Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2016 23:06:39 GMT -5
Bonbon and Benji's are doing good with the bone in meats. They do better with the half cuts of meat more so then the whole cuts of bone. Examples: a whole chicken wing vs. A chicken wing where the bones are cut in half marrow showing. The boys both seem to like the marrow showing a as I catch them licking at it and then eating the meat around it and crunching the bone to get more marrow. Maybe they just get bored of all the meat around the whole bone before the reach the marrow. I'm not sure but we will be testing it some more. Tomorrow morning they will be getting a rabbit leg and hip on a metal hook. I really need to get this pictures uploaded so I can show you my set up.
I notice the same thing when I was switching with ferrets preferring bone in meat with marrow showing.
I think they find it more enticing than the wing as it is.
It's great to hear that you're trying the hook again. I would love to see photos~ If you cannot get Tapatalk to work (which I found strange, maybe they had an update and something went wrong.) You can upload your photos on postimage.org
You're menu and the boy's weights are looking great~
I thought I would give you a mixed lesson.
This lesson is mainly about eggs, but it branches off to subjects such as Salmonella/E.Coli, Cooked Eggs, Nutrients and Hairballs. Because it is mixed, it may be a little long so read it when you feel like it~
▶Eggs are human grade and human grade is more controlled and monitored closely compared to the pet food industry.
▶Pet food has more of a chance of being contaminated with salmonella. (Even kibble fed ferrets are known to shed salmonella in their stools.) In fact I counted 20 on the FDA list for this year. The recent being by BRAVO chicken and Turkey pet food on the 10th of Dec.
▶In the chance that you were to feed a contaminated egg you need to be aware that the ferret stomach is a bacteria colonising deterrent and this basically means that the environment in the ferret stomach discourages any bacteria from taking over the host.
▶A ferrets digestive system is very short (only 3-4 hours) so that leaves no time for the salmonella which needs 12-72 hours, or even e.coli, which needs 3-4 days to incubate. That makes it highly unlikely that these illnesses would affect the ferret.
Meat and eggs are good sources of protein and the protein molecules change shape as a result of the heat energy they absorb when they are cooked. This is called denaturing and it is permanent. Denaturing causes changes in the appearance (colour) and texture (feel) of the meat and even eggs when they are cooked.
For example:
Meat becomes firmer and turns from red to brown,
Egg white solidifies and becomes white instead of transparent.
Cooking is known to degrade the nutrients in both meat and eggs and can cause the losses of vitamins, minerals and even amino acids. Cooking may cause up to 50-70% of nutrient loss.
Egg Nutrients.
Eggs contain a small amount of natural carbs. Usually it is under 1g but when cooked it can increase just a little. Unlike the carbs in pet foods, this will not affect the ferret in any way since the egg is only a small percentage of their overall diet. The egg contain valuable fats and nutrients, (Lecithin) which are known to help cleanse and lubricate the internal structures of the ferret. Because of that, it is recommended to give a ferret at least 1 egg per week, and up to 2-3 eggs during shedding season.
Lecithin emulsifies fat, breaking it down into small particles. This speeds up and improves the digestion of fats by enzymes because the surface area is increased. This is what makes Lecithin such an incredible hairball preventative. Lecithin aids liver function, keeps the arterial lining free from cholesterol and prevents kidney and gallstones from forming. Methionine, which is also found in eggs, is also essential in the formation of nucleic acid of the genetic material of every cell. It’s a powerful antioxidant, assists in gall-bladder function and detoxifies heavy metals and excess histamine levels from the body.
High quality eggs are rich in vitamins A and D, as well as Choline. Choline is an essential water-soluble nutrient that is usually grouped in as part of the B-Vitamin complex. Although not technically a vitamin by strict definition, this organic compound is required for life’s most quintessential functions, including basic cellular structure, nutrient transport and metabolism. It overall helps to improve gastrointestinal motility. Although it is naturally synthesized in small amounts within the liver, a significant amount of choline must be consumed in the diet to maintain health. Choline exists in all living cells, but is probably best known as a major part of lecithin–the emulsifier that keeps fats from clumping together.
Moving on to the wonderful subject of Hairballs.
