FDR as permanent diet ok?

[Deleted]

The subject says it all.

Can I keep her on a FDR diet permanently? She's been on it for a year already.

I currently feed my Rosie roughly 2oz mix 3x a day. She eats about half a plate each feeding.

All Stella and Chewys
Duck duck goose 1oz
Tummy tickling turkey .5 oz
Salmon and cod .5 oz

I mix these, mash it up into a nice puke like consistency, and she loves it.

Can I keep her on this mix? Or add anything to it to make it better?

I know raw is the way to go, but this is what she's been on and she loves it, and it beats kibble.

Thanks people.

-D

[Sherry]

As long as you can handle the cost definitely. You are feeding it rehydrate and that is THE most important with fdr. Just be sure to brush her teeth for her as she doesn't get the toothbrush effect if full on raw

[Sherry]

One other suggestion is to try to get her on at least one of the red meat ones. I know they aren't the feline but the extra nutrition in the beef or lamb would be excellent a couple meals a week.

[Deleted]

I had her on the rabbit as well. But I moved from New York to Delaware and they unfortunately don't have Stella and chewys frozen FDR here. I don't know if the website sells frozen. I know no mom and pop shops that sell it around here either.

Ideas?

[Deleted]

Nov 30, 2016 10:20:04 GMT -5 Sherry said:

One other suggestion is to try to get her on at least one of the red meat ones. I know they aren't the feline but the extra nutrition in the beef or lamb would be excellent a couple meals a week.

What would you suggest? Stella and chewys dog beef?

[Sherry]

Stella and cheweys beef, lamb, or venison. Stay with the 95% instead of the 90% though.

[Deleted]

Stupid question but what are you referring to with 95%? Taurine?

Also, any good ferret treats out there? I'm trying to get her to pay more attention and actually sit in my lap but she isn't having it lol. Unless she's in baby mode and super tired she refuses to just 'chill'.

So I'm going to entice her, with treats lol.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

-D

[Sherry]

Stella and cheweys have on the front of their packages either 95%, or 90% listed as the meat content as compared to the non digestible's included.
As for the snuggling some simply aren't snugglers unless tired. A good treat would be salmon oil, though it may take some time to get her used to it.

[Deleted]

I was under the assumption that the taurine levels in cat food are good for the little furkids. So I didn't know if adding one that is labeled "dog" was ok. I know the dog has lower taurine.

and as in, salmon oil from the grocery store?

Thanks!

-D

[Sherry]

Just check for heart in the ingredients And I completely forgot they have the feline version lol

[Deleted]

Dec 7, 2016 13:32:32 GMT -5 Sherry said:

Just check for heart in the ingredients And I completely forgot they have the feline version lol

Ok. I just picked up the Stella and chewys dog dandy lamb. It has heart in it, but also a bunch of organic vegetables. Are the vegetables ok? Also, they're patties instead of the little balls the cat food is in. Same thing just patty form?

Thanks

-D

[Sherry]

Same thing yes Just crumble and rehydrate. It does take a couple of minutes but rehydrate just as well.

[Deleted]

Nov 30, 2016 10:18:40 GMT -5 Sherry said:

As long as you can handle the cost definitely. You are feeding it rehydrate and that is THE most important with fdr. Just be sure to brush her teeth for her as she doesn't get the toothbrush effect if full on raw

With the rehydrated, is she getting enough water? She doesn't have a metal water bottle because supposedly it grinds their teeth down. Also no water bowl because she just digs it all out. But her skin goes back normally when pinched. And she appears to itch like normal ferrets (more than I like). So I don't think she's dehydrated.

[LindaM]

You really should give her a water bowl. Get one of those lock crock bowls that attach to the cage bars that use a wing nut to secure.

My ferrets eat rehydrated, but they still drink water normally too. Even if you eat soup, you still get thirsty, don't you?

[Sherry]

She will still need to drink a bit on top. Mine certainly do. As Linda has mentioned, a lock croc raised works well. Another trick is a heavy ceramic bowl inside a small clean litter box, or another similar type container. That should work until the novelty of bowl digging is mostly past.