Shawnielee's Switching Thread/Sherry

[Heather]

Name: Shawnie


HF Forum Username: Shawnielee


1. Where did you first learn about natural diets for ferrets?
My vet mentioned raw diets, so I decided to research it. I found THIS site on yahoo answers.


2. Please describe the type of diet you would like assistance in switching your ferret(s) to.
I would love to feed Pooka a raw diet. I'm not sure if partial or fully would be better for us.


3. Why are you interested in switching your ferrets to a natural diet?
Natural is always better.
I want him to live his life to the fullest, I want him to feel the best he can.



4. Do you understand that switching your ferret to a natural diet can be a lengthy, arduous process?
I understand, when aren't ferrets time consuming? To be a ferret owner is to be owned by a ferret. I would do anything for my little monkey.


5. How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names? Ages? Genders? Do they have any health problems? Are they overweight? Underweight?
I have one, his name is Pooka, he is 2, and a boyyyy, he doesn't have any health problems (other than the earmites he had when I got him, and a hairball he passed with no problems) Annnnd he is a big boy but I don't think he is overweight.


6. What diet do you currently feed your ferrets?
He eats Evo ferret kibble, and 3 times a week he gets a bit of pumpkin for shedding season. He also gets a bit of turkey baby food every now and then as a treat.


7. Have you ever tried to switch your ferrets to a natural diet in the past? If yes, what happened?
I haven't tried yet. I'm very excited to try though


8. What additional information about yourself or your ferrets would you like to share?
That Pooka is my first fuzz-butt and I have learned so much with him, but I am always looking forward to learning more.


9. How often during the week do you have access to a computer?
I have the net on my phone so, 24/7.


10. Please post a picture of each of your ferrets (if possible).


This is what Pook look's like when I wake him up from a good nap.
He turns into a pretty big diva when I wake him up and usually will give me the cold shoulder for about 5 minutes after.
(Until something shiny catches his attention)



Hi and welcome to the mentoring program. In a little while your mentor (sherry) will introduce herself and you can get started on a new adventure in natural ferret care and diets. Please remember to post regularly (daily or as per arranged with your mentor) so that your mentor can assist you move along safely in this adventure. If you experience computer difficulties or are going to be away, please notify your mentor and most of all relax and have fun . Your mentor is here to help you on this journey.
ciao

[Sherry]

Hello there! I'm Sherrylynne, and I'll be your mentor for their switch
First, a little about me. I'm 51, and have my own housecleaning business here in Calgary Alberta. I have 4 cats, ranging in age from 6yrs, to 17(only one would eat raw, unfortunately ). I also have 8 ferrets. Boris and Vincent came first, two brothers, a sable and albino. Then Sinnead(rip). I got her when she was 2. She passed at almost the age of 8, had adrenal for 3 years, treated with lupron for 2 of those.
After that came my first deaf ferret, Lucrezia. A marked DEW. Then two foster ferrets, whom we fell in love with and adopted- Zeus and Athena, both two years old at that time. Also both adrenal, and on lupron.
After that, a little abused ferret we called Willow. She was the worst fear biter I've had, although now she's becoming a sweetie . Then, Emily. 1 month younger than Willow, and those two have bonded strongly. She's the only one Willow wasn't terrified of.Suki is the last one, I swear! She was a little 8 month old darling the pet store was having a hard time selling, so were getting ready to send her back!
While transitioning the first four, Boris was my hold out. EVERYTHING I gave him was poison, in his mind . Worst little drama queen I've seen yet . Twisting to get away, gagging, retching- he did all of it! Then one day- he ate it! Every single piece on the plate ! Those four haven't looked back. Although Boris would still be a kibble head if I let him.
The next two for transitioning were the fosters. Until we adopted them, I could only supplement with raw. So in order not to cause unnecessary tummy upsets(mixing kibble and raw too closely can cause some problems- more about that later), I'd give them raw one day, and kibble on a different day. So, by the time we adopted, they had no problem with 100% raw diet.
With Willow, I brought her home, and she flatly refused to eat the totally ferret kibble, so I went back to the pet store and got her a small bag of the crap they were feeding them there, and brought it home. I tried to give her some, but she just upset the dish. So- I tried her with some chicken breast. She ate it up! Hasn't had kibble since . Emily came to us as a raw fed ferret, so no issues there. Suki was another kibble head, but caging her in the daytime with Miss Emily showed her how to eat raw.
That's me and mine in a nutshell