A hairball is defined as a small collection of hair or fur which is formed in the stomach of animals that is occasionally vomited up when it becomes too big. Ferrets, along with rabbits and cows, are not able to regurgitate hairballs like cats can so it can be a life threatening situation. Usually during shedding season, the ferret would get a piece of hair stuck in their throat and make a nasty cough while trying to hack it out. That is not a hairball, that is just a piece of hair in their throat.
When the hairball is left untreated, it can become a trichobezoar; a mass of hair which is trapped in the gastrointestinal system – an extreme form of hairball. Since ferrets cannot vomit it the hairball up, a trichobezoar is most likely to form. The egg per week and its incredible Lecithin and Choline duo will help to smoothly move any ingested hair through the ferrets body, this will help prevent the hair from getting stuck and forming into one sticky situation of a Trichobezoar. Please note that egg is not a treatment, it is a preventative and even though Trichobezoars are rare, they need veterinary assistance because they can be fatal if undetected. Surgical intervention is often required.
There are also other ways to prevent the hairballs from forming.
Whole prey: Feeding adult whole prey helps by cleaning the insides and pushing the hair through the ferret, so it can also help to reduce the chance of a hairball forming. Other ways to prevent hairballs is by brushing, and frequent cleaning of the cage or bedding during shedding season.
Some Common and Severe symptoms of a hairball blockage would be:
- Small, skinny poops or no poop at all, Tarry or black poop.
- Lethargic / Weakness / Decreased activity / Collapse,
- Vomiting / Dry heaving,
- Unable or refusal to eat / Decreased appetite,
- Decreased body temperature.
- Weight loss,
- Pawing at the roof of the mouth,
- Teeth grinding.
- Abdominal distension,
- Shock
- Death.
When you suspect you have a blockage caused by a hairball it must be treated immediately or the ferret may stop feeding and ultimately die due to dehydration.
Choline: blog.radiantlifecatalog.com/bid/63690/5-Ways-to-Get-More-Choline-in-Your-Diet-Secret-of-Radiant-Living
Eggs: docs.google.com/document/d/1ZRszg59R15epiws13N9FOmJ924bGbjG7yw2zR2S8Lng/edit
Blockage Protocol: docs.google.com/document/d/145QYWoTOJlsHViwRrtqDk8wPrFtx9sBxtKU0-sCYtwU/edit
I notice the same thing when I was switching with ferrets preferring bone in meat with marrow showing.
I think they find it more enticing than the wing as it is.
It's great to hear that you're trying the hook again. I would love to see photos~ If you cannot get Tapatalk to work (which I found strange, maybe they had an update and something went wrong.) You can upload your photos on postimage.org
You're menu and the boy's weights are looking great~
I thought I would give you a mixed lesson.
This lesson is mainly about eggs, but it branches off to subjects such as Salmonella/E.Coli, Cooked Eggs, Nutrients and Hairballs. Because it is mixed, it may be a little long so read it when you feel like it~
Starting with Salmonella/E.Coli and Raw Eggs.
Most ferrets are not susceptible to salmonella and efficiently pass it without infection.▶Eggs are human grade and human grade is more controlled and monitored closely compared to the pet food industry.
▶Pet food has more of a chance of being contaminated with salmonella. (Even kibble fed ferrets are known to shed salmonella in their stools.) In fact I counted 20 on the FDA list for this year. The recent being by BRAVO chicken and Turkey pet food on the 10th of Dec.
▶In the chance that you were to feed a contaminated egg you need to be aware that the ferret stomach is a bacteria colonising deterrent and this basically means that the environment in the ferret stomach discourages any bacteria from taking over the host.
▶A ferrets digestive system is very short (only 3-4 hours) so that leaves no time for the salmonella which needs 12-72 hours, or even e.coli, which needs 3-4 days to incubate. That makes it highly unlikely that these illnesses would affect the ferret.
Cooking and Nutrient loss.
Raw eggs from a clean source are actually known as a health tonic and the whole egg is known to eliminate stored toxins from the body.Meat and eggs are good sources of protein and the protein molecules change shape as a result of the heat energy they absorb when they are cooked. This is called denaturing and it is permanent. Denaturing causes changes in the appearance (colour) and texture (feel) of the meat and even eggs when they are cooked.
