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Post by Sherry on Nov 28, 2017 11:31:46 GMT -5
Definitely no more turkey for her. It's the same here with duck or our old guy Watson. Chucks it every time.
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Post by hiddenstars826 on Dec 1, 2017 12:05:45 GMT -5
So surgery and then yearly implant Okay, got a few questions for you to test your diet knowledge 1. What are some good emergency taurine sources if you run out of heart? 2. How can you tell if your ferret is getting too much or too little bone? 3. List 3 organs aside from liver. 4. How much can a ferret's appetite and weight change seasonally? 5. How long does each type of meat generally stay good: raw soup, ground meat, med-large chunks, bone-in meats, whole prey? 1. Tongue, brain? Taurine supplement in a pinch 2. Consistency of stools: too chalky/hard = too much bone, too loose = not enough. Or in Sammy's case, chewing everything he can get his paws on = not enough bone. 3. Kidney, pancreas, ovaries? Anything that secretes a hormone, right? I'll be back with 4 and 5
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Post by Sherry on Dec 2, 2017 9:47:57 GMT -5
So far so good Right, right, and right! And since you are in research mode... 1. What counts as a "different protein source?" 2. How long does each type of meat generally stay good: raw soup, ground meat, med-large chunks, bone-in meats, whole prey? 3. What is a healthy diet item that can be used for hairballs, and his often should you give it? 4. Is it a good idea to mix muscle meat, bone in and organs all in one meal. Explain why. 5. Why are cooked bones dangerous and raw bones safe? After answering these, please put your menu up again, including the newer proteins.
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Post by hiddenstars826 on Dec 3, 2017 11:43:27 GMT -5
Sigh. I came home to someone having eaten a fleece blanket. I don't get it.
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Post by Sherry on Dec 3, 2017 11:46:43 GMT -5
Oh no! Do blockage protocol asap. If vomiting occurs with protocol then vet immediately.
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Post by hiddenstars826 on Dec 3, 2017 11:48:52 GMT -5
1. Protein variety is determined by bone-in and muscle meats so varying the animal source those come from determines the different "protein source". 2. still figuring out, that was #5 on the first set 3. Egg, but jury is out on how often to give it...once a week, or up to 3x a week during shedding seasons? 4. I'm gonna say NO to this, because my ferrets like to pick and choose who gets what items if they get a variety. Deanie eats all of the organ meat and Sammy the bone, if they get a buffet. And Monday scarfs all of the pork liver before Tink can even realize it's there, if I don't offer a ton of it! That's Monday's favorite snack. 5. Cooked bones are dangerous as they become brittle during the heating process and will splinter, which creates the potential for a big ole perforation.
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Post by hiddenstars826 on Dec 3, 2017 11:54:05 GMT -5
Thankfully whoever it was seems to be passing it, I noticed suspiciously fuzzy poop before pulling the blanket out and seeing it. No vomiting, no seeming belly trouble thankfully. Just a mad mom and no more fleece blankets. Ever. I thought it was Sam, he's the one I've always seen chewing toys and blankets prior. But this morning Dean was trying to murder a round bed, sooo...now I don't know. I'm definitely calling tomorrow though and signing them two up for pet insurance. I was on the fence since I get discounted stuff at work and a lot of times probably won't make the $50 deductible per issue, but these boys are a blockage waiting to happen.
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Post by Sherry on Dec 4, 2017 7:23:35 GMT -5
Not a bad idea at all! And yes to the questions. If you need help with the one let me know How comfortable are you about swapping out proteins? For example of you suddenly couldn't find chicken, would you have a good idea of what to put into that slot?
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Post by hiddenstars826 on Dec 4, 2017 14:24:55 GMT -5
Not very comfortable with that...like right now, what do I add in in place of rabbit?!
