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Post by katt on Feb 1, 2011 4:44:28 GMT -5
Original Thread: holisticferret.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=newbie&action=display&thread=6769Name:Rah (AKA Sarah) HF Forum Username: RahRah 1. Where did you first learn about natural diets for ferrets? -The internet - My gosh its full of information! 2. Please describe the type of diet you would like assistance in switching your ferret(s) to. Be sure to include if you are interested in feeding whole prey (live or frozen-thawed) and if you are wanting to FULLY switch to a natural diet or PARTIALLY. If you are unsure what kind of diet you want to put your ferrets on, please express that and we can help you find the best type of natural diet for your ferret. -I would ideally like to put them on a whole prey diet. I'm just not sure how easy that would be for me to personally watch >_< So I think a raw diet is where I want to be... haha
3. Why are you interested in switching your ferrets to a natural diet? -Because everything that I read says its healthier for my fuzzies, and I want whats best for them.
4. Do you understand that switching your ferret to a natural diet can be a lengthy, arduous process? Its not an overnight switch. It can be a commitment of several weeks or even months. Your HF Mentor will be more then happy to assist you in switchng your ferret(s) to a natural diet, but you need to be equally as commited. If you aren't willing to tough out a potentially lengthy switching process, or if you have major life changes approaching (baby on the way, moving, starting school, getting married/divorced, etc) then it might be a better idea to wait on switching your ferret's diet until you have more time. Are you willing to make the commitment? -Definently, I'm ready and patient to handle everything involved.
5. How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names? Ages? Genders? Do they have any health problems? Are they overweight? Underweight? -I have two ferrets Calvin is just over a year old, and he is slightly overweight. He is also deaf. Martin is a little under a year old and he has no problems what so ever, he's packed full of energy and curiousity!
6. What diet do you currently feed your ferrets? (Please include all treats, supplements, etc) -They are currently eating EVO Ferrt food. As for treats and supplements, they don't really like much haha they like ferretone, purebites and thats about the extent of it..
7. Have you ever tried to switch your ferrets to a natural diet in the past? If yes, what happened? -No I have not.
8. What additional information about yourself or your ferrets would you like to share? -Well, I'm 19 years old and live just outside Vancouver Canada, I work at a small local pet supply store, and in the fall will be attending John Casablancas institute to become a make-up artist. Along with my fuzzies I have a chihuahua named Keegan, and a foster cat named Lucas =]
9. How often during the week do you have access to a computer? -I have my laptop with me almost 24/7. Only time I'm not available is when I'm at work!
10. Please post a picture of each of your ferrets (if possible). -Gladly =]
Hi and welcome to the mentoring program. In a little while your mentor (Hurricanekatt) will introduce herself and you can get started on a new adventure in natural ferret care and diets. Please remember to post regularly (daily or as per arranged with your mentor) so that your mentor can assist you move along safely in this adventure. If you experience computer difficulties or are going to be away, please notify your mentor and most of all relax and have fun . Your mentor is here to help you on this journey. ciao
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Post by katt on Feb 1, 2011 4:44:42 GMT -5
Hi! Here's just a little about me... Name: Katt HF Screen Name: HurricaneKatt Location: Anchorage, Alaska About Me: My favorite hobby is... studying. Just kidding. I like to do different types of art including drawing and painting. I recently started making dream catchers too. I enjoy horseback riding, playing with my critters, and enjoying time with my boyfriend. And the critters of course! I am a premed student in Alaska graduating this May 2011 (weew! SO close! lol) with a Biology degree. I’ll be taking a year off to enjoy myself, work on my application, and visit Africa before applying for Medical School in the next round. I became a mentor because...I really like helping people (hence the whole wanting to be a doctor thing ) and animals. I am a strong supporter of a natural diet and probably bore most people that I meet to death ranting about raw diet and why it is the best way to go…this way I can rant to someone who actually cares! About My Ferrets: Koda – male, Real Canadian, just over a year old (he was about 8 weeks old when I bought him in December 2009), Sable. I gave him raw the second he came home and neither of us has ever looked back. He is a real trouble maker and is pretty well known around the forums as such. He is my first, and so far only, ferret and though I have not had him long he has forced me to learn and learn FAST! He has managed to eat several rubber objects (had to have surgery!), and is constantly finding new trouble to get into. Loves digging the carpet up, has a very serious oral