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Post by goingpostal on Jun 2, 2014 21:39:19 GMT -5
Sorry have been mia, weekend was pretty nuts, I actually get a day off work tomorrow so can stay up for a bit and catch up on things. Your answer is pretty spot on, although depending on health an underweight ferret may not eat eagerly. Stress and illness will cause weight loss so it's something to be concerned about, part of why we harp on keeping year round regular weight records so you know what's normal and what's not.
Besides heart, what meats/cuts are high in taurine? Name 3 parts/cuts that count as edible bone for a ferret. Why is varying between proteins and parts of the animal important? When buying meats, is it better to purchase lean or fatty cuts?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2014 13:02:36 GMT -5
This week is the starts of my crazy time. The markets start on Weds & Sat this week. I will be baking on most of the other days. Do you want me to post last weeks menu? Here are my answers...crossing my fingers. 1. The redder the meat (beef, lamb/mutton, pork) the more taurine, chicken thighs/legs, brains, liver and kidneys 2. Chicken breast/backs Pork button bones. Turkey/duck necks 3. The nutritional value is different with each meat. Each different meat or cut has a different amount/ kind of protein. Red meats contain more taurine. Some have more fat. They need this variety to get what they all need to stay healthy. The age also makes a difference. There is more protein in beef than there is in veal for example. If they have more of a variety there are always options in case they get fussy about one meat or the other. Too much of one thing would create havoc on them, almost like an overdose. 4. The fatty cut. They get their energy from the fat.
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Post by goingpostal on Jun 3, 2014 20:52:47 GMT -5
So you bake all your treats pretty fresh then? How long do they stay well? Do you have any small ones? Sorry I should go check out your page, it's probably all there. I still give commercial treats to my dogs instead of being ambitious and just freezedrying meat but it would be nice to switch to treats made by someone I know vs a big company.
Yes please post last weeks menu and also start working on a "sample" menu with the proper amounts of bone in, boneless and organ meat based on what you are able to source and that they eat. Then we'll tweak it if we need to.
Ok test, yep darker meat contains higher taurine, any heavily used muscles so that's why legs/thighs are darker meat than breast and why heart contains a good amount of it.
Edible bone, poultry is always a win, obviously some turkey bones are probably out for most ferrets but chicken, duck, game hen are all totally edible unless they are huge and then can be smashed up. Rabbit is a good one and also any whole prey meant for reptiles is well sized for a ferret.
Exactly, the nutrient levels between cuts and different proteins is really fascinating and why we aim to feed as close to a whole animal as possible, sticking to just one could easily deplete or overdose your ferret on something and cause serious health issues. Very good point about the age difference as well. Gold star haha!
Yep, fat is energy for ferrets and other carnivores, humans have a hard time with this since we are so bombarded with how horrible fat is and because we need carbs. I had to explain this whole concept the other day, my fiance apparently didn't realize our carnivores didn't need carbs even though I've been rawfeeding them all for years. Oy.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2014 13:41:52 GMT -5
Most of my treats stay good for a long time. I have to update the FB page... I also have dehydrated beef heart and chicken breast. I've shipped to Florida and Puerto Rico without a problem. We can message each other if you have more questions. I don't want to get us in trouble on here... Them little bullheads (Coco and Lulu) can be so fussy about liver so I have been putting EVOO on the liver for all of them. I figure at least they are eating it. I had thought of pureeing it but if they don't like it just plain they probably wouldn't like it like that either.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2014 13:54:23 GMT -5
I forgot I wanted to ask/tell you. The other day Benny the cat caught a mouse and well he don't eat them, he plays with them. He left it on the floor in front of the Group 1's cage. Penelope was all excited in there and I couldn't figure out why cause it was way before the usual time for them to get up. She was wanting to get out. I stepped on it(barefooted even)so I picked it up and threw it away. She settled down and went back to sleep. Could she smell that and wanted to eat it?
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Post by goingpostal on Jun 5, 2014 15:54:49 GMT -5
Yeah I will send you a message on FB, I'm almost out of treats so need to order some soon. EVOO on the liver is perfectly fine, so many give it anyways for the health benefits that I don't see an issue with it, especially given how tough it is to get some pets to eat organs at all!
I would bet the mouse is what got her riled, hard to say if was the scent or maybe it was still squeaking and moving when placed in front of them. I have hidden them for the ferrets before and they scent them out, it's pretty funny to watch actually. I have to fight off my cat and ferret when I am feeding the snakes because they both start looking and trying to steal them. Sorry you stepped on it, I've stepped in cat puke a few times and that's pretty gross so I feel for you.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2014 15:08:14 GMT -5
Ugh I forgot to do the weights and progress report. Have to make a note and do it in the morning... The other night and next morning Coco threw up his Pork meal. It looked like an awful lot. I can't figure out if he gorged because he likes it or if it doesn't agree with him him. He has done it since. He's feeling fine and doing all the usual things. Otherwise we are doing great. I sent a sample menu. I will probably switch the meals around a little but this is the basic of what and how they are getting the meals. I want to try rabbit too. I will order that when I get the next round of grinds.