For example:
Meat becomes firmer and turns from red to brown,
Egg white solidifies and becomes white instead of transparent.
Cooking is known to degrade the nutrients in both meat and eggs and can cause the losses of vitamins, minerals and even amino acids. Cooking may cause up to 50-70% of nutrient loss.
Egg Nutrients.
Eggs contain a small amount of natural carbs. Usually it is under 1g but when cooked it can increase just a little. Unlike the carbs in pet foods, this will not affect the ferret in any way since the egg is only a small percentage of their overall diet. The egg contain valuable fats and nutrients, (Lecithin) which are known to help cleanse and lubricate the internal structures of the ferret. Because of that, it is recommended to give a ferret at least 1 egg per week, and up to 2-3 eggs during shedding season.
Lecithin emulsifies fat, breaking it down into small particles. This speeds up and improves the digestion of fats by enzymes because the surface area is increased. This is what makes Lecithin such an incredible hairball preventative. Lecithin aids liver function, keeps the arterial lining free from cholesterol and prevents kidney and gallstones from forming. Methionine, which is also found in eggs, is also essential in the formation of nucleic acid of the genetic material of every cell. It’s a powerful antioxidant, assists in gall-bladder function and detoxifies heavy metals and excess histamine levels from the body.
High quality eggs are rich in vitamins A and D, as well as Choline. Choline is an essential water-soluble nutrient that is usually grouped in as part of the B-Vitamin complex. Although not technically a vitamin by strict definition, this organic compound is required for life’s most quintessential functions, including basic cellular structure, nutrient transport and metabolism. It overall helps to improve gastrointestinal motility. Although it is naturally synthesized in small amounts within the liver, a significant amount of choline must be consumed in the diet to maintain health. Choline exists in all living cells, but is probably best known as a major part of lecithin–the emulsifier that keeps fats from clumping together.
Moving on to the wonderful subject of Hairballs.
A hairball is defined as a small collection of hair or fur which is formed in the stomach of animals that is occasionally vomited up when it becomes too big. Ferrets, along with rabbits and cows, are not able to regurgitate hairballs like cats can so it can be a life threatening situation. Usually during shedding season, the ferret would get a piece of hair stuck in their throat and make a nasty cough while trying to hack it out. That is not a hairball, that is just a piece of hair in their throat.
When the hairball is left untreated, it can become a trichobezoar; a mass of hair which is trapped in the gastrointestinal system – an extreme form of hairball. Since ferrets cannot vomit it the hairball up, a trichobezoar is most likely to form. The egg per week and its incredible Lecithin and Choline duo will help to smoothly move any ingested hair through the ferrets body, this will help prevent the hair from getting stuck and forming into one sticky situation of a Trichobezoar. Please note that egg is not a treatment, it is a preventative and even though Trichobezoars are rare, they need veterinary assistance because they can be fatal if undetected. Surgical intervention is often required.
There are also other ways to prevent the hairballs from forming.
Whole prey: Feeding adult whole prey helps by cleaning the insides and pushing the hair through the ferret, so it can also help to reduce the chance of a hairball forming. Other ways to prevent hairballs is by brushing, and frequent cleaning of the cage or bedding during shedding season.
Some Common and Severe symptoms of a hairball blockage would be:
- Small, skinny poops or no poop at all, Tarry or black poop.
- Lethargic / Weakness / Decreased activity / Collapse,
- Vomiting / Dry heaving,
- Unable or refusal to eat / Decreased appetite,
- Decreased body temperature.
- Weight loss,
- Pawing at the roof of the mouth,
- Teeth grinding.
- Abdominal distension,
- Shock
- Death.
When you suspect you have a blockage caused by a hairball it must be treated immediately or the ferret may stop feeding and ultimately die due to dehydration.
Choline: blog.radiantlifecatalog.com/bid/63690/5-Ways-to-Get-More-Choline-in-Your-Diet-Secret-of-Radiant-Living
Eggs: docs.google.com/document/d/1ZRszg59R15epiws13N9FOmJ924bGbjG7yw2zR2S8Lng/edit
Blockage Protocol: docs.google.com/document/d/145QYWoTOJlsHViwRrtqDk8wPrFtx9sBxtKU0-sCYtwU/edit