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Post by Forum Administrator on May 20, 2008 7:26:54 GMT -5
Be sure to answer the following questions: 1. Name: 2. City/State: 3. How long have you owned ferrets: 4. How many ferrets do you currently own: 5. How long have you been feeding a natural diet: (please post the approx month/year you started feeding! If you say "2 years" then as time passes that will no longer be correct. Get what I'm saying? ) 6. What type of diet do you feed? 7. How old were your ferrets when you switched them to a natural diet? 8. Do you have any other pets? If so, what kind, and do you feed them a natural diet as well? 9.Why did you begin feeding a natural diet? 10. What would you say to someone who was interested in natural diets for ferrets? (ie would you tell them to go for it, what advice would you give, etc) Thank you for your cooperation. BTW- Whether you have been feeding naturally for one month or 20 years, we'd still love to hear from you. Post your info, we'd love to know more about your ferrets diet
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Post by Forum Administrator on May 20, 2008 7:29:36 GMT -5
1. Name: Giuliana
2. City/State: Saint Louis, Missouri
3. How long have you owned ferrets: Since October 2006
4. How many ferrets do you currently own: 3
5. How long have you been feeding a natural diet: Since January 2007
6. What type of diet do you feed: A raw/whole prey diet
7. Do you have any other pets? If so, what kind, and do you feed them a natural diet as well? I have one female cat, named Zephyr. Like my ferrets, she eats a raw/whole prey diet.
8. Why did you begin feeding a natural diet: I started to feed naturally after I got my first ferret and I realized how common disease was in this species. I was appauled by how early ferrets died, and the thought of my ferts getting insulinoma scared the crap outta me! Lugnut (my first ferret) was my first real pet, and I felt like his whole life depended on me, and it was my job to do right by him and care for him in the best way possible.
I started out by feeding him the "best" kibbles, but I met a woman on the ferretsmagazine.com forum (my first forum) who fed her ferret, Josie, a natural diet. I was intrigued and started to ask her questions about the diet. The more I learned, the more interested I was in feeding naturally. I started to research and after 2 months or so of reading up on how to provide a natural diet, I made the switch in January 2007.
I continue to feed a natural diet because of all the amazing benefits that I see. I wouldnt dream of going back to kibble, not even my cat eats kibble. My ferrets look and act so much healthier. There is less poop to clean up, less smell in general, and their quality of life seems to be greatly increased. It is so apparent that they LOVE their food! Fugue will even do flips and jump like a kangaroo if I hold a pork chop over his head. I never saw this enthusiasm when I fed my ferrets kibble.
The more I think about it the more I am happy with my choice to pursue a natural diet. I look back and am baffled as to how I could have ever thought that kibble was good for my pet. One of my favorite quotes regarding kibble is by "Josiesmom" (aka Kim) the woman who showed me the wonders of a natural diet (when I met her on the ferretsmagazine.com forum- My very first forum):
"I really do fail to see how cooked, processed animal by-products, mixed into a goo of grains, starches and plants then stirred with chemical additives, synthesized vitamins and processed minerals and baked into cute shapes constitutes "complete and balanced" appropriate nutrition [for my obligate carnivore]."
I couldn't have said it better. It just makes so much sense to me to feed naturally, and the longer I feed this way, the more I realize, "Hey, this isnt that hard at all. In fact, it's even fun!" I have a blast going to local shops and picking out meat for my animals meals. Its awesome when Im shopping and people see me buying 25lbs of meat and they ask "Uh...I dont mean to be nosey, but why are you buying all that meat?" I love seeing the looks on their faces when I say "oh, Im just buying cat and ferret food." The confused looks on their faces are priceless. I've even had people say "huh.....well I guess that does make more sense then kibble, now doesnt it?" I was like "exactly!"
Also, wanting to do a happy dance because you just found a sweet deal on cheap, quality meat is something only natural feeders would understand lol .
It makes me SO happy that my ferrets and cat come running looking for food when they hear the fridge open (the same place MY food is stored) and not when they hear a bag rustling or a can opener running. I truely feel that I am "doing right" by my little ones now that I provide them with a raw/whole prey diet and plenty of enrichment and daily time outside.
