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Post by ponyolovesham on Apr 24, 2011 11:15:03 GMT -5
Hi everyone, I'm a soon to be fuzzbutt owner and i just have a few questions. I can already see that raw is the best diet for the kids. I personally plan on doing high quality kibble (wysong arch-1 ferret and innova evo ferret) supplemented with raw and soups.
But I've wondered about cooked meats, I dont see any threads about it. I know that heat kills nutrients but how much? I'm asking because for those days where I might be busy, a little lazy or quality raw might not be available, how good is cooked for them?
also, I would prefer to grind up or powder the bones and since I know that is what serves as a natural toothbrush, as long as I brush their teeth on a regular basis that should be fine right?
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Post by Sherry on Apr 24, 2011 11:24:00 GMT -5
Hi and welcome  And good for doing your research first! Okay, on to your questions: But I've wondered about cooked meats, I dont see any threads about it. I know that heat kills nutrients but how much? I'm asking because for those days where I might be busy, a little lazy or quality raw might not be available, how good is cooked for them? The reason kibble has so many chemical ingredients is that the cooking kills off most of the nutrients to the point where what is left is almost unusable by the ferret. They have such a fast digestive process, that they can't absorb nutritients from cooked foods. It's fine as a treat, though  also, I would prefer to grind up or powder the bones and since I know that is what serves as a natural toothbrush, as long as I brush their teeth on a regular basis that should be fine right? Ground bone won't do anything for their teeth. They don't "chew" like some other animals. They scissor their food in chunks small enough to swallow, and that's it. With ground raw, they simply pick up enough to swallow. The reason bone in it's entirety works is that they have to scrape their teeth on the bone when eating it, which keeps the tartar and plaque away. Hope this helps in your research |
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Post by ponyolovesham on Apr 24, 2011 11:27:28 GMT -5
I need to know a ratio of how to supplement everything properly
I'm going to offer kibble daily with one raw meal everyday (give or take a day or 2)
How many weekly:
Egg yolks
Powdered egg shell
bones
Hearts
livers
And for the days where I might not give raw or cooked can i just sprinkle their kibble with wysong? Which contains organs, bones, etc.
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Post by ponyolovesham on Apr 24, 2011 11:31:11 GMT -5
Thank you! So is it better to just give whole bones or ground bone and brush their teeth myself. I'm asking because with intact bones I will worry about them choking all the time Hi and welcome And good for doing your research first! Okay, on to your questions: But I've wondered about cooked meats, I dont see any threads about it. I know that heat kills nutrients but how much? I'm asking because for those days where I might be busy, a little lazy or quality raw might not be available, how good is cooked for them? The reason kibble has so many chemical ingredients is that the cooking kills off most of the nutrients to the point where what is left is almost unusable by the ferret. They have such a fast digestive process, that they can't absorb nutritients from cooked foods. It's fine as a treat, though also, I would prefer to grind up or powder the bones and since I know that is what serves as a natural toothbrush, as long as I brush their teeth on a regular basis that should be fine right? Ground bone won't do anything for their teeth. They don't "chew" like some other animals. They scissor their food in chunks small enough to swallow, and that's it. With ground raw, they simply pick up enough to swallow. The reason bone in it's entirety works is that they have to scrape their teeth on the bone when eating it, which keeps the tartar and plaque away. Hope this helps in your research |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2011 11:31:55 GMT -5
Hello and welcome! Cooked meats are usually used either as a treat, or when a ferret is sick and needs something gentle on the stomach. As a long term food, it really wouldn't provide the necessary components to sustain a ferret. On days where you can't feed raw, freeze dried raw (like wysong archetype 1 or Stella and Chewy's) are a great replacement. They are not cooked, and still provide the fuzz the benefits of raw If you feed a chicken wing (or other bony meat. Necks, ribs, backs, etc) maybe twice a week, it should clean their teeth rather well, much better than a toothbrush does My girls had tartar on the back of their teeth that, no matter how much I brushed, would not come off. I already planned for a vet visit to check the teeth out. Once they started eating bone-in meats, the tartar disappeared Saved me a vet trip Nevertheless, if you brush the teeth regularly, the teeth should be fine |
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Post by ponyolovesham on Apr 24, 2011 11:35:24 GMT -5
Also, does bone provide any nutrition or is it strictly for their teeth? Sorry for asking so many questions
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Post by ponyolovesham on Apr 24, 2011 11:39:06 GMT -5
Ah ok, I guess I will be feeding bones then. I want to give the best nutrition possible   |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2011 11:40:41 GMT -5
To answer your questions about how much of everything weekly: Feed the entire egg It is completely nutritionally balanced and there is no need to separate the white from the egg I feed 1-2 whole eggs a week. Include the eggshell too if they'll eat it (or powder it). The usual rule is 1/2 tsp for every 8 oz of meat you feed So normally, the general guideline is 8-9 bone-in meals a week, 4-5 boneless meals (1 of which is all heart) and 1 organ meal. Since you are feeding kibble once a day, I would cut all those values in half. So, 4-5 days of bone meal (this can be actual bones or soup with eggshell supplement) 2-3 boneless meals (1 of which is heart) 1 organ meal (Liver + another organ) Answered about. Usually 1 meal a week Same as heart, 1 entire meal a week |
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Post by Sherry on Apr 24, 2011 11:41:39 GMT -5
Ask away!!! That's what we're here for And yes, the bone provides many micro nutrients necessary for overall health. And much needed calcium. Ferrets have higher calcium needs than many other animals. As well as providing stimulation, both mental, and physical. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2011 11:43:38 GMT -5
Also, does bone provide any nutrition or is it strictly for their teeth? Sorry for asking so many questions No need to apologize for questions That is what we are here for, to help  The bone is the major source of calcium, and ferrets have VERY high needs for calcium. It also contains plenty of other trace minerals necessary for them. Feeding whole bones have several other benefits besides just the nutritional aspect, like cleaning teeth and helping the jaw grow stronger. It also helps to form stools and keep them from being too runny |
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Post by ponyolovesham on Apr 24, 2011 11:51:10 GMT -5
Ok got it! Thank you so much |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2011 11:53:53 GMT -5
Once you get your ferrets, you can sign up for a mentor who will help you switch the ferret to the raw diet (either partial raw, full raw, etc) you want |
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Post by ponyolovesham on Apr 24, 2011 12:11:28 GMT -5
Will do!
I've kinda made a rough draft of a feeding week, please tell me if i need to make any changes
Monday
Kibble+bone meal
Tuesday
Kibble+heart meal
Wednesday
Kibble+bone meal
Thursday (soup)
Kibble+organ meal+bones
Friday
Kibble+boneless meal
Saturday
Kibble+bone meal
Sunday (soup)
Kibble+boneless meal+egg
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Post by ponyolovesham on Apr 24, 2011 12:15:23 GMT -5
Is there any way they can get too much calcium or too many bones?
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Post by ponyolovesham on Apr 24, 2011 12:23:54 GMT -5
And about fat and skin, do I include that everyday or only a couple times weekly?
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