Post by Heather on Jul 17, 2011 21:13:10 GMT -5
Name: Emmers
HF Forum Username: DarkMoonSlayer
1. Where did you first learn about natural diets for ferrets?
I've heard about them in passing on various ferret related forums then I read a thread on one of my social sites about how kibble often contains toxic additives/preservative and how raw can be extremely beneficial to low weight critters and critters with poor coat quality, both of which my ferret has. That same thread linked to your old forums.
2. Please describe the type of diet you would like assistance in switching your ferret to.
I'm not totally sure what I want to be feeding her. I'm thinking raw and sliced up and maybe skinned. I definitely and not gonna do live prey (I don't like it when my cats bring live prey they found on their own so I doubt I'd wanna deal with it for my ferret). Uh... I want her on as much raw as possible, but I'm open to having kibble for her for my friends to feed her should I go on vacation or something (with raw foods as a supplement I just don't think my friend who usually pet sits for us would want to deal with blended/chopped guts
). Obviously if I'm gonna be letting her eat kibble while I am away I'll need to have her eating a bit of it normally so her tummy doesn't get upset while I am away.3. Why are you interested in switching your ferrets to a natural diet?
Sloane is under weight and has very poor coat quality, even with ferretone as a treat/supplement her coat is not improving much. Also we have a cat who has fatty liver disease and he needs a high protein, little to no fat diet. I was thinking I'd try switching them both. Sloane has never shown interest in meat, raw or cooked but the cat eats pretty much anything you put in front of him.
4. Do you understand that switching your ferret to a natural diet can be a lengthy, arduous process? Are you willing to make the commitment?
I'm fully aware that my ferret who is probably three years old and has always been fed kibble will probably flat out refuse to eat any raw food I put in front of her for a very long time. I'm fully willing and prepared to make this switch at her pace not my own.
5. How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names? Ages? Genders? Do they have any health problems? Are they overweight? Underweight?
One female 3-year-old Ferret named Sloane who is underweight.
6. What diet do you currently feed your ferrets?
Zupreem grain free ferret diet(free-fed). Ferretone every other day approx 1/2 teaspooon.
7. Have you ever tried to switch your ferrets to a natural diet in the past? If yes, what happened?
I have never tried it but I have offered her meat scraps and she didn't know what I was showing her and wandered off like I was being stupid.
8. What additional information about yourself or your ferrets would you like to share?
Sloane is completely deaf which has caused me to have trouble training her, she used to bite quite a bit but now she just nibbles toes occasionally. She loves to viciously attack shoes.
Sloane was originally at a Humane Society shelter with dogs, cat, rabbits and Guinea Pigs. No one showed ay interest in her after playing with her and she nipped them. I saw her on PetFinder but never contacted the shelter because I couldn't afford the adoption fees, and at the time my mom was adamantly opposed to a pet ferret. After first extensively researching ferrets I went on a campaign to change my mom's mind about ferrets as pets and persuade her that they were not "vicious blood suckers" like weasels. However due to finances I had no intention of buying a ferret, I just wanted to prove they were not evil creatures. for three days I talked nonstop about all the good qualities of ferrets and how they were pretty much the most awesome "exotic" pet on the face of the planet and mom eventually said something along the lines of yeah I guess they aren't that bad." On the fourth day mom went to her friend's house to visit and low and behold the shelter 60 miles away had given her (the friend) a ferret to re-home due to it not finding a home with the shelter. Mom tells me her jaw dropped and she said "You will never guess what my daughter has been talking about for the last three days..." the following day mom took me up to her friends house and I met the ferret whom we were never told the name of, and I instantly fell in love. But I never asked mom if we could take it home because I wasn't sure if mom was ready to actually take in a ferret. After I played with the ferret for half an hour mom said "so are we taking her home?" And I said "If it's okay with you I'd love to." And mom nodded and we went home ferret in tow. This whole story is why I say Sloane literally fell out of the sky into my lap. Since getting her I have purchased a large cage and gotten a credit card specifically for vet visits so I can be sure to give her the best care I can. I think the next step in operation "pamper Sloane" is the raw meat diet.
9. How often during the week do you have access to a computer?
Every day assuming it doens't break down for some reason
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 15 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, if I can possibly avoid it. To many little kibble addicts. All my furbabies are free roaming and have access to an outdoor play area that they can access at will. At present there are 10 little fuzzbutts who call this their permanent home. They range in ages of about 5 months, little Minion to Odin, who is 8 or 9 yrs, a late alter that was turned in 5 yrs ago intact. I would like to say 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, until recently, 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. Yuri is my present raw food quandry. He was on raw for about 8 months before becoming ill with an ulcer and has refused to eat raw since. Unfortunately, he associates raw food with the horrible meds he had to take. We're back at the beginning and are slowly making progress. 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)
I've also started adding raw goat milk, about 1 tsp to this mixture, they seem to like it.
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 over 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