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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 12, 2008 15:25:05 GMT -5
Glad to help on people questions (if nobody minds  ).  Of course I dont mind! Silly goose! I am currently helping 11 different people to switch 25 different ferrets to a natural diet! PLUS I am currently switching 2 of my OWN ferrets to a natural diet. Good lord of course I dont mind! I need all the help I can get lol!  |
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Post by theslave on Jun 12, 2008 15:25:18 GMT -5
Giuliana - good good I'm glad. That is a relief. I hate the thought of having to syringe feed. Did that already with Piper at the start of the year. I will probably re weigh tomorrow or saturday anyway (the scale I got is pretty cool, and I like to play with new toys! This just gives me a valid excuse!) I will probably do the soupie for a few days and slowly add larger bits of chicken. Thanks for the help! Also, how hard it it to switch meats. Do I have to do the same thing...beef soupie, pork soupie...or do they accept raw easier once they get started with the chicken? And (yes, yet another question) what about parisites and worms from eating raw meat. Is this an issue? Thanks again for everyone's help!! Switching meats - you shouldnt need to do the same for all of them. Just mix it with the meats they already have and it should go smoothly. As for parasites, I would suggest treating them with Ivermectin - just in case. But my friends all have pets on raw foods and none of them have had a problem, its just a case of not giving them guts of animals that may have got worms etc and feeding clean meats and well, ferrets could even get worms from eating dry kibble so if they ate going to get them, they are going to get them no matter what. Get my point? PS. I have just realised Giuliana posted before me. |
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Post by Jaycee on Jun 12, 2008 15:35:11 GMT -5
Hey, it is me again. Since you all like questions so well, I thought I would throw one more out there to the masses. You said as long as they are eating on their own, I shouldn't worry about the syringe. Does "on their own" also mean by me feeding them off of a spoon while holding them. Most of mine are stuck on that stage. I guess technically they are on their own. This is just a new thing for me, and I am a little nervous about doing it right. Plus if I mess up, I mess up 7 times. Goodness. And I want to add an 8th at some point (sorry Adam!-my husband). I am a crazy ferret person indeed! I am glad someone appreciates a little of my humor. Sometimes I feel like I am just entertaining myself! But, I enjoy me, so that is all that is important, right?  |
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Post by theslave on Jun 12, 2008 15:38:13 GMT -5
Right! lol And yup that is classed as "in they're own", if they stopped eating you would have to kinda force feed them the soup. So as long and they're eating something they will be ok |
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Post by Jaycee on Jun 12, 2008 15:40:21 GMT -5
PS. I have just realised Giuliana posted before me.[/quote]
Don't worry about that. I think I have just realize all the posts are sort of intermingled and in random orders. I figure it out though. I like the input no matter what order it comes in!
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 12, 2008 15:40:21 GMT -5
As for parasites, I would suggest treating them with Ivermectin - just in case. But my friends all have pets on raw foods and none of them have had a problem, its just a case of not giving them guts of animals that may have got worms etc and feeding clean meats and well, ferrets could even get worms from eating dry kibble so if they ate going to get them, they are going to get them no matter what. Get my point? I would be careful with parasite prevention. Kibble fed ferrets are more prone to parasites because they arent recieveing optimum nutrition and their immune systems arent that great. Raw fed animals have a higher resistance to parasite infestation. Almost all healthy animals have parasites, it is when those parasites INFEST that you get a problem. There is a discussion currently going on in the natural care section (heartworm) that discusses ivermectin. While I recommend using it (with caution) as a heartworm preventative, I wouldnt use it during non-heartworm months. The less "poison" you put on/in your pet the better The longer your ferrets are raw fed, the healthier they will be (and the less apealing they will be to mites, fleas, ticks, and worms). Also, freezing the meat really will help you avoid worms. |
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Post by theslave on Jun 12, 2008 15:43:12 GMT -5
As for parasites, I would suggest treating them with Ivermectin - just in case. But my friends all have pets on raw foods and none of them have had a problem, its just a case of not giving them guts of animals that may have got worms etc and feeding clean meats and well, ferrets could even get worms from eating dry kibble so if they ate going to get them, they are going to get them no matter what. Get my point? I would be careful with parasite prevention. Kibble fed ferrets are more prone to parasites because they arent recieveing optimum nutrition and their immune systems arent that great. Raw fed animals have a higher resistance to parasite infestation. Almost all healthy animals have parasites, it is when those parasites INFEST that you get a problem. There is a discussion currently going on in the natural care section (heartworm) that discusses ivermectin. While I recommend using it (with caution) as a heartworm preventative, I wouldnt use it during non-heartworm months. The less "poison" you put on/in your pet the better The longer your ferrets are raw fed, the healthier they will be (and the less apealing they will be to mites, fleas, ticks, and worms). Also, freezing the meat really will help you avoid worms. Thanks for that!  |
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Post by Jaycee on Jun 12, 2008 15:46:18 GMT -5
[ I am currently helping 11 different people to switch 25 different ferrets to a natural diet! [/quote] You know what is scary is the sudden realization that 1/4 of your problem children are mine! |
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 12, 2008 15:56:20 GMT -5
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 12, 2008 15:57:27 GMT -5
No problem, theslave! |
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Post by Jaycee on Jun 12, 2008 16:09:11 GMT -5
Lol! I love the 3rd video...did he eat that whole pork chop all by his lonesome? That's a lot of meat for one little guy! And...no. I won't be doing that in my living room! |
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 12, 2008 16:30:36 GMT -5
He would have if I had let him. Im not joking when I say babies eat alot! He could eat that whole thing if I let him, whereas the ferrets in the first video could have split that amoung themselves with a little left over! Older ferrets eat a more sane amount then those babies. The babies are freaking garbage disposals!!!
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Post by Jaycee on Jun 12, 2008 17:54:36 GMT -5
A good sign....I was feeding Jax with the spoon (she was laying on the floor looking sad) and she stole the spoon full of soupie away from me and carried it into her hiding place. I think she may be well on her way! |
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 12, 2008 18:11:02 GMT -5
A good sign....I was feeding Jax with the spoon (she was laying on the floor looking sad) and she stole the spoon full of soupie away from me and carried it into her hiding place. I think she may be well on her way! DEFINITLY a good sign Sounds like your little ones are starting to realize that "hey! This isnt so bad after all!"  Keep us posted!
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Post by quill on Jun 12, 2008 22:18:38 GMT -5
Hi Jaycee, I see that you use broth to moisten your soup. Just wanted to let you know that I use water because I figured that Chaos could still smell and taste his kibble. So, maybe with the most stubborn ones you could try the water instead of broth and see if they are like Chaos. Just a thought |
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He's freaking out because De (in my siggy) is "snorgling" (ie kissing and licking) his ear