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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 14:55:07 GMT -5
I will be picking up my new ferret this evening, I'm sure he's been on typical pet store food. He is 6 months old and I am wanting to know if the premise frozen raw by Instinct would be okay to feed him? I don't think I have seen a cat version of the frozen stuff and I know cat is better than dog but would it be okay since it is raw frozen? Should I pick up a small bag of the kitten or cat Instinct kibble(i know it isn't ideal but better than him not having food if I can't figure out a raw that's easily accessible by tonight(im also at work until the time I pick him up. Im open to suggestions and know you all have great knowledge. The raw is new to me and a little scary but I want to do as close as I can without doing frankenprey, at least now right away anyway
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Post by LindaM on Jan 2, 2017 15:26:48 GMT -5
If you are referring to Nature's Variety Instinct, that is a good kibble to feed your ferret if you kibble feed. But you should really feed at least 3 kibbles mixed together. This is a list of good kibbles to feed: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Ugt4k4JPUw8X-WDsxbbOIBUqIKkTubrkpyba4YsUeEgMy own ferrets are partial kibble fed and partial raw fed. I use Wysong Digestive, NV Instinct Duck & Turkey/Rabbit/Chicken/Lamb, and Wellness Core Original/Kitten. I usually have 3-4 of those mixed together and both ferrets and my cat share the mix. Please skip the NV Instinct Protein brand products though, they're not very healthy for the ferret, I think only the Protein Duck one is okay out of them. Your ferret is 6 months old, that's about where they stop imprinting on food and start being picky about what they eat, so you might have some struggles and need to kibble feed for a while until they take to the raw, and they might actually fight you for a week or two about the new brand of kibble too. My ferrets enjoy eating the NV Instinct Rawbites frozen raw, and they also enjoy rehydrated freeze-dried from NV Instinct Rawboost Mixers, PureBites, and Stella & Chewys (they like the Stella & Chewys raw too). While FDR is the more expensive route to go, some ferrets definitely take to it easier. But my ferrets took pretty easy to the NV Instinct Rawbites. You can give both cat and dog types to your ferret. The important thing is the meat percentage. I use 100%-95% meat, never try to go below 90% meat in something. Most NV Instinct products are 95% meat based.
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Jan 2, 2017 15:30:00 GMT -5
This is at Petco in the frozen section. They have frozen raw for dogs and cats On occasion I buy this (rabbit) it is for cats. They also have the chicken for cats as well. This may work in a hurry until u have time to figure out something. you will have to defrost a few cubes. To make mine eat it, I add a little water to make a soupie . I hold them and finger feed them . Once they lick freely for a few times off finger, I set them down and they will eat from saucer. One of mine will eat the thawed out cubes, but others prefer soupie, Here is the soupie from forum that is used to switch to raw-- if they refuse to eat pieces of meat. This is not a long term soupie. Just to help them get used to raw and to introduce meat. (no salt or solutions in meat or spices--they are getting bad about this at stores) Soupie ingredients and how to make it: holisticferretforum.com/natural-diet/raw-diet-the-meat-of-the-site/raw-soup-recipe/
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 17:34:47 GMT -5
Thank you! Exactly the answer I was looking for! I'm just in a pinch as bringing him home came up quicker than I expected! Ill probably buy a small bag of kibble (I'm not sure if they have a small bag of adult, is kitten okay for his age?) This is at Petco in the frozen section. They have frozen raw for dogs and cats On occasion I buy this (rabbit) it is for cats. They also have the chicken for cats as well. This may work in a hurry until u have time to figure out something. you will have to defrost a few cubes. To make mine eat it, I add a little water to make a soupie . I hold them and finger feed them . Once they lick freely for a few times off finger, I set them down and they will eat from saucer. One of mine will eat the thawed out cubes, but others prefer soupie, Here is the soupie from forum that is used to switch to raw-- if they refuse to eat pieces of meat. This is not a long term soupie. Just to help them get used to raw and to introduce meat. (no salt or solutions in meat or spices--they are getting bad about this at stores) Soupie ingredients and how to make it: holisticferretforum.com/natural-diet/raw-diet-the-meat-of-the-site/raw-soup-recipe/
