Post by katt on Apr 3, 2013 18:40:37 GMT -5
I hate to use some tough love, but right now I am working blindly. I simply don't have the information I need to help you. A raw diet fed improperly can be DANGEROUS. Please copy and paste these questions and answer them as detailed as possible so that I can be of more help and can ensure that they are getting the balance that they need.
1) What size of chunks will Steve eat?
2) How much heart are they EACH getting daily?
3) How much organ are they EACH getting daily?
4) What TYPES of organs are they eating (all liver? Liver and kidney? Other?)
5) How much muscle meat are they EACH getting daily?
6) Have you gotten a gram scale yet? (technically this is a Requirement for signing up for the mentoring program)
7) What meats are they eating so far? (i.e. chicken, beef, pork…)
8) Please list the recipe that you are using to make the soup.
9) Is Sahara getting her organs from the soup (above) that her and Steve are sharing, does she get separate organs in addition to the soup?
10) If she does get separate organs, what kind, how much, how often.
11) Will Sahara eat organ or heart chunks? (have you tried them? Does she refuse them if so?)
12) What supplements are you currently giving? (Please list ALL, how much, and how often)
13) What type of calcium are they currently getting (bone meal, eggshell powder, etc), how much, and how often?
14) Is Sahara eating bone chunks yet? If not, have you tried offering crushed bones yet? If yes, how big?
15) How much soup does Sahara eat vs chunks? Does she eat primarily chunks with a few licks or soup, does she eat just chunks mixed into the soup? Does she eat half and half?
16) How big are the meat chunks that Sahara is eating?
17) Please post an approximate weekly menu of what Sahara is eating right now.
18) Please post an approximate weekly menu of what Steve is eating right now. (if the same soup daily, just say that, if different soups please list them in a menu and indicate the recipes for each type of soup).
19) Did you see my notes about dental care? Soup does not clean teeth. Until Steve is eating larger chunks consistently, he needs to have his teeth brushed at least 1-2 times a week or he will be at a high risk for developing serious dental problems. There are various types of pet toothbrushes and flavored toothpastes on the market, and they are relatively inexpensive. A finger brush is probably going to be easiest.
This is a direct quote from the sign up thread:
I need to be kept updated. I know it can be tough to log in when you get busy and have a lot on your plate, but I really really need you to update me at least every other day. Even if it's just to log in to say "no change." Again I stress that a raw diet done improperly is DANGEROUS as the ferrets can end up with serious nutrition deficiencies. I cannot help you to progress, nor can I help you to ensure that their diet is properly varied and balanced unless I have this information. Answering the questions I posted above will be a good start and will give me the information I need to help guide you through the next steps. Once I have this baseline information updated, I will have a better standing on where you are and not be working blindly. This will make it easier for You too as I won't need to ask as many questions of you each time.
1) What size of chunks will Steve eat?
2) How much heart are they EACH getting daily?
3) How much organ are they EACH getting daily?
4) What TYPES of organs are they eating (all liver? Liver and kidney? Other?)
5) How much muscle meat are they EACH getting daily?
6) Have you gotten a gram scale yet? (technically this is a Requirement for signing up for the mentoring program)
7) What meats are they eating so far? (i.e. chicken, beef, pork…)
8) Please list the recipe that you are using to make the soup.
9) Is Sahara getting her organs from the soup (above) that her and Steve are sharing, does she get separate organs in addition to the soup?
10) If she does get separate organs, what kind, how much, how often.
11) Will Sahara eat organ or heart chunks? (have you tried them? Does she refuse them if so?)
12) What supplements are you currently giving? (Please list ALL, how much, and how often)
13) What type of calcium are they currently getting (bone meal, eggshell powder, etc), how much, and how often?
14) Is Sahara eating bone chunks yet? If not, have you tried offering crushed bones yet? If yes, how big?
15) How much soup does Sahara eat vs chunks? Does she eat primarily chunks with a few licks or soup, does she eat just chunks mixed into the soup? Does she eat half and half?
16) How big are the meat chunks that Sahara is eating?
17) Please post an approximate weekly menu of what Sahara is eating right now.
18) Please post an approximate weekly menu of what Steve is eating right now. (if the same soup daily, just say that, if different soups please list them in a menu and indicate the recipes for each type of soup).
