Post by Sherry on Jan 29, 2011 21:36:50 GMT -5
Name: Lourdes
HF Forum Username: AngelFish
1. Where did you first learn about natural diets for ferrets? From this forum mainly. I've had ferrets in the past but I was doing research on appropriate foods to refresh my memory when I stumbled onto this forum.
2. Please describe the type of diet you would like assistance in switching your ferret(s) to. Be sure to include if you are interested in feeding whole prey (live or frozen-thawed) and if you are wanting to FULLY switch to a natural diet or PARTIALLY. If you are unsure what kind of diet you want to put your ferrets on, please express that and we can help you find the best type of natural diet for your ferret.
I want to switch them fully to a raw diet. I would like to feed whole frozen prey, either primarily or as a supplement, whichever I can get them to eat. Failing a whole prey diet, I want them to at least be eating a raw carnivore diet.
3. Why are you interested in switching your ferrets to a natural diet? I have MS and have had to stop working as of 6 months ago. During that time I have discovered that human processed foods are junk and do very little for our health. I switched my husband and my food to whole, mainly unprocessed, organic, meats, vegetables and some grain. In that time we lost weight, I had more energy (if you know MS, that's just amazing), my blood sugars were under control again (which became an issue due to steroid treatments), and we felt better. During that time I also started looking more closely at the ingredients in our dog and cats' food and switched them to meat based foods. The least I can do is offer our new furbabies food that is good for them too.
4. Do you understand that switching your ferret to a natural diet can be a lengthy, arduous process? Its not an overnight switch. It can be a commitment of several weeks or even months. Your HF Mentor will be more then happy to assist you in switchng your ferret(s) to a natural diet, but you need to be equally as commited. If you aren't willing to tough out a potentially lengthy switching process, or if you have major life changes approaching (baby on the way, moving, starting school, getting married/divorced, etc) then it might be a better idea to wait on switching your ferret's diet until you have more time. Are you willing to make the commitment?
Absolutely. We're already married, not pregnant, not moving any time soon, and I'm home all day almost every day so I have plenty of time to dedicate to this.
5. How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names? Ages? Genders? Do they have any health problems? Are they overweight? Underweight?
Sugar, age about 2-3 years. She's female, spayed. Healthy so far except for a recently discovered penchant for eating cotton. She's currently undergoing a course of antibiotics which she will be done with on 12/28. Weighs 1lb 10oz
Spice, age about 2-3 years. Male, neutered. Healthy as far as the history I know. Weighs 2lb 8oz.
Pita, Age about 3 months. Female, spayed. Healthy, still in the process of getting her initial vaccinations. Weighs 1lb 4oz.
6. What diet do you currently feed your ferrets? (Please include all treats, supplements, etc)
All 3 are getting a mix of Zupreem and 8-in-1 Ultimate and the adults are getting a small amount of Meow Mix mixed in. The adults also get a couple of drops of ferretone every few days and the kit gets a drop on occasion (mostly to convince that she likes it)
7. Have you ever tried to switch your ferrets to a natural diet in the past? If yes, what happened?
No, this will be my and their first attempt at natural. Spice's previous owner did say she offered him a raw egg once but he wasn't interested. No idea when that was.
8. What additional information about yourself or your ferrets would you like to share?
I had a business of 3 ferrets over 10 years ago while in high school that I had to give away to a shelter when I went away to college. I've reached the point in my life where I have decent financial resources and support to provide an absolutely awesome life to these little guys and that's what I plan to do.
9. How often during the week do you have access to a computer?
Daily and pretty much all day.
10. Please post a picture of each of your ferrets (if possible).
Camera's dead so I'l have to update this part.
Hi and welcome to the mentoring program. In a little while your mentor (Heather....whoo hoo that's me
) 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.
Hi
I'm Heather, and we're going to be working together for the next little while trying to convince your furbaby to change to a healthier diet
I've been feeding a raw/natural diet for a little over 10 yrs. I have a small private rescue/sanctuary, just outside of Toronto, Canada where all ferrets turned into me are switched immediately over to a raw diet that consists of ground raw/whole meats or frankenprey/ and prey diet. At present every ferret eats this full range of diets. I don't keep kibbles in the house. All my furbabies are free roaming and have access to an outdoor play area that they can access at will. At present there are 12 little fuzzbutts who call this their permanent home. They range in ages of about 1 yr to my senior citizen, Dr. Pooka Dooks who is approx. 10 yrs. My most difficult switch was a little senior who was turned in at 9 yrs of age (she by the way has been my biggest raw switch challenge, which had me at times wondering why I was doing this to her) She eventually was completely switched and putting on a beautiful dark black coat, teeth that were nicely cleaned up, and she actually has a lot of fun investigating the house (she used to do nothing but sleep when she first was turned in). She has made me aware that every ferret no matter how old, can get a new lease on life by eating a species appropriate diet. She eventually passed on at 11 yrs of age to complete organ failure....old age.
