Boris, Vincent, Lucrezia and Sinnead go raw!

[Forum Administrator]

Thanks for this info about ferret heimlich! You may even want to post this in the health and medical section so others can learn

Its okay if the beef is IN their soup. Just slowly work on phasing out the soup and at the same time gradually add in some small chunks of meat (start with "kible sized" and increase the size as you are able. Eventually they should be on all ground raw with some meat chunks in it, then progress from there by increasing the size of the chunks and phasing out the ground meat

Sounds like a plan!

[sherrylynne]

Finally, the blasted computer let me in! I couldn't get in here yesterday for love nor money! Any way, small problem. I still can't get any of them to take kibble with more than a few sprinkles of water on it. Anything more, and it's hunger strike city. I've tried several times with no success. It also seems like they've lost some weight, but that could be just my own paranoia. And now Vincent is soup shy, since his choking episode! Any suggestions?

[Forum Administrator]

If they will only let you put a few drops of water on the kibble, then just do that. Dont push them to far just yet.

Im going to call in some reinforcements. Sounds like your group might be taking a while to switch. If you can handle it and be patient that is just fine! Check out Toby's Raw Diet (it is stickied at the top of this section). Toby wouldnt touch ANYTHING and now he's come a long way! Jennifer (the mentor that helped this to happen) is amazing! Im going to bring her in to help you out!

[sherrylynne]

Thanks, Guili! I really think I need the help. Boris and Sinnead are still taking the soupies with some raw, but Vincent still won't go near it!

[Forum Administrator]

Ah! You have reached the dreaded point where some of your ferrets want raw and others dont! Ask Jaycee or Reedgirl how fun that is! (they are switching/switched business of 10 and 11 ferrets so you KNOW not all ferrets switched at the same time )

For Vincent I want you to give him his soupy as usual except take some raw, put it in a blender, then add it to the soup For him you will gradually add in more pureed raw and reduce the amount of soupy (go as slow as you need too....its okay if it takes time ) Then from there when he is only eating pureed meat, you will slowly work it up to a ground consistancy and THEN you can add meat chunks to the mix.

You have several options here:

1. Seperate Vincent from the others and feed him seperately
2. Put the soupie with raw AND vincent's special soupie in the cage and let all the ferts have access to it.
3. Make Boris and Sinnead take a step back and have them eat the soupie with pureed raw added

Whatever you want to do is your choice (there is no "right" way). Just find a method that works for you....and thank god you dont have 10 ferrets that are on 7 different stages of the transition!

Keep me posted!

[mustelidmusk]

Hi!
Since Vincent is freaked out about soup, you may want to feed him several licks of soup from you're finger tip. Once he gets confident from the hand feedindg , offer him a small amount of soup in a shallow bowl.i f he finshes that, offer him a little more.

Since you already have a "wet switching approach" with the soup. I'd try dry switch option as well. Vincent may be more comfortable with the dry food for for a while.
You can get freeze-dried meats or use commercila freeze-dried diets such as Wysong's Archetypal I or Ziwipeak.

I like the archetypal I because it has a peatmoss like texture with shredded meats and compacted chunks too. To start with, serve the kibble DRY, and mix in a small amount of the shredded with the kibble. It's really difficult for ferrets to pick out the kibble and notget some of the shredded meat. If you use freeze-dried meat treats or pattie, you can crumble them up.

As always start with a smaller amout and increase the amount of freeze-dried meat in the mix over time.

It's nice to take the aproach from 2 angles since not all ferrets are the same! Plus, this way you can continure to offer kibble while working on the switch at the same time.

Stinkweasels has a good assortment of freeze-dried products. I think they have thw Wysong Archetype (which is for cats and dogs, but the the archeype and Archetypal I (for ferrets) are so similar that I don' think in matters - Ive used both products.

Have fun experimenting and let us know how it's going.

-jennifer

[sherrylynne]

Hi, Jennifer. I'm really looking forward to getting these stubborn little devils switched to a better diet ! I'll check out Stinkweasels for the Archetypal when I get back from work tonight. In the meantime though, yesterday morning, and last night Boris and Sinnead had a small amount of soup with the ground beef, and I actually got Vincent to take the soup with a coupld pieces of the meat from my fingers! Yay! I was so happy he did this, because I don't want him to be afraid of the soupies! I'll try it again this morning, see what happens. I usually only have the time to check posts in the early am, before work, so any advice normally has to be acted on in the evenings, when I have time to set everything up. I'm going to try what Guili suggested, blending the raw into their existing soup, see if they take to it!

[mustelidmusk]

For Vincent, keep up the good work with the hand-feeding. Feed him by himself, preferably in a feeding den (a small pet carrier works well. He needs to feel unpressured and secure while eating. Polecats usually drag prey ack to their dens, and they eat their meals alone. Ferrets still have this instinct, especially when eating meat. But even with kibble, you'll see your ferrets grab a bite and run under furniture to eat. Also, remember to feed vincent small amounts of soup until he regains confidence. I'm sure he'll recover his confidence quickly, but I think he's the type that will want a private eating area.