fixation (if his mouth can stretch wide enough for his teeth to touch it – he will chew it), will rearrange the room to reach things, has learned how to levitate, and is an all around little monster. He is also very strongly bonded to my boyfriend and I, and can be a huge love bug. When the endless energy is finally burned off, he will curl up in our laps, give us kisses, and fall asleep. As you can tell, I have this problem where I can’t stop talking about him or taking pictures of him… We recently discovered that he has IBD and I am actually working with Mustelidmusk on adjusting his diet to keep his belly aches under control. Right now it is still hit and miss. Kneai: I JUST brought Kenai home towards the end of November. He is already eating 100% raw diet, whole prey, franken prey, meaty bones you name it! He was a tiny little bag of bones when I brought him home, but he eats like a pig and grows like a weed! He is already about as big as Koda! And definitely a littleporker - he can barely make it out of his rice box because he is so bottom heavy. lmao He is a...mutt I guess. He's like half silver, half...something. I think he would technically qualify as a silver mitt - I am hoping he lightens up a bit as he grows. haha He loves, LOVES toys but is Just beginning to figure out the whole stashing thing. Normally, he just runs around the room in random circles carrying his toys around. He is a loveable, goofy little guy and has been helping to keep Koda company and burn off each others energy! He's definitely a little spaz - I though Koda was until I got Kenai! About My Natural Feeding Experience: I've been feeding raw since December 2009 when I brought Koda home. Thanks to this forum, I was ready for a fuzzball to come home with my freezer stocked with meats! I gave him a raw chicken wing his first night home and that was the end of that! He is fed frankenprey, f/t roents, and live prey. Right now his diet is somewhat restricted because of his IBD, but we are working on adding different meats back into his diet one at a time. IT is looking more and more though like he;'ll have to eat mainly commercial ground as it's easier on his belly. I still consider myself fairly new to raw diets compared to a lot of the other people on this forum who have been doing this for years. However, I have been reading and learning since before I brought Koda home. I am always on the forum, and various websites trying to learn more about ferrets in general, and especially raw diet. Koda is healthy, energetic, has super soft fur, and smells so good that people regularly comment, asking me what perfume or spray I sprayed him with! I love telling them: Thanks to a raw diet - he just smells that good naturally! Kenai just started on raw as of 2 months ago now and I am starting to see some of the benefits of the good diet in him too, but he still has some kibble-fur to shed out of. When he first came home he had been eating Marshall's kibble and his poop smelled...awful doesn't even come close to describing it! Now he smells much better and is improving each day. His coat is already much softer and less scruffy, and he is growing and putting on meat like a champ! Type of Mentor: In Training! I feed frankenprey, raw meats, bone-in meats, ground meats, frozen/thawed rodents, live prey, and recently added (for treats and supplemental) freeze dried raw. I have never fed kibble so I can’t help a ton there on picking a good kibble… but hopefully we can get rid of it entirely anyways. My Specialty: Trouble makers! Especially only ferrets, and kits. I am excited to work with someone with 2 ferrets! I can't wait to get started with your boys! They are both super adorable. Martin looks a lot like my Koda, and Calvin is soo cute - I love deafies. One day I'd like to have one.
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Post by katt on Feb 1, 2011 4:53:03 GMT -5
Katt: Sorry for the disappearance - I had a few tests today I was studying madly for. Aww I can't wait to see her! Go ahead and put her straight on what the boys are eating, maybe with some pumpkin to help her poop but she should have no issue switching cold turkey at only 10 weeks. Feed her what you feed the boys and see how she does. Have you found any other sources of liver, and perhaps kidney? I forgot if you mentioned that or not. Also, go ahead now and start trying other meats and bones. If you can find some Cornish Game Hen, and Turkey neck those are good to try. ******************** RahRah: I haven't tried any other livers or anything yet I got paid today, so I'll probably take a trip to the grocery story tomorrow night I'm bringing home the baby (who is to be named Zoey) tonight! I'll feed the boys when she gets here, and I'll let them eat together How often should they be getting organs and such? I'm not too sure about proportions yet, or all that stuff
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Post by katt on Feb 1, 2011 4:58:06 GMT -5
Yaaay! Babies! I expect a LOT of pictures! As for portions, the bone should be about 10% (10-15%), organ 10%, (with half of that being liver), and the muscle meat (muscle, gizzard, heart, etc) the remaining 80% The should be getting bone Almost every day - depending on how you portion each meal - with a few days a week with some liver, and a day or two with just muscle.
