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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2011 14:26:56 GMT -5
We've been feeding the ferrets Before Grain cat dry kibble for a while now. We couldn't do raw because we simply couldn't afford it. Now with my new job, we are making a little extra money every month and I'd like to use that to put the ferrets back on a raw diet. With the blessing of my husband, I am now back on here, asking for help. Its been so long since I've had them on raw, I have completely forgotten portion sizes and such. We are making a trip today to get meat for them. I'm getting their weights as I type.
Twitch: 1lb 8.5oz
Damien: 2lb 12oz
Kale: Haven't weighed but likely 3lbs.
What portions should they be getting per meal with a 2 meal a day plan?
I've wanted to put the ferrets on a raw diet for a long time. I never really wanted to stop feeding them raw, but now I know I have no choice. Twitch has lost a lot of fur on her back and it has me worried. Her tail is still fully furred but over the past few months, her lower back is almost completely bald. I will be including pictures later on today. I just have to figure out how to get them from camera to computer.
Any help would be great. I also plan on giving them whole prey 1-2x a week if possible.
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Post by Sherry on Nov 12, 2011 14:30:58 GMT -5
Best bet? Apply for a mentor! While the weights do matter as far as appetite goes, so does gender, activity level, general health, etc. So amounts can vary a good deal as to how much they'll eat.
However, with Twitch, I'd be getting her to a vet and on lupron. It really sounds like adrenal disease to me, and while diet will help with her reserves, it won't touch the adrenal disease at all. She needs medication for that. Lupron or deslorelin implant. If it's left untreated, it will only get worse.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2011 15:19:45 GMT -5
I have applied for a mentor and posted a picture of Twitch's condition. I will be contacting a vet in the next week or so for an appointment.
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Post by Heather on Nov 12, 2011 16:14:18 GMT -5
Excellent idea on both parts. It does indeed sound like adrenal to me too. The most cost effective is the des implant (every 6 months for adrenal ferrets, roughly) though you may have to make due with the lupron until the implant comes in (imported from Australia still until the new year). Good luck
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2011 21:33:02 GMT -5
Well gave the ferrets some beef chunks tonight for dinner. I ended up having to tear them into smaller pieces but the ferrets went nuts over them. They were stealing them from each other, running around with chunks of beef in their mouth. It was adorable.
We also gave some to the cats for dinner. They were all over it! Two of the cats practically climbed into my lap wanting more. If only we could afford feeding them all raw, but with 4 cats, a dachshund and 3 ferrets, feeding them all raw would be very expensive.
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Post by Sherry on Nov 12, 2011 21:59:43 GMT -5
With the other furkids- why not supplement then? Once or twice a week would keep them into the idea of raw, and not be too costly on the pocketbook  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2011 22:48:35 GMT -5
We were thinking 1-2x a week for them would be good. When they saw the beef chunks they were all like  |
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Post by Sherry on Nov 12, 2011 23:08:45 GMT -5
If at some pint you do plan to transition to raw For all of them, it's an idea to get into offering a variety of meats/bones/organs now That way, they'll be much more accepting of it when the time comes, and you won't have a stubborn one holding out on something important in their diet hoping for something they prefer ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2011 8:03:44 GMT -5
Well tonight we are trying chicken livers. I'll give them a few bites and see if they like those. So far the ferrets are doing well with their raw. Tomorrow I'm trying them on bones again to see if they remember eating those.
By the way, how long does it take to get a mentor?
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Post by Sherry on Nov 14, 2011 11:24:36 GMT -5
It really depends on how many are graduating at that moment. We've instituted a bit more of a complex form for diet switches, so it can take a bit longer now. Just checked- it should be pretty quick right now |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2011 21:53:17 GMT -5
Well the chicken liver was a BIG hit with two of my cats. They chowed down and I even got pictures! Next we are feeding the ferrets. We'll see if they remember it and like it. So far I can't really prepare the ferrets' food without the cats running up and rubbing on my legs begging for some. So for now, they'll get a few bites of whatever the ferrets are getting every night. (In the morning I just don't have time to hand feed them like they like so just nights for them)
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