Seeking feedback on homemade ferretone and kibble diet.

[Deleted]

Hello!

I've been quietly lurking on the forums studying up on how to make my darling carpet sharks as healthy as possible while on a kibble diet. Due to funding, time, and housing regulations, I have not been able to feed my ferrets a raw diet, so please don't judge me for feeding them kibble. 

Due to EVO's recent recall and Wysong's laxative formula, I found the next best thing to be Orijen grain-free cat food. I  also supplement Mizuri carnivore supplement for calcium (my vet recommended this) and a taurine capsule twice a week. What are your thoughts on this mix? Any recommendations?

As for oils: My vet recommended that I give my fuzzies 'sunshine factor' oil. The only ingredients listed were red palm fruit oil and canola oil. I got to thinking that I could perhaps make a healthier version of ferretone for treats.

My thoughts were to use half red fruit palm oil and EVOO, and to add a few teaspoons of salmon oil and vitamin E oil. I've read about the benefits of salmon oil, but I'm still paranoid of giving them too much vitamin A without realizing it.  Does this seem like a good idea? 

Thank you for anyone taking the time to provide feedback. I appreciate you for taking the time to share your wisdom with me!

-DeAg

[Deleted]

I'm just curious why the extra supplements I guess? Orijen is pretty balanced as far as kibble goes. I've fed it for years with no problems & no supplements needed other than oil, and as for that, I just use a straight fish oil or seal oil every couple days.

[Deleted]

I've only recently switched to Orijen (right after the EVO recall. I'm still in the process of getting their tummies used to it).

Previously I was feeding them half raw meat and half kibble. My vet was concerned that they may not be getting enough calcium and then prescribed the sunshine oil for their itchy skin, as they scratch quite a bit (no fleas or rashes though). I went on vacation for a week and had my in-laws look after them, but when I returned they refused to eat meat at all. It would just go stale in the dish. Not sure what they did, but despite my efforts, they won't even nibble on it anymore even if I put ferretone on it. So now they're on straight kibble and I wanted to be sure that they're getting everything they need.

[Deleted]

I won't judge you for feeding kibble.

Everyone on the forum only wants to help make your ferret healthy and happy. If I can give you any info that helps your little fellow or point you in a direction to learn more, than I'm happy.

Here is a link to a thread discussing homemade Ferretone and different oils:

holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/4456

You said that you are or were feeding a mix of raw and kibble.

You will want to separate kibble from raw. Kibble digests at a different rate than raw, and can cause upset tummies. You may already know this, but just in case you didn't, it's good to know.


The argument for kibble is that it is nutritionally correct. So, your kibble should provide Calcium thru bone. Look at your ingredients and see where it is on the ingredient list.

The downside of kibble is that it must have added fillers so that the meat will hold it's shape
Ferrets are obligate carnivores and their little bodies are not designed to process these fillers.
They can't process fruits/grains and veggies.
Not everyone wants to take on a raw diet, whole prey or even commercial grinds. So, learning more about finding a good kibble will help:

Orijen is a good quality kibble. Most kibble feeders will also incorporate another good kibble into their primary kibble. That way if there is a product recall or a product change, you have a second kibble that your finicky ferret is already use to.

Have you seen the More Dooks Kibble Chart? It provides some good info:
moredooks.herobo.com/search.php?chart=ferret

What raw meat are you offering and how much or often do they have the raw meat?

Ferrets imprint on their food sometime around six months to a year of age. Any change in food, whether it's raw or kibble involves some persuasion to make them understand that this new food is food.

I tried to find this Sunshine Factor Oil online. Is this the product:
www.harrisonsbirdfoods.com/rc/ssf.pdf

The two ingredients are Red Fruit Palm Oil and Canola Oil. Those are vegetable based oils, and I don't see how they will help any and the product is expensive.

Omega 3's will help with itching. The best sources are eggs and fish oil. A good product is the Wild Grizzly oil. You can order that from Amazon.

Stay away from Cod Liver oil. As you know, too much vitamin A can build up in their systems.

Eggs provide Omega 3's and one egg a week, per ferret can help.

Ferrets are naturally itchy creatures. Bathing isn't necessary but if you are especially worried, you could do a collodial oatmeal bath.

Don't ever worry about anyone here judging you. This is a kind and gentle Forum. You may find that a Ferrent will offer advice or suggestions in a no nonsense manner, but all advice and suggestions come from a place meant to help you with your ferret.

[Deleted]

Poncesmom gave very good advice. No judgement here. I was a member of this forum for 1 year before going to raw, and nobody judged me or gave me a hard time about it not once. They let me decide at my own pace with my own reasons, everyone here is great and amazing people.

Orijen typically is the best kibble that is also affordable. I'd say Wysong Archetypal is higher, but it's very expensive. Before switching to raw just 3 mo ago mine ate Wellness Core, it was the best I could afford. Although now I spend less feeding raw, lol.

[raynebc]

Archetypal isn't kibble though, it's FDR (freeze dried raw food). FDR makes a great kibble mixer (mix it in dry), but it is expensive.

[Deleted]

@deag, I should mention that fish oil will give you looser and smellier poops.
Try to limit any oils to 1/2 tsp every 3 days, per ferret.

[Deleted]

Thank you everyone for your advice and recommendations!

Currently I have them on a mix of Orijen grain-free for cats/kittens and the regional red with Wysong archetypal 2 and occasionally the FDR rabbit (I use it as a gravy since they won't touch it otherwise).

I mix in some Mizuri calcium and taurine once a week and they get a mix of EVOO and Salmon Oil twice a week. I've already noticed a difference in their coats (much softer and fluffier) and they are not scratching as much.

Thank you for linking me to the charts and pages (I had tried to find the oils page earlier but I figured I was looking in the wrong area).

Thank you all again!

[Deleted]

Sounds like you're doing well. The change in their fur seems to happen pretty quickly. They get such soft and silky fur. Then you see a little one in a pet store and their fur looks so sad and coarse.

Sometimes the easiest way to search on the forum is to type into your windows browser, as an example
Holistic Ferret Forum homemade ferretone.
That will bring up all the threads and you can look thru them.