Frosty paws ok for ferrets?

Question

Sunday is two of my ferrets birthdays and I'm planning on having a little "party" for all of the little ones. I want to give them a special treat but am very careful with what I let them eat. I checked the ingredients on Frosty Paws dog ice cream and didn't see anything that raised a red flag...but I'm not entirely sure and just wanted to see if anybody else has given their ferrets Frosty Paws or if somebody could double check the ingredients for me. I'm not planning on letting them have much, probably just a couple licks. Thanks!

Ingredients: WATER, DRIED WHEY, SOY FLOUR, ANIMAL FAT (PRESERVED WITH BHA AND BHT), DRIED WHEY PRODUCT, DRIED WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, VEGETABLE FAT, SOY LECITHIN, MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE, MONO-DIGLYCERIDES, CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE, POLYSORBATE 80, POLYSORBATE 60, CALCIUM CARBONATE, CHOLINE CHLORIDE, FERROUS SULFATE, ZINC SULFATE, MANGANESE SULFATE, MAGNESIUM OXIDE, SILICON DIOXIDE, VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENT, VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENT, NIACIN SUPPLEMENT, COPPER SULFATE, CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, RIBOFLAVIN SUPPLEMENT, POTASSIUM IODIDE, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, VITAMIN D3 SUPPLEMENT, VITAMIN B12 SUPPLEMENT, AND FOLIC ACID.

Answer 1

I don't see any 'red flags' (as you put it) either. But I always try to be safe rather than sorry. I would get a new kind of ferret treat. Go to your local Petco or Petsmart and see what they have. Sometimes going to one near you but not the one you usually go to will give you a different selection of goods. I try not to mix treats whenever possible. Dog ice cream is for dog. Hamster treats for hamsters, Ferret treats for ferrets, etc. Again, better safe than sorry. But I really don't see how just a little bit of Frosty Paws could hurt. None of the ingredients seem dangerous.

If you have a vet that you usually take them to, you should call and just ask them real quick .

Answer 2

First; BHT, BHA, and ethoxyquin was already proven to cause cancer in rats. Use to rescue rats and did a lot of research. Although ferrets are lactose intolerant a little regular icecream, or heavy whipping cream would be okay. The heavy whipping cream also is good in a duck soup mixture for sick ferrets. It would be a good idea for them to get use to it.  Just a suggestion.  

Answer 3

first of all all the flour is bad for ferrets. Their digestive systems can not digest it.

Second the BHA and BHT they use to preserve the animal fat is very very bad for ferrets. If i remember reading right in large amounts can be toxic.

PLEASE, PLEASE do NOT give this to your fuzzies.

I own five ferrets and i have rescued six.

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"BHT, BHA, Ethoxyquin

Although not proven toxic, they haven't really proven safe, either.

"While the law requires studies of direct toxicity of these additives and preservatives, most of these additives have not been tested for their effect on each other once ingested. Three commonly used preservatives, BHA, BHT, and EQ, have a proven synergistic effect that may lead to the development of certain types of cancer." (API) "

http://www.destinyink.com/spyral/animals...

Snipped

"The preservative used is also VERY important! Ethoxyquin, BHA & BHT are all preservative that you should avoid."

http://www.paw-talk.net/forums/f20/ferre...

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"Many pet foods use preservatives such as BHT, BHA, and ethoxyquin (to keep fats from becoming rancid). At this time, there are no definitive research studies that show the effects of these preservatives on the health of ferrets. However, your may feel more comfortable avoiding these artificial preservatives in favor of natural preservatives such as Vitamin E and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)."

http://www.texasferret.org/news/199607.s...