Post by vahl on Jun 28, 2009 12:33:13 GMT -5
1. How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names, ages, genders, and do they have any health problems (this is VERY important)?
I have 2 loving Ferrets. First their is Sable 3-5 yr old male with a heart murmur. We have not been able to diagnose the cause as of yet. He just got over a bacterial parrasite infection and is doing much better.
Then there is Baby my almost 4month old female albino. Other than a respiratory infection she just got over she's fit as a fiddle.
2. What are your ferrets currently eating? Include their main diet, plus any treats or supplements (such as duk soup).
Currently they are both eating Marshalls premium ferret food. This is all that Baby will eat and I mean ALL. Sable however loves his treats. I have Marshalls brand Raisin and banana flavord as well as chicken ferret treats. Also 8 in 1 veggie ferret treats. Untill I came across this thread Sable was also getting ferretone and Furo Vite (with an occasional dose of Ferre lax) all of which I have discontinued due to the information on this forum. I also use Bi-odor in their water (have not heard anything bad about this so was also wondering if I should stop the intake of this as well?)
3. What kind of diet do you want to switch to?
As I do not have time to invest in a full raw diet, I have decided (and already ordered) they Wyson archtype 1 and 2 along with the treats on their website (beef, chicken, and pheasant). It should be arriving in 6 days.
4. Why do you want to switch to this more natural diet?
For starters to give them both a healthier, more realistic diet that will hopefully increase their life span and general health. Also hoping it will help Sable tone up and best case scenerio aid in his Heart Murmur.
5. Where/what/who got you interested in natural diets?
All on you guys here. From the information I have learned from reading this forum.
6. Please list the current weight for your ferret(s). Do they appear overweight? Underweight? How is there muscle tone?
Sable is now 3lbs according to my home scale. A little over a week ago at her last vet visit he was 2.8lbs (.6lbs more than his first visit). He does appear to have a little jelly roll growing on his underside. I am not sure of their muscle tone to be honest as I do not know what to look for exactly.
Baby is 1.5lbs and growing. She is slender and althetic. As far as I can tell she is of normal size but I really have nothing to compare too.
7. What is the condition of your ferret's teeth/gums? (can you get a picture?)
You want me to do what??? what should I do point the camera and ask them to say cheese??? lol. Seriusly I will see what I can do but with my zoom being broke on my camera and no one here to help hold em while i snap a shot it wil have to wait.
According to the vet however, she said they looked healthy and I have been brushing their teeth (talk about a choir) atleast 3-4 times a week.
8. Describe the texture/color of your ferrets coat.
Appears soft and cuddly on them both. But once again not much to compare too.
9. How often does your ferret go to the bathroom?
every 3-4 hrs roughly.
10. Does your ferret's feces and/or urine smell?
Not too terribly bad but I clean their litter out twice a day and use Bi-Odor in thier water.
11. Smell your ferret. How strong is their odor?
Baby has a muskier smell than sable does especially around her neck but neither is bad as far as I am concernd.
12. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being completely lethargic and 10 being "through the roof!" what is your ferret's energy level?
Sable when I first got him was a Definate 1 but since then he is around a 5-6.
Baby on the other hand is a 12 for sure. She wont sit still for nothing, and she will continue to romp around and play well after she should have taken a nap. She definatly gets a little attitude when she gets grumpy and so far that appears to be the only time she gets really nippy to the point of leaving a mark.
13. How excited is your ferret about meal time (when fed kibble)?
Hard to say as I keep food available at all times. Baby seems to like to eat everytime she wakes from a nap. Sable just eats when he feels like it.
Treat wise when ever sable even thinks he hears the treat back being opened his right there at your feet doing what ever he can to get a goodie. He has even gone as far as to fake potting when i was first training him to get extra treats (it was always funny that he thought he could get away with it
14. Have you attempted to switch from kibble to a natural diet in the past? If so, what methods have you tried. Be specific.
Nope
15. What other information about your ferret(s) would you like to share?
baby is my biggest concern as she refuses to try anything new.
16. If you can, please post a clear photograph of EACH of your ferrets directly below:
Here is a quick pick of them together Baby is on the left and Sable on the right
And here is a pic of Baby
And my Large bellied Sable
17.
a.) Do you understand that by starting this thread you commit to posting updates on the progress of your ferret(s) diet switch atleast every other day?**
I understand and agree
b.) Do you understand that if you will be away from your computer for an extended period of time you will need to exchange phone numbers (or email addresses if you don't feel comfortable exchanging numbers)via private message with your assigned mentor, so that we can monitor your progress and ensure your ferret's saftey during the switch?
I understand and agree to this as well.
c.) Do you understand that any threads that have not been updated in for more then a week (with no explaination as to why you are absent) will result in the deletion of the thread?***
yes I understand.