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 17:37:15 GMT -5
I plan on variety in the proteins but I just wanted to make sure he had SOMETHING to eat that WASNT Marshalls food -.- just on a time constraint. Do I just let him eat all he wants(I've read ferrets don't gorge, once they're full they stop) is there a general amount he would eat being male and 6 mos? If you are referring to Nature's Variety Instinct, that is a good kibble to feed your ferret if you kibble feed. But you should really feed at least 3 kibbles mixed together. This is a list of good kibbles to feed: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Ugt4k4JPUw8X-WDsxbbOIBUqIKkTubrkpyba4YsUeEgMy own ferrets are partial kibble fed and partial raw fed. I use Wysong Digestive, NV Instinct Duck & Turkey/Rabbit/Chicken/Lamb, and Wellness Core Original/Kitten. I usually have 3-4 of those mixed together and both ferrets and my cat share the mix. Please skip the NV Instinct Protein brand products though, they're not very healthy for the ferret, I think only the Protein Duck one is okay out of them. Your ferret is 6 months old, that's about where they stop imprinting on food and start being picky about what they eat, so you might have some struggles and need to kibble feed for a while until they take to the raw, and they might actually fight you for a week or two about the new brand of kibble too. My ferrets enjoy eating the NV Instinct Rawbites frozen raw, and they also enjoy rehydrated freeze-dried from NV Instinct Rawboost Mixers, PureBites, and Stella & Chewys (they like the Stella & Chewys raw too). While FDR is the more expensive route to go, some ferrets definitely take to it easier. But my ferrets took pretty easy to the NV Instinct Rawbites. You can give both cat and dog types to your ferret. The important thing is the meat percentage. I use 100%-95% meat, never try to go below 90% meat in something. Most NV Instinct products are 95% meat based.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 17:55:08 GMT -5
So feline instinct protein one has 95 % from chicken grain and gluten free but they only have the chicken. The raw boost is chicken too but it says 83 % animal protein :/ and the wellness core says 45 percent protein and has devoted turkey and chicken as first two ingredients then chicken meal Whiteish meal herring meal peas and turkey meal
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Post by LindaM on Jan 2, 2017 19:03:10 GMT -5
Your first 6 ingredients are important on the ingredient list. Ideally, the first ones should all be meats. As you know ingredients are listed by highest amount in a product to lowest. The first ingredients being meats is what's important on the kibble. Yes some will have some veggie-type ingredient in there too, but at least 4 of the first 6 should always be a meat ingredient. Also, you should be mixing at least 3 different bags together so there is variety instead of using just a single bag & brand of kibble.
The Wellness Core Original(White & Red bag)/Kitten(White & purple bag) all list 5 meats in the first 6 ingredients.
You'll notice that the NV Instinct Protein ones list more like 3 meats in the first 6 by comparison to their other ones like some of the Rawboost.
NV Instinct Protein Chicken has Tapioca as the 2nd ingredient, meaning there is a lot of it in there, and only 2 ingredients are meat based, so that's BAD for your ferret, hence avoid the Protein range of NV Instinct. (You'll also notice it's listed in the orange list, please avoid the orange and red listed products at ALL costs. And use just green listed, or a blue mixed with green listed ones.)
And if your ferret eats kibble, leave a bowl of kibble out at all times. If you want to progress to raw, make sure you take the kibble away a while before giving him the raw, and wait a while after they've eaten before putting it back, usually a few hours. Ferrets digest food in about 3-4 hours, thus they'll eat multiple times during the day. You want to avoid letting your ferret have both kibble and raw at the same time or very close to each other as it can cause a bacterial overgrowth inside them. My ferrets get raw early in the morning and early in the evening, and kibble during the day and during the late night when they are in their cage from midnight.
PS. Almost all NV Instinct products have trial bag sizes, and most have coupons to use for a bigger bag later on. I think NV Instinct Rawboost Chicken has a $4.99 bag on the shelves by the feline sections. The Rawbites will be in the freezer sections of either the feline or canine sections, trial bags of $3.99-4.99. And freeze-dried treats of trial size baggies for $1.99).