Raw soupy is my favourite switching tool and one that I've had the most success with.
You can try to get them to eat a raw soup immediately. You will need a blender/food processor, and the following raw items:
8 oz raw chicken thigh meat (including skin and fat)
1/2 tsp of crushed eggshell powder (take a raw eggshell. Rinse it out. Let it dry. Crush to powder)
1 raw chicken heart
1/2 raw chicken liver
Water or broth(use more to make it soupier, less to make it thicker)
Blend ingredients together. Some prefer it at room temp. Try putting a dollop of "soup" onto your ferret's nose and they probably will lick it off. I use my finger. Sometimes this takes a little bit trying to convince them that you're not trying to poison them I find within a very short time they're licking this off my finger. When I see that they're willing to eat freely off my finger then I use a small spoon to try and get them to eat from that. Try to get them eating the soupy on their own. It might pique their interest.
Most ferrets will willingly eat the food once they actually TASTE it, so the only struggle you *should* encounter is them not wanting to taste it. Don't be surprised if your furbabies' initial reaction is to gag, spit and look at you like, what are you trying to poison me with But don't let them get away with it The hardest part is to insist and be consistent. Please also be aware that after years of kibbles they aren't aware that what you're offering them is indeed food. Once they willingly eat from your finger and spoon, work to try and get them eating this out of a dish or plate.
Each time you make your soupy, use a little less water to make it thicker/chunkier. Replace soup with fresh soup every 4-6 hours. You can make a large batch if you like and freeze into ice cubes or cupcake trays. Then you just thaw a portion and serve. OR you can put a frozen "cube" into their bowl and let it slowly thaw.
This is a good way to slowly ease them into wet foods. I use this method to switch all my furbabies and I've personally switched approximately 30 ferrets of my own in the last few years.
I will let you read through and if you have any questions please ask.
Good luck
ciao
HF Forum Username: AngelFish
1. Where did you first learn about natural diets for ferrets? From this forum mainly. I've had ferrets in the past but I was doing research on appropriate foods to refresh my memory when I stumbled onto this forum.
2. Please describe the type of diet you would like assistance in switching your ferret(s) to. Be sure to include if you are interested in feeding whole prey (live or frozen-thawed) and if you are wanting to FULLY switch to a natural diet or PARTIALLY. If you are unsure what kind of diet you want to put your ferrets on, please express that and we can help you find the best type of natural diet for your ferret.
I want to switch them fully to a raw diet. I would like to feed whole frozen prey, either primarily or as a supplement, whichever I can get them to eat. Failing a whole prey diet, I want them to at least be eating a raw carnivore diet.
3. Why are you interested in switching your ferrets to a natural diet? I have MS and have had to stop working as of 6 months ago. During that time I have discovered that human processed foods are junk and do very little for our health. I switched my husband and my food to whole, mainly unprocessed, organic, meats, vegetables and some grain. In that time we lost weight, I had more energy (if you know MS, that's just amazing), my blood sugars were under control again (which became an issue due to steroid treatments), and we felt better. During that time I also started looking more closely at the ingredients in our dog and cats' food and switched them to meat based foods. The least I can do is offer our new furbabies food that is good for them too.
4. Do you understand that switching your ferret to a natural diet can be a lengthy, arduous process? Its not an overnight switch. It can be a commitment of several weeks or even months. Your HF Mentor will be more then happy to assist you in switchng your ferret(s) to a natural diet, but you need to be equally as commited. If you aren't willing to tough out a potentially lengthy switching process, or if you have major life changes approaching (baby on the way, moving, starting school, getting married/divorced, etc) then it might be a better idea to wait on switching your ferret's diet until you have more time. Are you willing to make the commitment?
Absolutely. We're already married, not pregnant, not moving any time soon, and I'm home all day almost every day so I have plenty of time to dedicate to this.
5. How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names? Ages? Genders? Do they have any health problems? Are they overweight? Underweight?
Sugar, age about 2-3 years. She's female, spayed. Healthy so far except for a recently discovered penchant for eating cotton. She's currently undergoing a course of antibiotics which she will be done with on 12/28. Weighs 1lb 10oz
Spice, age about 2-3 years. Male, neutered. Healthy as far as the history I know. Weighs 2lb 8oz.
Pita, Age about 3 months. Female, spayed. Healthy, still in the process of getting her initial vaccinations. Weighs 1lb 4oz.
