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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2015 8:39:34 GMT -5
At this time I'm going to remain with the thick soupie. I have tried again and again with bone in meats with no luck! My soupie is more of a pudding.
Rachel I appreciate everything but I'm sure there's someone out there that needs your help that can further their babies on RAW. And with Bella being sick and now I'm suspecting Miko is Adrenal also, it's keeping me rather busy with vet appts and care at home.
Sue
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Post by racheld on Apr 8, 2015 22:17:45 GMT -5
If you don't feel up to completing the switch right now, I would highly recommend getting a few varieties of commercial grind to introduce and use. Once they get used to it it's easy to feed and it is better balanced and would provide the variety they need.
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Post by katt on Apr 8, 2015 22:38:50 GMT -5
@bellasophia, if you aren't ready to complete the switch I would - as Rachel said - really encourage you to consider commercial grinds. A soup only diet is really not best for long term. They need variety and chunks - grinds may not be as stimulating as whole meats, but there's still little bits of meat and bone that provide some mechanical stimulation to their GI tract. RadCat has a good reputation and sells a wide variety of pre-balanced grinds and some pet stores carry it locally for people or you can order it online. HareToday is another good option. There's several commercial raw brands to pick from. It is fairly easy to get them from the soup stage to grinds and typically doesn't take much time. Then too, if/when you are ever ready to try introducing chunks again you will already be at a great jumping off point.  www.radfood.com/ Also, it is important to be aware that if you are going to feed a diet of soup OR grinds for an extended period, you will need to brush their teeth several times a week - at least 3 times a week, preferably daily - or they will inevitably get plaque due to not having bones to crunch on and clean their teeth. OxyFresh has the best reputation as far as toothpastes for ferrets go. You can use a gauze over your finger or even buy a teeny toothbrush from the vet or online. oxyfresh.com/pet/pet-gel-healing-cream.asp |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2015 23:19:25 GMT -5
Thank you ladies. I just want to make sure that I inderstand this correctly... Once I start them on commercial grind do I eliminate the soupie? And I could buy a variety and switch it up for them without upsetting their tummies? And lastly I hope to God I didn't make them sick by having them on soupie this long??  ? |
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Post by katt on Apr 8, 2015 23:31:01 GMT -5
1.) Yep. Easiest thing to do is start slowly mixing the grinds into the soup. Start with a tiny bit, and gradually increase the grinds and decrease the soup every few meals until they are eating just the grinds. 2.) Yep! It's just raw meat, bones, and organs but all ground up instead of blended like they are getting right now. It shouldn't cause any upset, and you should be able to get a good variety. If they aren't sure about a new protein, you just start by mixing the new protein into the "old" protein and gradually increase it, just like going from soup to grinds. 3.) They should be fine, some ferrets take a long time to switch, but keeping them on soup indefinitely is not ideal. Calcium supplements just aren't the same as real bone and solid foods are better on their GI tracts unless they have a GI related medical issue that negatively affects absorption. So, your babies should be just fine BUT I would definitely advise getting them onto grinds instead of soupies. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2015 9:08:09 GMT -5
I'm looking into the grind right now....thank you Hurricanekatt!! |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2015 9:11:51 GMT -5
Do I get the grind frozen???
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Post by katt on Apr 9, 2015 15:28:09 GMT -5
Yes, usually it comes frozen and you thaw it out to feed. RadCat comes in little tubs, HareToday I believe comes in chubs. If you get something in chubs it would be easiest to partially thaw it and cut it into meal sized portions and re-freeze it in baggies.
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Post by racheld on Apr 9, 2015 18:40:43 GMT -5
I find the Hare Today grinds a little harder to introduce, especially if you get guinea pig or rabbit, because they grind with fur on. Makes very tidy poops but the ferrets don't seem to like it much.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2015 19:00:08 GMT -5
thank you Rachel.
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Post by racheld on Apr 10, 2015 19:06:03 GMT -5
No problem! Let me know when you're ready to start introducing new grinds, or if you run into trouble.
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