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Post by goingpostal on Jun 9, 2014 18:24:04 GMT -5
Menu looks great and as far as throwing up, just watch next time pork is offered, maybe downsize the amount given at first although if he wants to gorge he will either way. Could be an issue, could be the fatty meat being too rich, could be nothing, just something to note and keep an eye on. Are they liking all the grinds pretty well now?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2014 13:25:27 GMT -5
I think Coco needs smaller meals more often if it's something he likes. Emmett can be a pain too cause he will try to take food from the others even if there is a plate full once in a while. They are doing good with the grinds. I put water in it so it isn't so dry. I think they really prefer the "real" thing instead. Here is the weights and progress report. Mikah even gained a little. Penelope, Miko and Lulu's weights were taken after they ate breakfast, cause I forgot and they were hungry right away. June 10, 2014 Miko: 2 lbs. 5 oz. (Weight taken after they ate breakfast.) Eating great. Poopers looking good. Got diagnosed with Insulinoma June 3, 2014. Now that he is on Pred he is back to his normal playfulness. Was a little laid back before. Penelope: 1 lb. 8 oz. (Weight taken after they ate breakfast.) Eating great. Poopers look good. Hyper as usual Lulu: 1 lb. 10 oz. (Weight taken after they ate breakfast.) Eating great, still with the EVOO. Poops look good. Playful as usual Coco: 2 lb, 5 oz. Eats great, sometime too much and throws up. I think he needs more smaller meals when it’s something he really likes. Only did that with his pork meal at night and morning. Will watch next time we have pork to see if he does it again. (Note it was with wing tips too). Poops are looking good. Plays as usual. Emmett: 2 lbs. 12 oz. Eats great. Poops are looking good. Plays great. Mikah: 1 lb. 8.7 oz. Little chowhound. Poops are good. Loves to play. Please check menu for meals. Don’t seem right without George…
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2014 18:12:22 GMT -5
I messed up and didn't make a menu for last week. Guess cause I made the sample menu and thought I made one...
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Post by goingpostal on Jun 16, 2014 19:57:31 GMT -5
Have you been feeding them pretty close to the same menu or are they getting anything new and exciting? How's Miko been, keeping an eye on his BG? I'm curious since I've never had a tester myself, and being so far from my vet my insulinomics never got tested very often. Just had to go on behavior.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2014 15:31:19 GMT -5
Yup I am feeding them close to the menu. Nothing new or exciting. When I order the next grind I want to get rabbit. I do have 2 lamb kidneys in the basement but am afraid to give it to them. I am afraid they would like it and when I figured out how much a pound I would be paying (over $30)that is way to much. I got them from a vendor at the markets and his prices are way high.
Miko's BG has been good, I checked it a week ago and yesterday and he is staying at 73. I know that sounds low, but when I got my meter I took it along and compared the numbers with my vets. On mine 60 or below is when I have to keep an eye on it. I just randomly check them or if I notice something. I tell you it sure beats running to the vets for a recheck all the time. I have a "TRUE2GO", I think that is a Walgreens brand.
I have noticed with Miko that he seems to have a problem with just meat. It's almost like he doesn't know how to chew it right. This morning I thought he had some stuck in his teeth and he didn't. He had spit and everything coming from his mouth but he kept chewing away. By the time I got the tweezers thing I use, he swallowed it. I wonder if I need to cut his chunks smaller. He does fine with bones. But I always thought he did chew weird.
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Post by goingpostal on Jun 17, 2014 18:00:30 GMT -5
Yeah raw fed insulinomics don't seem to have as high a bg even on meds, my two were always 70-80 and same way, under 60 you could tell they needed a dosage increase. Raw seems to keep them stable better though, less meds needed, less dosage increases. On boneless meat they do tend to eat kind of weird, harder to chew off a bite to swallow, as long as it seems like he's getting enough food I wouldn't be too concerned, that chewing does a good job keeping teeth clean.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2014 10:17:55 GMT -5
Sorry I haven't been on sooner, it's been crazy with the baking treats and getting a routine. Got lazy over the winter season and my sales took off faster then last year. Otherwise everything is going fine. They are all eating good. Emmett is going to the have a complete physical and blood panel done. He still , at least I think it's him, piddles blood off and on. I just want to find out what is causing it. I do hope it is not kidney stones or something with his kidneys. Here is last weeks menu.
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Post by goingpostal on Jun 23, 2014 21:44:13 GMT -5
Menu looks good, too bad about the chicken thighs but a little extra boneless for a week won't hurt. Keep me updated on Emmett, that's concerning, hopefully it's just an infection and not a serious issue. Does his penis/sheath look ok? Wonder if it could be a problem there too.
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