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Post by katt on Jun 24, 2011 15:21:47 GMT -5
Updates? How are they all doing? Do you have more variety going? I want you to start planning a week's menu. You are really close to graduating. Your menu should provide them with the proper balance of 10-15% bone, 10% organ (half of which should be liver), 75-80% muscle meat (of which heart should be included, and gizzards) and a good variety of proteins. Post with what you have and can feed them now and we will continue to work on and improve it. Also, I would like to see a full list of every food they are currently eating. How is Wolfie doing?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2011 13:24:23 GMT -5
Sorry I haven't responded yet, things are still busy... But here I go! Updates? How are they all doing? Do you have more variety going?They seem to be doing well, I don't add water anymore and if I leave it in their cage they will eat it all up. I want you to start planning a week's menu. You are really close to graduating. Your menu should provide them with the proper balance of 10-15% bone, 10% organ (half of which should be liver), 75-80% muscle meat (of which heart should be included, and gizzards) and a good variety of proteins.Okay, let's see. I have pork, chicken, chicken liver, beef heart, and some bone right now. I usually give them a different protein each day, I 've been adding bone in to almost every meal, once-twice a week they get heart, and once a week they get liver. I was going to get some rabbit but it was SO expensive that I just passed it up for now and I should be heading to the store again for their third protein. The only thing I cannot find is another organ, I have asked and looked almost every where, no one has any other than heart and liver. Have any suggestions? How is Wolfie doing?Wolfie seems to be adding on a teeny bit of weight. He likes it when I am right there while he eats or if I hold his plate up, as if I was feeding from my hands. He is doing better though
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Post by katt on Jun 27, 2011 2:50:01 GMT -5
Hey no worries. I know what it's like to be busy. This thread has some ideas for organs: www.holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=meat&action=display&thread=2610Check Asian markets, Halal meat markets (African markets), other ethnic markets, and butchers. Ask if anyone can save scraps or special order for you. The organs I usually find are: beef liver pork liver pork kidney chicken liver Then when I get whole ducks and rabbits from the Asian market they have the organs in them still. Look around too for a pet store that carries commercially ground raw meats. These are a GREAT way to add variety as they often have proteins that you won't find in the store, and they usually have organ, heart, and bones ground into them (but not always so be sure to check). I can get commercial ground: pheasant, rabbit, chicken (Koda can't eat this), turkey, beef (also a no-no for Koda), bison, quail, tripe. If you still have no luck, then there are other routes we can take. There are some places online where you can order commercially ground organ meat patties and such, and Worst case scenario, there are supplements that can help fill in the gaps but that is a last resort. OK for variety here are some ideas. Pretty much any meat you can get your hands on is ok for them: chicken turkey pork beef bison (buffalo) rabbit duck pheasant quail veal and game meats rodent goose lamb goat fish Start trying to add in as many new meats as you can find. The more variety the better! Also, seeing as how it is unrealistic to keep an entire farm in your freezer start just trying to locate new meats so that you have an idea of what you have access to, and where you can find what. Where did you find the rabbit? I pay about $20 if I remember correctly for a good sized adult rabbit at our local Asian market. It is skinned and it's head is chopped off, but all of the organs are intact so it is a pretty balanced meal. Some "parts" that are good to have of all of the above animals: heart (is a muscle meat but vital for the taurine) liver kidney spleen tongue (is a muscle meat) brain (VERY nutritious organ meat) gizzards (is a muscle meat - great for cleaning teeth) feet (good bone source - i.e. for a "bone-in" mean you could feet pork chops and chicken feet) necks (also a good bone source) ribs (pork ribs have edible bones - usually that is right on the line of thickest bones they can eat, some ferrets can handle pork ribs other can't, or at least don't, eat the bones, but they can often still get the marrow out depending on the cut) For weight gain, look around for some pork side, pork belly (not stomach, but the meat), or uncured bacon. It is all essentially the same thing - very fatty pieces of pork. Duck is also high in fat. In some places Duck is seasonal, but I find that my Asian market carries it year round. You might want to add a little of these to Wolfie's diet to help give him a little weight gain boost. I am glad he is doing better. I think he just likes the extra love from mommy. Spoiled boy! Lard is an option as well. Right now you have them eating the stuff they need. Now we need to get in the variety, and the balance. You are making some good progress! How are they doing with the bones? Have you been able to crush them less (are they eating them whole yet)? As a side note - I always crack the larger bones for my boys, at least once or twice in the thick part to give them starting point.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2011 19:48:48 GMT -5
Wow, very informative, thank you Katt. I actually found a different meat in the store, lamb! I can't wait to try it out on them.
I think they are doing well on the bones, I haven't crushed them less yet because Wolfie and Stella still need a little more time but Nala is doing really well at it!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2011 19:33:27 GMT -5
Hey Katt, As of right now I don't have any updates on their progress, they're still doing well though. Oh, wait, I have a little update, Wolfie has gotten a little fatter! That is it. I should be posting pretty soon though, I can feel an update coming up
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Post by katt on Jul 1, 2011 14:19:45 GMT -5
Yay Wolfie! I am glad to hear that he is putting on weight! How is the search for organs coming?
