mainly canned pet food. Gelatine was identified as being one ingredient being an excitotoxins. (To read more about that, follow my ingredient list below this article.)

Pregelatinized Corn Starch -

Raw starch does not form a paste with cold water and therefore requires cooking if it is to be used as a food thickening agent. Pregelatinized starch, mostly from maize, has been cooked and dried. It is used as a binder in meat products. 

Taurine -

Taurine, or 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, is an organic acid widely distributed in animal tissues. It is a major constituent of bile and can be found in the large intestine, and accounts for up to 0.1% of total human body weight. Taurine has many fundamental biological roles, such as conjugation of bile acids, antioxidation, osmoregulation, membrane stabilization, and modulation of calcium signaling. It is essential for cardiovascular function, and development and function of skeletal muscle, the retina, and the central nervous system. Taurine is unusual among biological molecules in being a sulfonic acid, while the vast majority of biologically occurring acids contain the more weakly acidic carboxyl group. While taurine is sometimes called an amino acid, and indeed is an acid containing an amino group, it is not an amino acid in the usual biochemical meaning of the term, which refers to compounds containing both an amino and a carboxyl group. Taurine plays an essential role in the diet of ferrets. Lack of this amino acid results in severe health repercussions, such as blindness and tooth decay, amongst other things.. Unlike herbivores and omnivores whose pancreas is responsible for the biosynthesis of taurine, Obligate carnivores must ingest taurine via diet in order to maintain proper taurine levels in their bodies. Most biologists and veterinary professionals will agree that mustelids are most likely obligate carnivores, also, and thus require taurine in their diet. Taurine in whole food form, found in muscle tissues, hearts, brains and other animal tissues, is in any case the ideal for any raw diet – and not a difficult nutrient to maintain proper levels of if offering the right variety. Supplementation of factory-synthesised taurine is a possibility in extreme cases but be sure to choose a supplement of human-grade quality, from a trusted company and source. 

Lecithin -

Lecithin is a generic term to designate any group of yellow-brownish fatty substances occurring in animal and plant tissues. Lecithin can easily be extracted chemically using any non-polar solvent such as hexane, ethanol, acetone, petroleum ether, benzene, etc., or extraction can be done mechanically. It is usually available from sources such as soybeans, eggs, milk, marine sources, rapeseed(Canola), cottonseed, and sunflower. It has low solubility in water, but is an excellent emulsifier. Egg yolk is a favourite among the ferret owner community because of it is an excellent hairball preventative due to the lecithin. The issue with this on labels is that you cannot tell, unless otherwise stated, which source this lecithin originated from. The preferred lecithin for our ferrets is that from egg yolk. All others should be avoided if possible. Lecithin in kibbles or treats are more likely to be synthetically made or the lecithin originated from the major source; soybean oil which is super cheap for the pet food industry.

Phosphoric Acid -

It's a clear colorless liquid, H3PO4, used in fertilizers, detergents, food flavoring, and pharmaceuticals.

Even though it is harmless, it is a very unnecessary ingredient, used in inexpensive, poor quality pet food as flavoring, emulsifier and discoloration inhibitor. Used for example as a flavoring for Coca Cola.

Flaxseed -

Flaxseed is the whole seed of the flax plant. Flaxseed is used in pet food as a source of both soluble and insoluble fibre. Together these fibres supposedly aid in digestion and help to maintain good stool consistency. Flaxseed is also used as a source of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids (such as alpha-linolenic acid). Ferrets do not have a cecum (which is located at the end of the large intestine for herbivores) which processes plant based fibers. Too much of any fibre means that your ferret will absorb less nutrients and eliminate more waste. Flax is a fairly common allergen in many pets and the Omega-3s in flax are also more difficult to assimilate than animal-based sources, so it is recommended to only use flax as a last resort. It may even cause itchiness or skin dryness. The best source of fiber in ferret food is natural meat fibre.

Potassium Sorbate-

It is a common preservative present in many cosmetic and skin care products. It is generally used as an alternative to Parabens by inhibiting the growth of microorganisms and preventing the degradation of the product. It is created using sorbic acid, found in ash tree berries, and is quite effective against the proliferation of fungi, mold and yeast. However, being less effective against bacteria, it is not a perservative that has a broad spectrum of use soley on its own. Potassium sorbate is almost always used in combination with other chemical perservatives to ascertain complete protection. Not only is it used in Beauty products, this chemical can also be found used in human and pet foods. The FDA has approved this chemical as safe and no other major consumer agency has determined it as a human toxin. Due to the generally mild state of potassium sorbate, many scientists and researchers consider this ingredient low risk. Not only is potassium sorbate a generally non-hazardous compound, it is also a natural preservative that has been shown to cause little to no negative effect for long term use. For example, drinking this chemical compound for up to 100 weeks has concluded to be non-carcinogenic thus making it non-toxic in its chemical profile and safe to use. If your pet food has this perservative present, it usually is of no consequence to your pet. However, in some extremely sensitive humans and pets, or those prone to allergies, potassium sorbate has been shown to irritate allergies and can cause nausea, diarrhea, and overall loss in nutritious value. Potassium sorbate is not necessarily a harmful preservative, but, like anything, it may in some sensitive individuals attribute to sickness if taken in too large quantities. To conclude, In pet food this should not be much of a problem. Just be cautious of any other preservatives that may be paired with this one and be aware that it may irritate sensitive pets that are prone to allergies, or sensitivities when it comes to their food or treats. 