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 19:10:34 GMT -5
Okay awesome. Most of that I do know from research on here. I did just get someone that said somewhere else that cat food can cause adrenal issues?(I'm assuming that's the poor brands of cat food?) so ill go with the wellness core for kibble so ill have a kibble for them which they're used to but ill try to get them to eat the RAW first and use the kibble as backup. He may even be too excited to eat this evening. Ill be getting the feline rabbit natures variety instinct frozen tonight. Is that suitable? With feeding that, do I just do a meal in the morning and a meal at night(if I'm not using kibble) and then with kibble just do what you said you do with yours? Your first 6 ingredients are important on the ingredient list. Ideally, the first ones should all be meats. As you know ingredients are listed by highest amount in a product to lowest. The first ingredients being meats is what's important on the kibble. Yes some will have some veggie-type ingredient in there too, but at least 4 of the first 6 should always be a meat ingredient. The Wellness Core Original(White & Red bag)/Kitten(White & purple bag) all list 5 meats in the first 6 ingredients. You'll notice that the NV Instinct Protein ones list more like 3 meats in the first 6 by comparison to their other ones like some of the Rawboost. NV Instinct Protein Chicken has Tapioca as the 2nd ingredient, meaning there is a lot of it in there, and only 2 ingredients are meat based, so that's BAD for your ferret, hence avoid the Protein range of NV Instinct. (You'll also notice it's listed in the orange list, please avoid the orange and red listed products at ALL costs. And use just green listed, or a blue mixed with green listed ones.) And if your ferret eats kibble, leave a bowl of kibble out at all times. If you want to progress to raw, make sure you take the kibble away a while before giving him the raw, and wait a while after they've eaten before putting it back, usually a few hours. Ferrets digest food in about 3-4 hours, thus they'll eat multiple times during the day. You want to avoid letting your ferret have both kibble and raw at the same time or very close to each other as it can cause a bacterial overgrowth inside them. My ferrets get raw early in the morning and early in the evening, and kibble during the day and during the late night when they are in their cage from midnight.
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Post by LindaM on Jan 2, 2017 19:41:56 GMT -5
Well, for my ferrets they eat all the flavors of the NV Instinct Rawbites, but Rabbit is a good one to start with. My ferrets enjoy the tastes of duck and rabbit more than some others that's for sure.
Start with a little bit in a bowl, first as chunkies like they are in the bag, if he doesn't want it, smush them up with some warm water to make a soupie and see if he'll take it then. If he doesn't want to eat any of it, do not deny him his kibble, as unlike cats and dogs a ferret without a food they do eat will just starve themselves to death. If he struggles with it, leave the kibble out, and maybe during the day whenever he wanders past you, try and get him to have a lick or two from a spoon, and if he doesn't want or starts struggle, give him a break and let him go off again and try again later.
You can add a dab of salmon oil to the raw to lure him to try eating it as well.
As for kibble, if your ferret was fed only Marshall's all their life, they might not accept the other kibble at first and you may need a small bag of that horrendous crap so you can slowly transition the ferret over onto the better kibble. I had to do that with Athena, my youngest one.
I'm assuming your ferret is a Marshall's, they will likely get adrenal later in life (most often after 3 or so years, but sometimes sooner), that's basically a guarantee these days, it's because they spay/neuter them way too early in life. Adrenal is caused by the adrenal gland working almost non-stop trying to make up for what they removed when altering the ferret. Factors in adrenal are altering of the ferret, artificial lighting, and even genetics as some ferrets that aren't spayed/neutered can still get adrenal.
A kibble only diet is never ideal, it has a higher chance of causing insulinoma, hence why you shouldn't just feed your ferret any old kibble, and the whole purpose of that list showing which would be the best choices for kibble feeding. And also why I let my ferrets do at least partial raw and partial kibble (if it wasn't for how horridly squeamish and sick I am around most meat myself, I'd probably have them eat entirely raw, as that's always best).
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 21:30:43 GMT -5
They probably are Marshalls as I'm getting them as rescues so I doubt they were from a breeder. Ferret breeders seem hard to come by. I had one girl get adrenal cancer for sure but my others one had a heart issue young and the other we aren't sure of the cause Good info! I will be getting the RAW and trying to work with him right away Well, for my ferrets they eat all the flavors of the NV Instinct Rawbites, but Rabbit is a good one to start with. My ferrets enjoy the tastes of duck and rabbit more than some others that's for sure. Start with a little bit in a bowl, first as chunkies like they are in the bag, if he doesn't want it, smush them up with some warm water to make a soupie and see if he'll take it then. If he doesn't want to eat any of it, do not deny him his kibble, as unlike cats and dogs a ferret without a food they do eat will just starve themselves to death. If he struggles with it, leave the kibble out, and maybe during the day whenever he wanders past you, try and get him to have a lick or two from a spoon, and if he doesn't want or starts struggle, give him a break and let him go off again and try again later. You can add a dab of salmon oil to the raw to lure him to try eating it as well. As for kibble, if your ferret was fed only Marshall's all their life, they might not accept the other kibble at first and you may need a small bag of that horrendous crap so you can slowly transition the ferret over onto the better kibble. I had to do that with Athena, my youngest one. I'm assuming your ferret is a Marshall's, they will likely get adrenal later in life (most often after 3 or so years, but sometimes sooner), that's basically a guarantee these days, it's because they spay/neuter them way too early in life. Adrenal is caused by the adrenal gland working almost non-stop trying to make up for what they removed when altering the ferret. Factors in adrenal are altering of the ferret, artificial lighting, and even genetics as some ferrets that aren't spayed/neutered can still get adrenal. A kibble only diet is never ideal, it has a higher chance of causing insulinoma, hence why you shouldn't just feed your ferret any old kibble, and the whole purpose of that list showing which would be the best choices for kibble feeding. And also why I let my ferrets do at least partial raw and partial kibble (if it wasn't for how horridly squeamish and sick I am around most meat myself, I'd probably have them eat entirely raw, as that's always best).