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Post by rahrah on Feb 1, 2011 11:44:15 GMT -5
Oookay! They've been doing so well Calvin loves his liver haha Martin is being such a little trooper, I'll give him a whole chicken wing and he just starts at it, I heard him breaking bones yesterday morning! ;D So far Zoey seems a little bit unsure of the raw food, she nibbled at a bit last night, but for all I know she ate right before I took her home. So we will see this morning when they get breakfast how she does for sure! I'll post pictures of her soon! I just gotta get my good camera out and catch her when she isn't moving too much haha
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Post by katt on Feb 1, 2011 13:38:24 GMT -5
Oookay! They've been doing so well Calvin loves his liver haha Martin is being such a little trooper, I'll give him a whole chicken wing and he just starts at it, I heard him breaking bones yesterday morning! ;D So far Zoey seems a little bit unsure of the raw food, she nibbled at a bit last night, but for all I know she ate right before I took her home. So we will see this morning when they get breakfast how she does for sure! I'll post pictures of her soon! I just gotta get my good camera out and catch her when she isn't moving too much haha Awww Good boys! If she was nibbling that is good. Go ahead and make some soupies. Get her to taste it, then put it on a chunk, a teeeeny chunk, and let her eat that. Then a bigger chunk. Kenai was a little resistant at first, but by doing that I basically did the entire "switching process" that we have gone through with the boys, over one night/day. Koda took to it automatically. If she will eat it on her own, then great! But if not, just make a tiny bit of soup for her and pour it over the chunks. Let me know how it goes and if my morning ramblings make sense! haha
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Post by katt on Feb 3, 2011 4:51:23 GMT -5
So...where are those pics?!?!?! How is she doing food wise, and what about the boys?
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Post by rahrah on Feb 3, 2011 23:32:02 GMT -5
Heyaa. Sorry I've been falling behind on my photo duties haha I'll try to take some tonight, things around here have been kind of off from normal- boyfriend and I broke up yesterday, so its just kind of a mess. She's doing really good, she's right into the bowl with the boys and chews away at the chunks of stuff I'm gonna try her with some bone tonight, just about to prepare supper
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Post by rahrah on Feb 4, 2011 4:51:25 GMT -5
Hey so dinner didn't go to well for baby she ate it all and it was looking good And she just started vomitting... I don't know how bad this is...
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Post by katt on Feb 4, 2011 6:15:52 GMT -5
The vomiting could very well just be from her eating too fast, or too much. That is pretty common in ferrets. She is starved of good protein and nutrients after being on cheap pet store kibble - and I assume Marshall's Even worse! Switching Cold Turkey can be a little harder on their bellies, but usually other than a few loose poops kits do just fine going cold turkey. Also, since you just brought her home, it is possible that she has something from the pet store... Just keep an eye on her and see how the next meal goes. If she looks like she is eating kind of fast, or eating a whole bunch, then slow her down. Let the boys eat their foods, and just hand feed her (good bonding too) a little at a time to make her go slow. Feed her a little, then an hour or so later (if you have the free time) feed her a little more. If she STILL seems to have a problem - loose poops are okay, that is normal for a switch - also as a warning I learned female poops will be softer than males anyways because their urethras are closer to their butts PLUS you are switching faster, so they might be really loose for a few days but should start to firm up soon. ANYWAYS, go ahead and get some canned pumpkin and mix some of that in too to give her a little fiber to help move it through her system. If with slower feedings she still has a problem, try some soupies for a day or two, and then try small chunks again. What meat did you offer her? Organs are very rich and might have been a shock to her system after having only eaten kibble the last few months. I am sorry to hear about your bf. That is never fun. Give your fuzz extra snuggles and chase-time. It will help you get through it. They are the world's best Anti-Depressants. (h) Keep me posted! And post some pics!