The reason I started looking a raw feeding was something my vet said to me. I was, at the time, giving them small pieces of fruit for treats. She told me that was VERY bad for them, and in fact, some studies have started to link early feeding of sugars with insulinoma later in life. So- I started thinking. Kibbles are full of carbs. It's all those grains/veg/fruits in them. Those are converted to sugars by the body. To me then, sugar= potential insulinoma.
So, I started checking out various diets. I had no idea what an obligate carnivore was at the time. I found out! Not much wonder there was soooo much poop in the box! I may as well have been tossing my money in there. They can't process anything that's not meat based! So I feed meat
Their fur is softer, their energy levels are amazing- no mad rushes then crashing. Even Sinnead's teeth are amazing at her age. No plaque whatsoever Healing is faster, and if they do get ill, they have more reserves to rely on than when they were just kibble fed!
And there is a LOT LESS POOP!!!! Yay!
I'm looking forward to helping your little ones get on a much healthier diet, and having fun while we're at it ;D

[Deleted]

I am so excited to work With you!

Its wonderful to have an experienced person behind you in case you need help. I salute you for the work you did on your own.

I really don't know where to start with this,
I've got pook to eat a bit of ground beef with some kibble and chicken/turkey baby food, and pumpkin, but since I brought clyde home he won't touch it.

I also an unsure of how much a day to feed or what a good balanced diet is. I've been reading on here and i guess soupies are a good way to start?

Thank you so much for helping us all out

[Sherry]

Ok, then! Let's get to work Yes, soupies are a really good starter. Since Pooka is familiar with the baby food, you can use that as a starter with both of them if you like.
I'd like you to get some chicken, any cut. Puree about 8 oz of that with a couple of hearts, a liver, and 1/4 tsp of powdered eggshell, as well as enough water to make it the same consistency as the baby food. I use a coffee grinder I keep for the purpose of grinding up eggshell. Others use a mortar and pestle.
When you have eggs, rinse the shells, and put them aside to dry for a couple of days. After they are dry, powder them, and just baggie them. You can start the soup without them, and just include about a tsp of pumpkin for now.
Once you've pureed the meat and made the raw soup, freeze it in ice cube trays, and when frozen, baggie the cubes.
Mix a wee bit of raw soup in with the baby food, and try finger feeding them both if they don't take to it right off. It's going to taste a bit different, so you might get some interesting reactions ;D Don't be surprised if you see twisting, spitting, gagging, retching, etc. Remember- to them, you ARE trying to poison them, and ferrets are nothing if not little drama queens ;D
For right now, we're not going to worry too much about balance, we just need to get them tasting the soup.
Let me know how it goes!

[Deleted]

Ok.
I'll get a shopping list going right now.
And I kept some eggshells from today.
So I'll get to washing them out.

[Deleted]

Hmm.
Eggshells are washed out, and drying.
Shopping list is ready to go.

Now I have to wait for my paycheck

[Sherry]

Sounds good. Check back in when you've gotten the stuff, let me know how they do, and we'll go from there
If you have any questions in the interim, don't be afraid to ask!

[Deleted]

my goodness,
Im sorry...

I got a raise, and I guess that changed when I would get my check???

I get paid tuesday..

[Sherry]

Different! That's odd it would change your payday But I'll be here. Thanks for checking back in

[Deleted]

Where is a good place to pick up hearts and liver??

[Sherry]

I get them from the grocery store. Usually in the freezer section for meats. Just ask the meat personnel when you go in next.

[Deleted]

Thanks!

[Sherry]

So, anything happening yet?

[Deleted]

Yes ma'am.

I'm so sorry about all this waiting.
Right now I am trying to find a place that has liver or heart. None of my grocery stores have them and the butcher that was by my house has closed down.

there is a place that is about 20 minutes from my work. I can't believe that there isn't a grocery with a deli type section close to my house anymore. There were tons like 10 yearfs ago...

Anyway, I am going to go check that place out tomorrow and see what I can find

[Sherry]

Why not just do a puree chicken with some water or broth to get them started now? You can always pick up the other when you find it. And for the first while, they'll still be getting their kibble, anyway.