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 21:45:52 GMT -5
Are there any proteins they can't eat? The raw comes in duck chicken rabbit beef lamb. Most of those are the 'dog' ones which are still okay right?
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Post by LindaM on Jan 2, 2017 23:44:29 GMT -5
Most of your flavors like lamb and beef and such will usually just be labeled for dogs vs cats. Even with the Stella & Chewys brand, but they're generally still fine to give. In fact, your ferret should get some red meat like the beef in their diet at least a few times a week.
With the Instinct Raw my ferrets eat all of them.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 23:56:20 GMT -5
Awesome. Someone on this forums fb said to be careful as the dog ones some have honey in them now? And that they may not have enough taurine?
So I got him home a little while ago and he's EATING THE RAW frozen rabbit! I am literally so excited! I bought a teeny bag of the Marshall kibble just in case but maybe he will switch right off? Should I keep it a couple days and see if I need it? I'm not 100% on how much I should be giving him
(and he's a kisser..do I need to worry about bacteria from the RAW food? Or is that in the files in another thread?)
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Post by LindaM on Jan 3, 2017 0:54:21 GMT -5
Some brands don't add taurine to dog foods, and only to cats. Far as I know both the cat and dog foods of NV Instinct get taurine, most of the time the ingredient lists will be almost an exact match in that regard, with a few changed ingredients in the dog ones sometimes. As for honey, I've not seen that in the products I usually get. But it's a good practice to always run through the ingredient list to check what's in the product before buying it.
And as they do sometimes have a lower taurine level, it's obviously a better choice to not only give the dog ones, but also the cat ones, of any brand for that matter. Give a variety throughout the week if you can preferably. It's part of the reason I like that NV Instinct does those trial bags. You might still have a bit of trouble getting your ferret to eat some of the other flavors... they can simply be more picky about one than another and take a bit longer to start eating it. So doing the trial bags can be very helpful in that regard, it also saves of freezer space when you want a variety, and I believe the prices for the small bag versus the big bag works out exactly the same when you do a cost per weight ratio.
I'd keep the Marshall crap kibble a while longer, just in case you need it for a transition. But it's great that he's taking to the raw straight away, so keep at that. As for amount, it can depend on your ferret, some eat more, some eat less. Start with an ounce or so and see how it goes. If your ferret eats all of it, add a bit more, if not do a little less, soon enough you'll be able to get the amount correct. You could add a lot, but with NV Instinct unlike some other meats, they kinda smell a bit sometimes, so leaving them out for long can be kinda yucky.
Uhm, since you may still kibble feed, and do commercial raw grinds, it's recommended that you brush his teeth regularly since he isn't getting the effect actual raw prey would for his teeth. I use a very soft denture brush to brush my ferrets teeth (you can get little 4 packs for a dollar at places like the Dollar Tree). You can get toothpaste at your local vet usually or online, one like CET works, or some people make their own using an oil that the ferrets enjoy like salmon oil and powdered eggshell to make a paste.
My babies are kissers... they'll just lick all over your face in the mornings during cuddle couch time. Personally, I try and get most of their kisses done before their meal times, but a few times they will try to be kissy afterwards. Just wash your face afterwards, and don't let them actually kiss you on the mouth, lol. Loki loves giving mouth kissies, to me at least, his daddy gets nose kisses instead for some reason.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2017 1:21:00 GMT -5
He is just loving this raw. I'm not sure if the girl I'm picking up tomorrow will be this into it but I will surely try maybe she will see him eating it and wonder wgatvit is? If the raw frozen can be a staple I probably won't do kibble. I may get a bag of the core wellness for emergency situations of oh shoot I forgot to get food and now they're out of what I need sort of thing. I try not to let that happen but sometimes it does!
I didn't measure it this evening as I wasn't sure if he'd even go for it but I do have a kitchen scale maybe ill try tomorrow. With just the raw do I just need to do 2 meals a day or do they need more?
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