I am glad that you all care enough to do this. It is beyond my comprehension the time and effort you all have invested in this forum and I must say cudo's to you all. Thanks again for your help.
I have 2 loving Ferrets. First their is Sable 3-5 yr old male with a heart murmur. We have not been able to diagnose the cause as of yet. He just got over a bacterial parrasite infection and is doing much better.
Then there is Baby my almost 4month old female albino. Other than a respiratory infection she just got over she's fit as a fiddle.
2. What are your ferrets currently eating? Include their main diet, plus any treats or supplements (such as duk soup).
Currently they are both eating Marshalls premium ferret food. This is all that Baby will eat and I mean ALL. Sable however loves his treats. I have Marshalls brand Raisin and banana flavord as well as chicken ferret treats. Also 8 in 1 veggie ferret treats. Untill I came across this thread Sable was also getting ferretone and Furo Vite (with an occasional dose of Ferre lax) all of which I have discontinued due to the information on this forum. I also use Bi-odor in their water (have not heard anything bad about this so was also wondering if I should stop the intake of this as well?)
3. What kind of diet do you want to switch to?
As I do not have time to invest in a full raw diet, I have decided (and already ordered) they Wyson archtype 1 and 2 along with the treats on their website (beef, chicken, and pheasant). It should be arriving in 6 days.
4. Why do you want to switch to this more natural diet?
For starters to give them both a healthier, more realistic diet that will hopefully increase their life span and general health. Also hoping it will help Sable tone up and best case scenerio aid in his Heart Murmur.
5. Where/what/who got you interested in natural diets?
All on you guys here. From the information I have learned from reading this forum.
6. Please list the current weight for your ferret(s). Do they appear overweight? Underweight? How is there muscle tone?
Sable is now 3lbs according to my home scale. A little over a week ago at her last vet visit he was 2.8lbs (.6lbs more than his first visit). He does appear to have a little jelly roll growing on his underside. I am not sure of their muscle tone to be honest as I do not know what to look for exactly.
Baby is 1.5lbs and growing. She is slender and althetic. As far as I can tell she is of normal size but I really have nothing to compare too.
7. What is the condition of your ferret's teeth/gums? (can you get a picture?)
You want me to do what??? what should I do point the camera and ask them to say cheese??? lol. Seriusly I will see what I can do but with my zoom being broke on my camera and no one here to help hold em while i snap a shot it wil have to wait.
According to the vet however, she said they looked healthy and I have been brushing their teeth (talk about a choir) atleast 3-4 times a week.
8. Describe the texture/color of your ferrets coat.
Appears soft and cuddly on them both. But once again not much to compare too.
9. How often does your ferret go to the bathroom?
every 3-4 hrs roughly.
10. Does your ferret's feces and/or urine smell?
Not too terribly bad but I clean their litter out twice a day and use Bi-Odor in thier water.
11. Smell your ferret. How strong is their odor?
Baby has a muskier smell than sable does especially around her neck but neither is bad as far as I am concernd.
12. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being completely lethargic and 10 being "through the roof!" what is your ferret's energy level?
Sable when I first got him was a Definate 1 but since then he is around a 5-6.
Baby on the other hand is a 12 for sure. She wont sit still for nothing, and she will continue to romp around and play well after she should have taken a nap. She definatly gets a little attitude when she gets grumpy and so far that appears to be the only time she gets really nippy to the point of leaving a mark.
13. How excited is your ferret about meal time (when fed kibble)?
Hard to say as I keep food available at all times. Baby seems to like to eat everytime she wakes from a nap. Sable just eats when he feels like it.
Treat wise when ever sable even thinks he hears the treat back being opened his right there at your feet doing what ever he can to get a goodie. He has even gone as far as to fake potting when i was first training him to get extra treats (it was always funny that he thought he could get away with it
14. Have you attempted to switch from kibble to a natural diet in the past? If so, what methods have you tried. Be specific.
Nope
15. What other information about your ferret(s) would you like to share?
baby is my biggest concern as she refuses to try anything new.
16. If you can, please post a clear photograph of EACH of your ferrets directly below:
Here is a quick pick of them together Baby is on the left and Sable on the right
And here is a pic of Baby
And my Large bellied Sable
17.
a.) Do you understand that by starting this thread you commit to posting updates on the progress of your ferret(s) diet switch atleast every other day?**
I understand and agree
b.) Do you understand that if you will be away from your computer for an extended period of time you will need to exchange phone numbers (or email addresses if you don't feel comfortable exchanging numbers)via private message with your assigned mentor, so that we can monitor your progress and ensure your ferret's saftey during the switch?
I understand and agree to this as well.
c.) Do you understand that any threads that have not been updated in for more then a week (with no explaination as to why you are absent) will result in the deletion of the thread?***
yes I understand.
I am glad that you all care enough to do this. It is beyond my comprehension the time and effort you all have invested in this forum and I must say cudo's to you all. Thanks again for your help.