6. What diet do you currently feed your ferrets? (Please include all treats, supplements, etc)
All 3 are getting a mix of Zupreem and 8-in-1 Ultimate and the adults are getting a small amount of Meow Mix mixed in. The adults also get a couple of drops of ferretone every few days and the kit gets a drop on occasion (mostly to convince that she likes it)
7. Have you ever tried to switch your ferrets to a natural diet in the past? If yes, what happened?
No, this will be my and their first attempt at natural. Spice's previous owner did say she offered him a raw egg once but he wasn't interested. No idea when that was.
8. What additional information about yourself or your ferrets would you like to share?
I had a business of 3 ferrets over 10 years ago while in high school that I had to give away to a shelter when I went away to college. I've reached the point in my life where I have decent financial resources and support to provide an absolutely awesome life to these little guys and that's what I plan to do.
9. How often during the week do you have access to a computer?
Daily and pretty much all day.
10. Please post a picture of each of your ferrets (if possible).
Camera's dead so I'l have to update this part.
Hi and welcome to the mentoring program. In a little while your mentor (Heather....whoo hoo that's me
) 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.Hi
I'm Heather, and we're going to be working together for the next little while trying to convince your furbaby to change to a healthier diet
I've been feeding a raw/natural diet for a little over 10 yrs. I have a small private rescue/sanctuary, just outside of Toronto, Canada where all ferrets turned into me are switched immediately over to a raw diet that consists of ground raw/whole meats or frankenprey/ and prey diet. At present every ferret eats this full range of diets. I don't keep kibbles in the house. All my furbabies are free roaming and have access to an outdoor play area that they can access at will. At present there are 12 little fuzzbutts who call this their permanent home. They range in ages of about 1 yr to my senior citizen, Dr. Pooka Dooks who is approx. 10 yrs. My most difficult switch was a little senior who was turned in at 9 yrs of age (she by the way has been my biggest raw switch challenge, which had me at times wondering why I was doing this to her) She eventually was completely switched and putting on a beautiful dark black coat, teeth that were nicely cleaned up, and she actually has a lot of fun investigating the house (she used to do nothing but sleep when she first was turned in). She has made me aware that every ferret no matter how old, can get a new lease on life by eating a species appropriate diet. She eventually passed on at 11 yrs of age to complete organ failure....old age.
Raw soupy is my favourite switching tool and one that I've had the most success with.
You can try to get them to eat a raw soup immediately. You will need a blender/food processor, and the following raw items:
8 oz raw chicken thigh meat (including skin and fat)
1/2 tsp of crushed eggshell powder (take a raw eggshell. Rinse it out. Let it dry. Crush to powder)
1 raw chicken heart
1/2 raw chicken liver
Water or broth(use more to make it soupier, less to make it thicker)
Blend ingredients together. Some prefer it at room temp. Try putting a dollop of "soup" onto your ferret's nose and they probably will lick it off. I use my finger. Sometimes this takes a little bit trying to convince them that you're not trying to poison them I find within a very short time they're licking this off my finger. When I see that they're willing to eat freely off my finger then I use a small spoon to try and get them to eat from that. Try to get them eating the soupy on their own. It might pique their interest.
Most ferrets will willingly eat the food once they actually TASTE it, so the only struggle you *should* encounter is them not wanting to taste it. Don't be surprised if your furbabies' initial reaction is to gag, spit and look at you like, what are you trying to poison me with But don't let them get away with it The hardest part is to insist and be consistent. Please also be aware that after years of kibbles they aren't aware that what you're offering them is indeed food. Once they willingly eat from your finger and spoon, work to try and get them eating this out of a dish or plate.
Each time you make your soupy, use a little less water to make it thicker/chunkier. Replace soup with fresh soup every 4-6 hours. You can make a large batch if you like and freeze into ice cubes or cupcake trays. Then you just thaw a portion and serve. OR you can put a frozen "cube" into their bowl and let it slowly thaw.
This is a good way to slowly ease them into wet foods. I use this method to switch all my furbabies and I've personally switched approximately 30 ferrets of my own in the last few years.
I will let you read through and if you have any questions please ask.
Good luck
ciao
I have no idea if he actually ate a piece or if he just chewed on the one. I ended up giving him 1 tsp of pumpkin and some lax abou an hour later just in case he decided the paper was tastier than the lamb.
We played that game for another 5-6 times before she stopped trying to fight me and realized the food was good. She even dragged some bits to a corner to eat. She would eat some and leave behind whatever fell out of mouth in tiny piles all over the hallway and then Pita would run up next to her and hoover them up,