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Post by Sherry on Dec 5, 2017 9:06:09 GMT -5
Okay great! Now I have a better idea of what we need to work on In this thread holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/146/meat-bone-organ-weekly-menu are the answers for proteins. If you need to replace rabbit as a muscle meat, refer to this list in that thread: "Meat- muscle meats, or chunks. Turkey, chicken, beef, pork, lamb, goat. Any meat containing no bone. Includes heart and gizzard." If you need to replace rabbit as a bone in, or whole prey, refer to this portion of the link: "Bone in- meat with consumable bones. Some ferrets can handle larger bones, some will need small bones from the size of a chicken or smaller. Exceptions are neck and tail bones. Some ferrets CAN eat the weight bearing bones from things like rabbit and chicken, but most won't bother with them. It will sometimes work better if you smash the thigh/leg bones from chickens. Good examples are: chicken necks/wings/spines, turkey wing tips/ribs/necks, duck wing tips/ribs/necks, pork rib ends/riblets, some will eat pork neck, most adult whole prey(rabbit/mice/rats/quail/gerbil/hamster/guinea pig)." Does that help? If not, please clarify so we can get you to a place where you are comfortable
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Post by hiddenstars826 on Dec 5, 2017 12:12:59 GMT -5
The muscle meat portion I'm okay with I think, I have plenty of options - pork, turkey, chicken, even beef if I NEED to (I avoid just due to high cost). It's the bone-in I struggle with. I feel like I get stuck with offering chicken. Especially with catering to the cat who couldn't tolerate the rabbit and turkey. But she doesn't need as many bone-in meals, so I can just offer her say...chicken wings as her bone-in?
The girls aren't having the duck necks, nor is the cat. I'm going to try to smash one up for the girls next time I offer it. The chicken necks, all girls (cat included) do fine with.
I have some "meaty pork bones" listed on the HT website as good for small dogs and cats. They aren't as small of portions as I expected, though. The cat struggled with what I offered her the other day. I'll give it another try and see how it goes.
I guess I'm gonna have to just offer mice or something...
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Post by Sherry on Dec 7, 2017 9:47:26 GMT -5
Are there any ethnic markets near you? If so you should be able to get quail or rabbit there. Or even if you want to give a commercial raw mix a couple times a week as an alternative.
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Post by hiddenstars826 on Dec 9, 2017 11:23:11 GMT -5
Answers to the rest of the questions! 4. How much can a ferret's appetite and weight change seasonally? Up to double their normal consumption to prepare for winter? 5. How long does each type of meat generally stay good: raw soup, ground meat, med-large chunks, bone-in meats, whole prey? Could you point me in the direction of where I'd find this info? I cannot seem to find it, but I know I've seen it somewhere!!! 3. What is a healthy diet item that can be used for hairballs, and his often should you give it? Was this one correct? Egg, and once a week or 3x a week when shedding? What does this mean between chicken vs quail eggs? The girls: 1. Ferret's name: Tink 2. Ferret's weight: 645 g 1. Ferret's name: Monday 2. Ferret's weight: 658g 3. Ferret's Daily Medications: None 4. Ferret has eaten "X" amount on average per meal. They are offered anywhere from 1.5-2oz per meal (2x a day). Depending on WHAT they are offered depends on how much gets consumed. I feel like I rarely see the baby eating, though I usually catch her snacking at night or mid morning. Monday eats at least a few bites of whatever I put in there at the time I place it down for them, unless she's asleep at the time, but will find it later and snack if she's hungry. 5. Stools on various proteins: Rabbit created some dark stools. I don't remember seeing that last time we did rabbit. 6. Activity levels: Crazy The boys: 1. Ferret's name: Sammy 2. Ferret's weight: 1152g 1. Ferret's name: Dean 2. Ferret's weight: 1087g 3. Ferret's Daily Medications: None 4. Ferret has eaten "X" amount on average per meal: They'd been getting 3-3.5oz per meal but I boosted it to 4-4.5 oz per meal since they were finishing most by the time the next meal rolled around, and Sammy has been getting food aggressive. The past 48 hours has been better and had some leftovers. 5. Stools on various proteins: The boys have had some really dark, dark stools too. It's both of them (they were kind enough to demonstrate on my carpet for me yesterday). They had heart the night before the really dark/sticky ones so not terribly worried. I just don't remember rabbit in the past causing that kind of thing. 6. Activity levels: They alternate between crazy and loungy/lazy, but activitiy levels normal for them. It's been a little warm since the woodstove is on directly below our room where they are, so I think that's the lazy component. Weekly menu will be posted later this evening after family time
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Post by Sherry on Dec 9, 2017 11:28:16 GMT -5
Yes to the egg
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Post by hiddenstars826 on Dec 9, 2017 11:29:58 GMT -5
On second thought, here's this week's menu for the weasels for your critique.
sunday am: rabbit bone-in sun pm: heart mon am: turkey neck mon pm: boneless pork tues am: chicken drumsticks tues pm: duck neck weds am: liver/kidney mix weds pm: cornish game hen thurs am: rabbit bone-in thurs pm: chicken neck fri am: turkey neck fri pm: heart/liver/kidney sat am: chicken drumstick sat pm: duck gizzard
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