Dried Cheese Product -

Dried Cheese in kibble or treats is mainly used to attract attention and to add flavour to the product. The pet food industry mainly uses cheap products which are of poor quality and may not necessarily contain any real cheese.

Caramel Colour -

Some dry pet food manufacturers choose caramel colour to reduce the use of synthetics. Caramel colour alone can replace a combination of three certified colours – FD&S Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, and FD&C Blue #2 – which blended together make brown. The result is a product with a cleaner label and a meaty appearance at an equivalent cost to synthetic colours. Using caramel to replace synthetics also solves a common problem in digestion that occurs when the body absorbs red colours, leaving the blue and yellow to show a "green effect" in pet stools. Caramel colour standardizes batch-to-batch variation. Most of the beef-flavored and liver-flavored pet products packaged in cans contain liquid caramel colour. Without caramel colour added, the meat and by-products would appear grayer. Caramel is heat stable at standard retort processing temperatures. Caramel colour contains 4-methylimidazole (4-MIE), a known animal carcinogen. When it comes down to it, artificially coloring food only appeals to humans and not pets.

Fish Meal - 

AAFCO describes this as the clean, rendered, dried ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish or fish cuttings, either or both, with or without the extraction of part of the oil. Like with all other animal sources, if a type isn't specified, you never know what type or quality of fish is used. According to US Coast Guard regulations, all fish meal not destined for human consumption must be conserved with Ethoxyquin (unless the manufacturer has a special permit). This preservative is banned from use in foods for human consumption except for the use of very small quantities as a colour preservative for spices. So unless the manufacturer either presents a permit or states "human grade" fish or fish meal is used, you can be pretty sure Ethoxyquin is present in the food even if it is not listed.

Canola Oil -

Canola oil comes from the rape seed, which is part of the mustard family of plants. Rape is the most toxic of all food-oil plants. Like soy, rape is a weed. Insects will not eat it; it is deadly poisonous! The oil from the rape seed is a hundred times more toxic than soy oil. Some studies in humans have associated intake of canola oil with cardiac fatty infiltration. In a Japanese study of rats fed a diet containing Canola Oil: “These results indicate that promotion of hypertension-related deterioration in organs is likely to have relevance to the short life span in the canola oil group.” Canola is a Trans Fatty Acid, which has shown to have a direct link to cancer. These Trans Fatty acids are labeled as hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. According to John Thomas' book, Young Again, 12 years ago in England and Europe, rape seed was fed to cows, pigs and sheep who later went blind and began attacking people. There were no further attacks after the rape seed was eliminated from the diet. Canola oil contains large amounts of "isothiocyanates" - cyanide-containing compounds. Cyanide inhibits mitochondrial production of adenosine triphosphate(ATP), which is the energy molecule that fuels the mitochondria. ATP energy powers the body and keeps us healthy and young. Canola oil is also high in glycosides that cause serious problems by blocking enzyme function and deprive us of our life force. Glycosides interfere with the biochemistry of humans and animals. Their presence in rattlesnake venom inhibits muscle enzymes and causes instant immobilization of the victim. Canola Oil, HIV, and AIDS Soy and canola oil glycosides also depress the immune system - the T cells - to go into a stupor and fall asleep on the job. These oils alter the bioelectric "terrain" and promote disease. In orthodox cancer research, renowned cancer researchers, among them, Nobel Prize winner, V. Euler of Stockholm, wrote and published a book in 1949 in which they concluded that if the numerous and diverse symptoms associated with various types of cancer were reduced to one common denominator, it would be that "the fat lacks the ability to integrate in the living tissue". "Trans-Fatty acid is the name of the fat that lacks this ability - it is bad fat.

Salt -

Also listed as Sodium Chloride. A colorless or white crystalline solid, chiefly sodium chloride, used extensively in ground or granulated form as a food seasoning and preservative. May also appear in ingredient list as "Iodized Salt" (iodine supplement added), "Sea Salt" (as opposed to salt mined from underground deposits) or "Sodium Chloride" (chemical expression). It is often used to cover up rancid meat and fat. While salt is a necessary mineral, it is also generally present in sufficient quantities in the ingredients pet foods include. Just like for humans, too much sodium intake is unhealthy for animals.Too much salt can cause kidney and heart disease, hypertension -- It is also used to encourage pets to drink more. In poor quality foods it is often used in large amounts to add flavor and make the food more interesting. Salt in your pet food should be listed on the label, although not all labels show you the exact percentages. Look for hidden salt -- anything that has "sodium" in the ingredient name is a type of salt. Added salts should be avoided as much as possible.

