Helping Chubby Ferret

[mdepennettGUEST]

tldrL helping chubby ferret



Alright, I have a question on feeding practice. I has two woozles Elliot (3+, white male, bigger, not picky eater), and Peach (2+, Black/White female, smaller, fairly picky eater). Their general diet is a mix of “Wysong Epigen 90 Digestive Support Dry Ferret Food” and “ZuPreem Grain-Free Diet Ferret Food.” They share a small dish, which always has food in it. Occasionally, I drizzle Fish/Olive oil on their kibble. I also occasionally treat with Duk Soup ice cubes...which Peach doesn’t eat. I try to let the bowl run empty, but get worried that it does harm because of what I ‘currently’ know of their quicker digestion - and feel bad that I starve them.





I don’t have current weights on me currently, but I am getting worried about Elliot’s weight. His lower half is pretty pudgy, and I want him to be as healthy as possible. I have had these guys for almost a year, so I am still relatively new to the ferret game. My first advice on feeding was to always have food available due to their digestive system. I try to let them free as much as possible...they have some chasing spurts before they go straight to their beds, and I rotate through toys that interest them. Usually, Peach is the more playful, chases noise toys, hides stuff, etc. Elliot will chase her for awhile, or fight my laundry, but then goes to bed.





Is their advice on exercise on feeding and exercise practices? Does anyone do regulated feed times/food amounts, instead of constant food supply?

postimg.cc/image/3wnvyuqxj/

[Heather]

A constant food supply is a requirement of kibbler ferrets. Raw fed ferrets can go longer between feedings
Have you had the one checked to rule out a heart condition (this often is fluid build up in the abdomen resulting in a pear shape). How old are your guys? you mention 2+ and 3+ Can you narrow that down a bit more?
Have you tried taking them for walks
ciao

[mdepennettGUEST]

^Heather
I adopted them both and was quoted Elliot, 3, and Peach, 2. So in August/September they should be 4 and 3. I never know when to age them if I don't have a birth day, so I am going with their adoption dates.

I am getting ready to take Elliot back to the vet. His last checkup was in December, and I am just trying to gauge where to take him around Chicago and get ahead of the extra costs with research into what I can specifically ask them to check for.

They are getting more time in the big open house, and I will be trying to convince them to run some stairs - once I block off the rest of the basement. A place I do NOT want them getting lost in haha. As for walks, I am worried about thaking them outside, at least in the back yard, moreso because Peach is the tiny one who can get out of her harness...but I think she has grown into it. I can try to take Elliot around the backyard though (before the snow...he is not a fan of snow or water it seems).

Cheers.

[unclejoe]

I'd stop the Zup Grain Free as it contains peas and other ingredients that can lead to kidney stones in ferrets.

[Sherry]

Agree with unclejoe about the zupreem grain free. Have heard far too many horror stories about that stuff. If you must feed a kibble, you want as many meat ingredients as possible in the first 5 ingredients. Also, it's fairly normal for older kibble fed ferrets to develop a "pear" shape. However, heather is right- have him xrayed for enlarged heart before assuming that.

[mdepennett]

Thank you all for the help. I will continue to amend the dry foods that I find available. Understandibly, kibble diet is not the best, and I look to change it when I control my own kitchen. I try to treat with my Duk Soup ice cubes when possible but Peach never seems as interested as big Elliot.

Although, I believe I heard Zupreem Grain-Free went through a recipe change because I am not seeing peas listed - as I was on the look out for. New recipe listed below.

Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Chicken By-Product Meal, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Potato Protein, Potatoes, Chicken, Natural Flavors, Fish Meal, Potassium Chloride, Dl-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Dried Chicory Root, Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, Tomatoes, Raspberries, Blueberries, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Bifidobacterium Lactis, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D Supplement, Folic Acid.

[unclejoe]

Look up oxalates
www.webmd.com/kidney-stones/kidney-stones-food-causes
ferrets are very susceptible to oxalate stones and i think sweet potatoes are on the scale. Our ferrets have been on Zup ferret diet supplemented with other good kibbles and raw soupies for years and we have had only 1 insulinoma case in the last 3 years, and she is on a minimal dose of pred.

[msav]

wow, 2nd ingredient is sweet potatoes. that would be fine if 95% was the first ingredient. but I am sure it is not.