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Post by katt on Jul 2, 2011 12:55:40 GMT -5
Just want to let you know I will be out of town for the weekend with no internet access. I will be back Monday night, so the only day I won't have access really is tomorrow (Sunday). I'll check back in here tonight too if you have any questions.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2011 15:36:27 GMT -5
Sounds good, I hope you have fun on your weekend! I bought some lamb, pork heart, and chicken feet yesterday. I fed it to them and they seemed to like it like all the other meats I give them, but maybe not as much as chicken and beef. But Wolfie loved the chicken feet, he was nom nom nommin' on it, it was so cute! But today Wolfie almost crashed. They had some unsupervised playtime today and when I came back I saw that he was limp on his left side. He already had his medication and didn't see any throw up any where so I was thinking that he didn't have enough protein so I started feeding more of his breakfast. I fed him until he absolutely refused it and it seemed to work. He is sleeping now and seems to be stabilizing again. Have a Happy Fourth!
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Post by katt on Jul 2, 2011 20:11:25 GMT -5
Lamb I find is a tough one. Koda used to eat it fine, then one day decided he was done and would not touch it. He won't eat it now. Whoch sucks because it's one meat he does REALLY well on with his IBD. I know of other ferrets who did the same thing, some who will only eat certain cuts, some who won't eat it at all, and some who only eat it on Tuesdays. haha Stinky brats! So it's good they are liking it (really good) but not surprising that they don't like it as much as the other meats. Can you find turkey? I'd try that next as turkey necks are a Great source of bone. And YAY to the pork heart. Now that they will eat the heart try to incorporate it as a main part of the meal at least once or twice a week. How's the search for organs coming? I'm sorry Wolfie crashed. Poor little guy. Insulinoma is such a nasty disease. I'm glad he has such a great mommy to care for him though! I'd keep feeding him by hand if you can to make sure he is eating enough. Also, I'm not sure if this is an option or if you think it might help but would you be able to feed him 4 times a day? So like take him out for 2 midday snacks instead of the current one? Keep his blood sugar a little more constant through the day... *hugs*
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2011 20:32:42 GMT -5
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Post by katt on Jul 5, 2011 15:18:37 GMT -5
Haha, I can't believe how picky they are! I mean come on, it is lamb for crying out loud, it is the best of the best! Well almost I'll get some turkey necks when I'm off to the store. I still can't find any organ except for liver, I think I might just have to order them from somewhere :/I know right? Silly things. Check out Hare Today for ordering organs. Also look/call around local pet stores and ask if they carry any commercially ground raw, as that often contains organs in the mix. I know there are other places out there where you can order raw meats, but I will have to look for them. www.hare-today.com/ Thank you, I'm trying my best. And if you think he would be better with four meals then maybe I'll start doing that, I know that he'll need more protein as his condition progresses and maybe it is time to amp it up some :/ I'll see how he does. You have been so much help and I really appreciate it. I'm glad I'm not in this alone. I will double check on more feedings, but I think it could help. And you really are doing a great job. He is lucky to have such a devoted ferrent. I hope you have a great Fourth and congratulations on Kodirt!(I think I spelled his name wrong) He's adorable! hehe Thanks! ;D I had fun, I will have to post pictures soon. Did you do anything fun?
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Post by katt on Jul 5, 2011 19:06:34 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2011 22:59:42 GMT -5
hehe Thanks! I had fun, I will have to post pictures soon. Did you do anything fun?Oh, that is wonderful! I had a pretty good day as well. Went up to the parade, came back for a family BBQ, went to the rodeo, then immediately went to the firework finale afterwards. Needless to say, I was SO TIRED! But I had fun And sounds good. Wolfie is doing better, feeding him more meals a day seems to really help, whenever I have time I feed him extra. I have a feeling that we are going to have to up his meds pretty soon though, even with the extra meals he isn't his full self, I should make another appointment soon. I will also take a look at Hare-Today, I really need those other organs!
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Post by katt on Jul 7, 2011 15:17:09 GMT -5
Sounds like a fun weekend! We almsot went to the rodeo (would have been fun) but I was enjoying basking in the sun by the ocean too much. It would have been interesting though, I have never been to a rodeo... I am glad Wolfie is doing better. But I wish he was doing even better than better. Keep feeding him frequent meals and monitoring his BG. Let me know if/when you end up needing to up the meds. Here in this board are some threads about providers of raw foods, it is worth looking into. Also, I forget what your position on whole prey was, but that is something to consider. Whole prey is a "complete" meal and would include the organ and heart. www.holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=rawwholepreyprovI also started this thread, so hopefully we will get some good recommendations here! www.holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=meat&thread=2775
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2011 15:10:13 GMT -5
Wow, the ocean sounds lovely, I haven't been there in years! And rodeo's are SO much fun! I wish he was doing better too but life must go on and I'm watching him like a hawk And thank you for that link, I'll be checking back there often. ALSO! Nala had a breakthrough yesterday evening! They were basically finished eating and then I brought in part of a chicken foot for them to try out and Nala was mauling it, she just kept gnawing and gnawing, I am so proud!
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