19) Did you see my notes about dental care? Soup does not clean teeth. Until Steve is eating larger chunks consistently, he needs to have his teeth brushed at least 1-2 times a week or he will be at a high risk for developing serious dental problems. There are various types of pet toothbrushes and flavored toothpastes on the market, and they are relatively inexpensive. A finger brush is probably going to be easiest.
This is a direct quote from the sign up thread:
Before being accepted for a mentor, you must have a few things already on hand.
1. a scale for weighing your ferret- preferably in grams.
2. All the makings for a puree soup. This includes chicken(or other meat), liver, heart, and eggshell powder. This you get by rinsing out eggshells, drying them, and then pulverizing them with either a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder(clean, of course ;D )
3. Initial picture of ferret before starting switch.
1. a scale for weighing your ferret- preferably in grams.
2. All the makings for a puree soup. This includes chicken(or other meat), liver, heart, and eggshell powder. This you get by rinsing out eggshells, drying them, and then pulverizing them with either a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder(clean, of course ;D )
3. Initial picture of ferret before starting switch.
Please copy/paste this very short questionnaire into your switching thread every Sunday/Monday.
1. Ferret's name:
2. Ferret's weight:
3. Ferret has eaten "X" amount on average per meal.
4. Stools on various proteins.
5. Activity levels:
6. Weekly menu:
Example would be:
Vincent, 3lbs 2oz(1417g), small chicken wing chopped into 2" pieces, bone and all. Stools good colour and consistency. Played as per normal.
Willow, 1lb 4oz(567g), 2 tbsp commercial raw turkey, hand fed. Stools good colour and consistency. Very hyper when up, playing for 2-3 hours at a time.
Mr. Frodo, 4lb 4oz(1928g), 1/4c pork slivers mixed with soup. Stools slightly loose, somewhat seedy, and pale in colour. Somewhat more tired, plays for 30 minutes, then finds somewhere to sleep. Flat ferreting more often.
Weekly menu was:
Monday: chicken legs
Tuesday: Commercial raw
Wednesday: Soup with pork slivers
Etc. Just write what you actually fed them.
Also, to help us make sure your ferret is doing well during his switch, a picture from above showing his body shape clearly would be appreciated bi-weekly, but is not essential.
You are required to post every second day during the "soup" stage of the transition. From the "sliver" stage, through to large chunks, you will be required to post a minimum of every 3 days. Once you hit the large chunks, once a week will be acceptable.
1. Ferret's name:
2. Ferret's weight:
3. Ferret has eaten "X" amount on average per meal.
4. Stools on various proteins.
5. Activity levels:
6. Weekly menu:
Example would be:
Vincent, 3lbs 2oz(1417g), small chicken wing chopped into 2" pieces, bone and all. Stools good colour and consistency. Played as per normal.
Willow, 1lb 4oz(567g), 2 tbsp commercial raw turkey, hand fed. Stools good colour and consistency. Very hyper when up, playing for 2-3 hours at a time.
Mr. Frodo, 4lb 4oz(1928g), 1/4c pork slivers mixed with soup. Stools slightly loose, somewhat seedy, and pale in colour. Somewhat more tired, plays for 30 minutes, then finds somewhere to sleep. Flat ferreting more often.
Weekly menu was:
Monday: chicken legs
Tuesday: Commercial raw
Wednesday: Soup with pork slivers
Etc. Just write what you actually fed them.
Also, to help us make sure your ferret is doing well during his switch, a picture from above showing his body shape clearly would be appreciated bi-weekly, but is not essential.
You are required to post every second day during the "soup" stage of the transition. From the "sliver" stage, through to large chunks, you will be required to post a minimum of every 3 days. Once you hit the large chunks, once a week will be acceptable.
I need to be kept updated. I know it can be tough to log in when you get busy and have a lot on your plate, but I really really need you to update me at least every other day. Even if it's just to log in to say "no change." Again I stress that a raw diet done improperly is DANGEROUS as the ferrets can end up with serious nutrition deficiencies. I cannot help you to progress, nor can I help you to ensure that their diet is properly varied and balanced unless I have this information. Answering the questions I posted above will be a good start and will give me the information I need to help guide you through the next steps. Once I have this baseline information updated, I will have a better standing on where you are and not be working blindly. This will make it easier for You too as I won't need to ask as many questions of you each time.