As Giuli suggested, blending the raw in with the soup usually works really well because it allows for gradual change. If you're like me and find it difficult to get the time to blend food, etc. You can blend a bunch and freeze small amounts in ice cube trays. Then you can store the "meat cubes" in ziplock freezer bags.

You can also get pre-made meat cubes that are balanced diets (bone, organ meats, etc.) these are all ground up,and they can be used to help introduce organ meats and bone, and variety. Even if you want to feed raw meaty bones and whole prey, these foods can help you transition your kids. The frozen raw foods I use are Nature's Variety products. This may help take some of the hassel/pressure out of the transition phase.

Have Fun and keep us posted as always
-jennifer

[Forum Administrator]

How are things going? Just wanted to pop in and see

[sherrylynne]

Sorry I haven't posted for a couple days. One of my cats are going through a severe depression, due to loss of our dog May 31. She was his best friend, and he decided to stop eating and drinking. We're working on getting him through it.
Anyway, finally had a chance to blend up the raw With their soup this morning. Sinnead ate her fill, Boris had some off my finger, then a bit from the dish, Vincent still only takes it from my finger, then only about 1/2 tsp. But he is taking it! I'm going to put a small dish in their cages when they go back in, and see how they do with it today. With the archetypal, it will have to wait until next week to order, but I like the idea.

[mustelidmusk]

Great news!!!

And Always remember, this is not a race, so keep offering Vincent food from the fingers. He'll come around - he just needs to do this at is own pace right now.

the Archetpal I is an easy way to get the meat taste buds gioing without having to worry about spoilage and/or food imbalances. You can start with small amounts an gradually work your way up to more meat/less kibble. This really takes the pressure off during the transition to raw because there's a lot less worry about temporary diet imbalanced during the switch (less nees to hurry!)

I was just able to pick up some Stella & chewy's steaks (freeze-dried raw, complete diet) at my local pet food store. Theyy're similar to the Wysong's, and the come in different meat types (chicken, lamb, etc.) My brats approved of thi option as well . Stinkweasels carried these products.

Remember that the Nature's Variety Freeze Dried has BIG chunks of pumpkin seed that can cause obstructions. Their frozen product does not have this.

Even if you feed whole prey diet, it's very convenient to offer freeze dried treats. I keep this feeding option open for when I need to travel -or something comes up where I can't following my normal routine.

If you get to the point were you leave out a small bowl of Wysong's like I do, the shredded meat scatters easiy. I got a shallow plastic container and put the food bowl inside that container. this helps keep most of the scattered food under control. Plus, unless the food gets wet or dirty, I collect it, pick out any stray fur, and put it back in the bowl. The container I use is actually a small bin for holdng scrap books and related supplies. Crafting stores commonly carry these (I got mine at hobby Lobby if you have these stores near you.) But you probably won't have the issue unless you're feedinglots for freze-dried foods.

t sounds like you have a good plan, so go for it and let ue know how it's working. No apologies required for not poting daily - sometimes it's good to repaet the same routine for a few days before making changes, so Itake the time to go at at a pace that maks ense for you and yo fuzzies.

Have fun!!!
-jennifer

[sherrylynne]

Thanks for the idea of the feeding den for Vincent. I'll definitely give it a try. Gave them some more blended soupies this morning, Sinnead as always ate her fill, Boris would only take it from my finger this time(little imp-he saw Vincent eating that way!=)). Vincent took it first from my finger, then graduated to a spoon on my lap! All together, he had about 1 1/2 tbsp! I'm proud of my boy!

[mustelidmusk]

Progresss is a good thing - even if it seems slow at times. I actually enjoy the low switchers, because they learn to love to be held while eating the new foods, and that carries over into a strong bond between you and your ferret...I just love it when I sit on the floor and all 4 of my brats just crawl into my lap for hugs and kisses!!! Hand-fed babies get really affectionate (Too cute!!)

I still commonly keep a bowl of food or soup next to me when I play with my brats. I offer then lcks from the finger here and there as rewards. It's a good way to reinforce the trust between you and your ferret when it comes to trying new foods. Small tastes here and there are simply playtime enrichments rather than meals. The ferrets learn to love it!

Keep up the outstanding work. Those hand-fed babies wil come arond and start eating on their own when they're ready

-jennifer

[sherrylynne]

Good news/bad news.
Sinnead: she is getting most of her morning nutrition from the raw meat/duck soup blend. AND she loves the feeding den!
Vincent: he is still only taking some from my finger, not the spoon today. He has NO interest in the feeding den. Put him in, he runs right back out!
Boris: he is a very special case. This boy backslides so much! This morning, you would have thought the soup was poisoning him again! All he wanted were his kibbles!
Now, what steps should I be taking with Sinnead? Should I just keep on giving the soup mix, or step it up for her? I know with the boys, slow and easy.

[sherrylynne]

Irony of ironies! I forgot to take the meat out of the freezer last night, so I had to defrost it in the microwave. Well, I put it in for a bit too long, and it was mostly cooked. I thought "Waste not, want not", and made it up anyway. NONE of them would touch it! It wasn't their normal(read raw) soupies! The little beggars give me such a hard time with the raw, and when they get cooked(almost), they. won't. touch. it!!! I know this is progress, but I couldn't help but laugh, and had to share this with you