Score
F

Nature's Variety Instinct Original Grain-Free Duck

Name: Nature's Variety Instinct Original Grain-Free Duck
Brand: Nature's Variety

Cat Kibble

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Dangerous for ferrets - Read more here

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Nature's Variety produces quality pet foods, but most of their kibbles contain peas. Only the "Ultimate Protein" series is safe for ferrets.

Kibble – Read about different food types here
Contains peas – 9th ingredient. Score without peas: B
4 Protein Sources – Duck, turkey, chicken, and fish.
High Meat Percentage – most of the top ingredients are meat-based.
Middle Quality Meat – the meat ingredients are a mixture of pure and by-products.
Good Protein-to-Fat Ratio – 1.74 to 1.
Has Starches – Linked to insulinoma.
No Sugars or Carcinogens

What to do if your ferret is currently eating this

Read why peas are dangerous for ferrets.
Find an alternative food as soon as possible.
Wean them onto the new food. Mix the two foods 50-50 until you notice them eating the new food. Then gradually reduce the amount of the old food until it is completely replaced.
- If your ferret is especially picky, try Marshall food. It's not the healthiest, but most ferrets ate it when they were kits and will remember it. They can switch to this temporarily until you find a healthier food.
- Dietary changes can cause diarrhea. As long as your ferret is eating and drinking, it's nothing to worry about. If they start to become lethargic or lose weight, take them to your vet. Otherwise it should clear up on its own.
Watch for signs of straining to urinate, or brown urine. If this happens, this is an EMERGENCY. For male ferrets especially, bladder stones can easily get stuck in their tiny urethras.
- If they are unable to pee, it CANNOT wait until the next morning or until your vet opens. You need to rush them to an emergency vet or they will die. This is not fear-mongering, it's a fact.
- If they are straining but some urine is coming out, then it can wait until your vet opens. But they will be in pain and you will need to continue to monitor them.
To be completely safe, take your ferrets to the vet to get them X-rayed after they've switched diets.

Ingredients

Made by Andrew Weber (aka "ferretpapa"), health director at the Greater Chicago Ferret Association. Read why I created this website and my mission statement.

Nature's Variety Instinct Original Grain-Free Duck Kibble for ferrets

We only link to quality products.
Read our mission statement

Available in

🇺🇸 United States

Guaranteed Analysis

Min. Protein %	40%
Min. Fat %	23%
Protein to Fat Ratio	1.74 : 1
Max. Fiber %	3%
Max. Moisture %	9%
Max. Ash %	–

Score Breakdown

Total	0
Protein 40%	+20
Fat 23%	+11.5
Low Fruit/Veggie Content	+2
Ingredients	+29.1
Kibble capped at B grade	-14
Contains Peas	-48.6

Last updated: Mar 27, 2023 (1 year ago)

Source: instinctpetfood.com

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Nature's Variety Instinct Original Grain-Free Duck Alternatives

These are NOT RECOMMENDATIONS, these are just the most similar duck-based kibbles.

If Nature's Variety Instinct Original Grain-Free Duck is out of stock you could try one of these instead.
Read about how these are determined and my thoughts on switching diets here.

Nature's Variety Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Duck

Blue Wilderness Adult Duck

Hill's Prescription Diet d/d Feline Duck & Green Pea Formula

Acana Grasslands

Comments

The "Nature's Variety" name, logo, product names, and images are trademarks or registered trademarks of Nature's Variety. Nature's Variety is not affiliated with Ferret Love.

Dark Green	Pure meat source (1st - 5th ingredient)
Light Green	Pure meat source (6th ingredient +)
Green Outline	Meat by-product
Orange	Fruit / Grain / Vegetable / Dairy (1st - 5th ingredient)
Orange Outline	Fruit / Grain / Vegetable / Dairy (oil or 6th ingredient +)
Red	Sugar
Red	Peas
Blue Outline	Vitamin / Mineral / Amino Acid / Probiotic
Blue Dashed Outline	Preservative / Coloring