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Post by rahrah on Feb 4, 2011 23:51:00 GMT -5
I gave them chicken last night no organs. I hand fed her a little this morning, she seems back to normal. They're out runing around at the moment and she's looking good. So I'm guessing she just ate too much too fast. Crazy girl!
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Post by katt on Feb 5, 2011 1:58:30 GMT -5
Oh good - I am very glad to hear that! Just keep it up then and start adding some organs in in tiny amounts at a time say, one meal a day or so. Then maybe move to medium amounts every other day. Build her up to the richness of it. Keep feeding the rest of the foods as your normally would. Go ahead and give her some bone too I bet she would love it. Also, can you please resend me your mailing address? I have your present but I need your address again so I can mail it out (hopefully this week!). Keep me posted and let me know if she has any more trouble. Also, since we both got a little distracted when you can, why don't you go ahead and give me a run down of what you are currently feeding in a week, a full feeding schedule.
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Post by rahrah on Feb 5, 2011 12:32:10 GMT -5
I gave her a little chicken wing last night and she did so great with it. She loved the bone haha I'll try her on a little bit of liver tonight... As for my schedule I don't really have one yet Most days they are eating chicken, a few days they eat turkey and chicken livers and hearts... Sceduling isn't my best ability... And I've had a bit of a hard time getting the boys onto other meats. I have some port trimmings, so I was gonna see if they'd eat those tonight. This morning I gave them turkey and a small chicken liver.
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Post by katt on Feb 5, 2011 13:53:09 GMT -5
In my experience kits really LOVE bones - because they are often teething (even older kits are still teethy/mouthy) and it gives them something to chew on without being destructive. I am glad that she is taking right to it, hopefully she will set a good example for the boys. Kits will usually eat whatever you put in front of them. So if you can get at least her eating a good variety now while she is still in baby mode that might help. Maybe the boys will want the food because she has it if you know what I mean . Ok so here is where we go next. We need to start adding more proteins, and increasing their organ and bone amount and variety a little. Try to mix up the turkey and chicken a little more and let me know how the pork goes. If they seem hesitant, what you can do is make a thick pork soup and use it as gravy over the chicken, then add pork chunks into the chicken and top with gravy, then remove the gravy. If that doesn't work, then we can try a different approach. Another thing is they might really like ground meat as well and that is easy to mix in. So if you can say get some ground pork, and mix it into the chicken pieces they will eat it as they eat the chicken, then you can add more ground pork the next meal, and then pork chunks. See if you can't find some ground beef and give that a try. Let them taste it from your hand first and see if they like it and will eat it on their own, if not then keep trying to hand feed it until they will eat some and mix it into their usual meal like I described above. If - not if, WHEN - they like it we can get them on some beef chunks and add in some beef parts. Beef and chicken parts tend to be the easiest to find so they are good meats to have. I can usually find beef heart and beef liver fore pretty cheap and fairly consistently. And the selection here is pretty bad, so hopefully you can find it relatively easily. If you try the soup method with the pork and the ground method with the beef, that will hopefully give you an idea of which one might work best for new meats in the future. Granted a lot will depend on how they like the particular meat and whether they will just eat it right off the bat (or after being hand fed a few bits). Each meat will be a little different. But, it is good to experiment with different things to see what works best for you and your fuzz. Let me know how it goes or if you have ANY questions. You guys are doing a great job.
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Post by rahrah on Feb 6, 2011 1:40:27 GMT -5
The ground meat part of it shouldn't be hard, I can just grind it myself with my moms mixer! haha I can't believe how handy that thing has been! I'll buy some pork and some beef stuff tomorrow... And I'll try to get a more consistant feeding plan made up I've been soo busy with work (I've worked 12 days in a row!) and I've been bad and just de-thawed the first thing I could get a hold of So tomorrow I'll hit up a grocery store or a butcher, and I'll sit down and try to make a meal plan. And show you to see if it seems workable!
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