Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2014 16:34:49 GMT -5
Name:Anna
HF Forum Username: AnnaVWB
1. Where did you first learn about natural diets for ferrets?
NSW Ferret Association Facebook group
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 like to go fully natural.
3. Why are you interested in switching your ferrets to a natural diet?
To eliminate any possible risks of insulinoma
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?
Yes. I already made the switch to frankenpray around six weeks ago so I know what I am getting myself into. My concern is that some days they eat well and some they only eat a little bit. I'm worried they are not getting enough nutrients. Also, all meat including bones has to be made into a soup for them to eat without a bigger fuss. My boy used to eat whole chicken necks and pieces of meat, now he regressed back to baby food!
5. How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names? Ages? Genders? Do they have any health problems? Are they overweight? Underweight? How long have you had each ferret for?
Jasper will be one year old in November, he's a healthy boy and always has been. He was getting a bit chubby in the last few months (over 1300g) but seems to have slimmed down a bit since we started the raw diet.
Zoe will be one in December and came to my house with a parasite (coccidiosis) and in a very bad general state (3 out 9 body condition according to the vet I took her to on the day I got her). She spent the first 24 hrs in a hospital on a drip, badly dehydrated and with low glucose levels (breeder fed her dog food). She recovered quickly and is perfectly healthy now. The only remainder of her bad beginnings were two rotten canines which had to be removed three months ago (both right ones). The left ones are very blunt too. She has never eaten an unminced bone. She also struggles with taking bites of a bigger piece of meat. Everything has to be bite size or minced.
I've had them both since the beginning of the year.
6. What diet do you currently feed your ferrets? (Please include all treats, supplements, etc) Do they already eat some form of soup?
Frankenpray. They don't mind meat but I am worried about the days when they don't seem to be hungry. Some days I still leave kibble around if they hardly touched their breakfast. I weigh it before and after and usually there is about 3g of kibble missing so it seems they just didn't need much food that day. Recently I introduced them to ferret gravy and they love it so I fill them up with that if they don't eat enough meat. The easiest form of meat to get them to eat is soup. Sometimes I feel like they are just too lazy to eat food that they have to chew
Most of the time they will happily eat their meat in a form of baby food but they won't touch it even when minced, let alone pieces. This concerns me as they don't get to use their jaw muscles or teeth. Also occasionally Jasper vomits a bit after stuffing himself with soupies.
7. Have you ever tried to switch your ferrets to a natural diet in the past? If yes, what happened?
First switch
8. What additional information about yourself or your ferrets would you like to share?
Currently waking up at 5am to make sure I have enough time to feed them before work. They prefer to be handfed (jeez)
9. How often during the week do you have access to a computer?
24/7
10. Please post a picture of each of your ferrets (if possible).
11. Have you met the requirements for this program? Do you have your scale, a place to access meats, hearts, livers, etc?
Yes, they get the royal treatment as far as meat variety goes
Zoe
Jasper
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HF Forum Username: AnnaVWB
1. Where did you first learn about natural diets for ferrets?
NSW Ferret Association Facebook group
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 like to go fully natural.
3. Why are you interested in switching your ferrets to a natural diet?
To eliminate any possible risks of insulinoma
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?
Yes. I already made the switch to frankenpray around six weeks ago so I know what I am getting myself into. My concern is that some days they eat well and some they only eat a little bit. I'm worried they are not getting enough nutrients. Also, all meat including bones has to be made into a soup for them to eat without a bigger fuss. My boy used to eat whole chicken necks and pieces of meat, now he regressed back to baby food!
5. How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names? Ages? Genders? Do they have any health problems? Are they overweight? Underweight? How long have you had each ferret for?
Jasper will be one year old in November, he's a healthy boy and always has been. He was getting a bit chubby in the last few months (over 1300g) but seems to have slimmed down a bit since we started the raw diet.
Zoe will be one in December and came to my house with a parasite (coccidiosis) and in a very bad general state (3 out 9 body condition according to the vet I took her to on the day I got her). She spent the first 24 hrs in a hospital on a drip, badly dehydrated and with low glucose levels (breeder fed her dog food). She recovered quickly and is perfectly healthy now. The only remainder of her bad beginnings were two rotten canines which had to be removed three months ago (both right ones). The left ones are very blunt too. She has never eaten an unminced bone. She also struggles with taking bites of a bigger piece of meat. Everything has to be bite size or minced.
I've had them both since the beginning of the year.
6. What diet do you currently feed your ferrets? (Please include all treats, supplements, etc) Do they already eat some form of soup?
Frankenpray. They don't mind meat but I am worried about the days when they don't seem to be hungry. Some days I still leave kibble around if they hardly touched their breakfast. I weigh it before and after and usually there is about 3g of kibble missing so it seems they just didn't need much food that day. Recently I introduced them to ferret gravy and they love it so I fill them up with that if they don't eat enough meat. The easiest form of meat to get them to eat is soup. Sometimes I feel like they are just too lazy to eat food that they have to chew
Most of the time they will happily eat their meat in a form of baby food but they won't touch it even when minced, let alone pieces. This concerns me as they don't get to use their jaw muscles or teeth. Also occasionally Jasper vomits a bit after stuffing himself with soupies.
7. Have you ever tried to switch your ferrets to a natural diet in the past? If yes, what happened?
First switch
8. What additional information about yourself or your ferrets would you like to share?
Currently waking up at 5am to make sure I have enough time to feed them before work. They prefer to be handfed (jeez)
9. How often during the week do you have access to a computer?
24/7
10. Please post a picture of each of your ferrets (if possible).
11. Have you met the requirements for this program? Do you have your scale, a place to access meats, hearts, livers, etc?
Yes, they get the royal treatment as far as meat variety goes
Zoe
Jasper