Ascorbic Acid -

Ascorbic acid is also known as vitamin C, Ester-C, calcium ascorbate, ascorbate, and stabilized vitamin C. It's a naturally occurring organic compound with antioxidant properties. Vitamin c is most commonly found in fruit and vegetable matter, however some cuts of meats, especially the organ Liver can contain Vitamin C. Other places Vitamin C can be found: Oysters, Cod roe, brain, adrenal glands, heart & tongue. Since Vitamin C cannot be made by a ferret's body, it must be supplemented by a balanced diet or if needed, by tablet. Ascorbic acid is a natural preservative and can extend the shelf life to the food product. It also provides pets with this essential vitamin, over and above that which is provided by the food stuffs alone. Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin and therefeor is classed as a harmless vitamin as any excess vitamin c is simply passed in the urine and is not stored in the body to cause a toxic build up. 

Vitamin A (supplement) -

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in many foods. Vitamin A is important for normal vision, the immune system, and reproduction. Vitamin A also helps the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs work properly. There are two different types of vitamin A. The first type, preformed vitamin A, is found in meat (Especially Liver), poultry, fish, and dairy products. The second type, provitamin A, is found in fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based products. The most common type of provitamin A in foods and dietary supplementsis beta-carotene. Since Vitamin A is fat soluble, it can easily cause an overdose as it builds up over time if not given some breaks in between doses. A ferret eating a natural diet would be getting all the vitamin needs so supplementation isn't necessary unless there is a medical reason (seek vet assistance beforehand). Vitamin A is destroyed when cooked at temps of 40 degrees centigrade or more so hence the supplementation in kibbles or treats which are cooked.

D-Activated Animal Sterol (Source Of Vitamin D3) -

Sterols are a group of mostly unsaturated solid alcohols of the steroid group. Examples would be cholesterol and ergosterol. They are present in the fatty tissues of animals and fatty parts of plants. Sterol is converted into vitamin D3 on the skin's surface under sufficient exposure to UV radiation, where ultraviolet light activates the compound 7-dehydrocholesterol. Sterols from animal sources are activated by exposure to UV radiation in an industrial process and used as a vitamin D supplement. It is basically a laboratory made ingredient which is suppose to duplicate the end product of what naturally happens if animals go outside on a sunny day and their skin synthesizes vitamin D from exposure to sunlight.

Natural-Source Vitamin E Supplement -

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble nutrient found in many foods. Vitamin E originates from plants. It is found in vegetable oils such as corn, olive, palm, peanut and cotton-seed oils. Animals acquire their vitamin E from plants directly, or by eating other animals that have derived their vitamin E from plants and stored it in their liver, muscles and fat. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin like A, D and K. Vitamin E from natural (food) sources is commonly listed as "d-alpha-tocopherol" on food packaging and supplement labels. Synthetic (laboratory-made) vitamin E is commonly listed as "dl-alpha-tocopherol." The natural form is more potent. For example, 100 IU of natural vitamin E is equal to about 150 IU of the synthetic form.

Niacin -

Niacin, a very common pet food ingredient, one of the B-vitamins. It is an essential vitamin that occurs naturally in many foods, including organ meat like liver, beef, fish, poultry, eggs, and legumes. The most common name variations for Niacin include Vitamin B-3 and nicotinic acid. Niacin helps with skin and coat health (due to its involvement in fatty acid synthesis). It is needed for the body to break down sugars and fats into energy. Niacin is essential for a healthy nervous system and skin. It helps with the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Niacin also supports a healthy gastrointestinal system. Niacin is crucial for a healthy body. A niacin deficiency can cause weight loss, inflammation around the mouth and throat, black tongue, salivation, blood in the saliva and bloody diarrhea and stomach ulcers. Like most things, too much Niacin can cause some problems. Common issues from over consumption include skin flushing and itching, dry skin, upset stomach. Niacin is often used to help with high cholesterol in humans. Niacin is sometimes used to reduce the symptoms of arthritis in humans as well. Niacin was the third B vitamin to be identified as a dietary essential.

Calcium Pantothenate -

A very wide used ingredient in pet food, Also known as Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin B-5 and Pantothenate.

Pantothenic acid is a water-soluble vitamin and, for many animals, an essential nutrient. Animals require pantothenic acid to synthesize and metabolize proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Pantothenic acid is added to pet foods in order to assist in vitamin metabolism and help in the conversation of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates into energy for the body. Pantothenic acid helps the body metabolize macro nutrients. It also can enhance stamina, and is involved in the production of neurotransmitters. Pantothenic acid may help prevent and treat depression and anxiety and is useful for normal function of the intestinal tract.

Pantothenic acid deficiency causes fatigue, nausea, and can cause headaches in people. There are no known specific disease conditions related to Pantothenic acid in pets. Sources of pantothenic acid include beef, brewer’s yeast, eggs, vegetables, organ meats (especially liver and heart), rice and wheat bran, mushroom, saltwater fish, and whole wheat. Pantothenic acid, vitamin B5, is known as the anti-stress vitamin since it is involved in the production of adrenal hormones and antibodies produced by the body’s white blood cells.

Want to feed a natural healthy treat and don't have a lot of money to spend but have time to spend? Try making your own. It's simple and quite easy. All you need is meat, a few other things and a couple of weeks to spare, oh and along with freezer space. Click Here to Read how you can make your own treats.