Ally09's Switching Thread/Sherry

[Heather]

1. Where did you first learn about natural diets for ferrets? I have my two dogs being naturally fed on a raw diet.

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 would like to feed raw, but preferably not whole prey. I don't agree with kibbled based diets and would like to cut this completely out of my ferrets diets. Currently they have two servings of roo/chicen mince a day (pet grade mince) and they eat it happily but I still keep a little bit of kibble in the cage.

3. Why are you interested in switching your ferrets to a natural diet? I was raised believing raw is better, and I myself and my dogs stick to a raw based diet. I have only had my for ferret for under a year and am determined to keep them healthily onto a purely raw diet as well.

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?

Yes

5. How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names? Ages? Genders? Do they have any health problems? Are they overweight? Underweight? How long have you had each ferret for?

Taco and Nougat (male and female) are just under two years. I got them both at 12 months and have been fed kibble and raw through out the year I have had them in my car. Mailbu and Napoleon (female and Male) are about 16 weeks and highly prefer their raw meals.

6. What diet do you currently feed your ferrets? (Please include all treats, supplements, etc) They all eat Raw twise a day, pet grade chicken and roo mince, and have a handful of kibble a day. They have an egg yolk once a week as a treat and rarely water down lactose free kitten milk. (once a month)

7. Have you ever tried to switch your ferrets to a natural diet in the past? If yes, what happened? They like the raw mince I give them twice a day

8. What additional information about yourself or your ferrets would you like to share? They are all happy and young and I would like to keep it this way

9. How often during the week do you have access to a computer? Most days.

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

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

[ally09]

I wrote that late at night... eek my grammar
I'm SO excited about the switch.

[ally09]

P.S thank you Sherry for taking me on as a student <3

[Sherry]

You beat me to it ;D Anyway, here's my intro so you know where I'm coming from


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(rip) came first, two brothers, a sable and albino. Then Sinnead(rip). I got her when she was 4. 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!
And I lied ;D We've now added Mr. Frodo to the group. He was a one year old silver panda, deaf. He basically switched himself the second day here. He stole someone's meat chunk and hasn't looked 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.
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. And Mr. Frodo I've already told you about
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 my three year old's teeth are amazing. 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

[Sherry]

Ok, since they are already eating raw, we can cut the kibble out immediately Now we just have to balance it, and get them eating chunks and bones!!! As well as introducing some more proteins
Start with adding some slivers to their mince. Make the bits no larger than the end of your fingernail, and just add in maybe a dozen of these tiny bits. They are going to have to build up some jaw strength before they tackle bone

[ally09]

It was fabulous reading about you Sherry! and all your fuzzbutts. You sound very experienced and from what I see on the boards very knowledgeable.

Should I be adding slivers of any particular meat? by slivers I'm guessing you mean like cutting a whole bit of meat down into little slices?

[ally09]

Also I have ground down some egg shells, do you recomend adding this? If so, how much and how often?

[Sherry]

Feb 28, 2012 1:57:15 GMT -5 @ally09 said:

You sound very experienced and from what I see on the boards very knowledgeable.

Thanks Call it "trial by fire" ;D

Feb 28, 2012 2:00:05 GMT -5 @ally09 said:

Also I have ground down some egg shells, do you recomend adding this? If so, how much and how often?

If I'm correct, what you are feeding now is meat/bone/organ with the mince? If you are using that as a base, then no. Once we get to a point of straight slivers and bits of meat, then yes. 1/2 tsp per 8 oz of meat.
For the slivers, it can be any kind, but it's usually best to start with something they are familiar with. In your case either chicken or kangaroo.

[ally09]

Ok fabulous. They will be eating this tonight and I will let you know how it goes. <3

[ally09]

The slivers went down well, particularly with Napoleon (who eats the most and is the most food 'frenzied') Nougat was the least impressed, she seems to struggle the most with chewy cuts.

[Sherry]

Wow! That's excellent Ok, keep them on that for a day, then add more slivers and decrease the mince accordingly until it's all slivers. Hopefully, this will only take about a week, then we can start upping the size of the bits If they seem to take to it faster, you can speed it up a bit.
In the interim, you can always offer them larger pieces here and there to see if they'll actually eat them, or just stash them. If they balk at any point, just go back to what they would eat.

[ally09]

Ok fabulous I will!
Both Malibu and Napoleon are very good eating (grew up eating raw) they won't be a problem.
Malibu is tiny compared to Napoleon but nearly keeps up with the amount of raw he eats Taco but especially Nougat might kick up a protest. We'll see

[ally09]

Also Sherry, I hope you don't mind me asking but I don't want to buy ferretone, but my guys love something oily... what do you recommend best as a substitute or an oil mix?

[Sherry]

In no way do you need ferretone Can you get some salmon oil, or some small marine fish oil? Mine love that. I also cut extra virgin olive oil with the fish oil since mine won't take the EVOO by itself.

[ally09]

I'm sure I can pick those things up. Do you need to go to somewhere like a health food store to get the fish/slmon/marine oil?

Thanks for your help