I created Holistic Ferret to help other ferret owners realize how easy it can be to feed this way, if you just have all the info. The benefits are amazing and its been a life changing experience. For myself and for all the animals that I share my home with
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Darlene
Cageless and Roamin' Free
Posts: 287
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Post by Darlene on May 21, 2008 2:16:24 GMT -5
1. Name: Darlene 2. City/State: B.C.,Canada 3. How long have you owned ferrets: 8 yrs 4. How many ferrets do you currently own: 2 handsome boys 5. How long have you been feeding a natural diet: almost 2 yrs (As of May 08) 6. What type of diet do you feed: raw/whole prey 7. Do you have any other pets? If so, what kind, and do you feed them a natural diet as well? 3 cats -- mix of kibble and raw 8. Why did you begin feeding a natural diet: I first learned a bit about feeding ferrets a raw diet,when I was watching some pet/vet shows from England. On those shows I noticed that ferrets were given raw meat as part of their diet. That totally intrigued me. I was brought up that feeding pets raw meat would make them vicious and make them sick. The more I watched these shows the more I realize there had to be something to their way of feeding their ferrets. Then I meet Heather on a ferret group. When I realized she fed her ferrets a natural diet,I started to ask her questions. Heather then turned me on to Natural Ferrets. Between Her and NF group and S.Hewitt I learned so much. I have no regrets and my boys love it. Darlene,Koby&Dontae Remembering Abby&Nike
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Post by mangekyousharingan on May 21, 2008 4:16:39 GMT -5
1. Name: Tim 2. City/State: Saint Louis,MO 3. How long have you owned ferrets: Since February 2008 4. How many ferrets do you currently own: 1 5. How long have you been feeding a natural diet: Since February 2008 6. What type of diet do you feed: whole prey 7. Do you have any other pets? If so, what kind, and do you feed them a natural diet as well?: no, but I have helped my ex-roomate put his cats onto a raw diet (though he decided to take them off the raw diet ) 8. Why did you begin feeding a natural diet: 1. I love my animal 2. It makes more sense to me. 3. Kibble reeks 4. Enrichment 5. Health 6. My pet's reaction to dinnertime 7. The comments and reactions of others when comparing my ferret to kibble-fed ferrets 8. The face people make when I tell them what I feed my animal 9. Being able to say, "oh, excuse me a moment. I believe my shipment of 20 pounds of dead, frozen animals just arrived at the door. Oh, hold on, I have to remove the dry ice container and make room in my freezer for these bags of mice and chicks." 10. Being able to say that my ferret can kick your guinea pig's a&% AND get his meal for the day
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Post by buzzonesbirdie on May 21, 2008 8:30:45 GMT -5
1. Name: Jasmine 2. City/State: Philadelpiha Pa 3. How long have you owned ferrets: About 2 1/2 years 4. How many ferrets do you currently own: 9 5. How long have you been feeding a natural diet: about 2 years (As of May 2008) 6. What type of diet do you feed: Raw and whole prey 7. Do you have any other pets? If so, what kind, and do you feed them a natural diet as well? I have two dogs and a cat (sorry tink i forgot to put you in the banner) adn the dogs and cat all are on Chicken Soup for the pet lovers soul food. The cat would not switch to a raw diet :'(and two of the dogs are not mine :(so i just switched them to decent dog food. ( if there is such a thing) 8. Why did you begin feeding a natural diet: Did alot of reading and talking to others and figured that it worth giving it a try and once my babies were switched the great changes that i noticed were enought to keep me going. Not to mention that i want whats best for all of my animals
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Post by mustelidmusk on May 21, 2008 15:40:23 GMT -5
1. Name: Jennifer 2. City/State: Louisville, Colorado 3. How long have you owned ferrets: 10 years 4. How many ferrets do you currently own: 4 5. How long have you been feeding a natural diet: > 3 years 6. What type of diet do you feed: Mostly commerial raw 7. Do you have any other pets? No - Unless husbands count 8. Why did you begin feeding a natural diet: Mitigate risk of health problems - particularly insulinoma
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Post by pear2apple on May 22, 2008 14:58:14 GMT -5
1. Name: Chris
2. City/State: Dayton, OH
3. How long have you owned ferrets: almost 4 months
4. How many ferrets do you currently own: 1
5. How long have you been feeding a natural diet: Since about February 2008
6. What type of diet do you feed: commercial raw frozen and Evo (kibble)
7. Do you have any other pets? If so, what kind, and do you feed them a natural diet as well? none
8. Why did you begin feeding a natural diet: So many different illnesses ferrets can get. It was scary, and I think that most could be side-stepped with a better diet. His health, teeth, weight, coat, energy, etc is all improved since his diet change.
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Post by jennifer5799 on May 22, 2008 16:47:37 GMT -5
1. Name: Jennifer B.
2. City/State: Pasadena, TX
3. How long have you owned ferrets: Since May '07
4. How many ferrets do you currently own: 2
5. How long have you been feeding a natural diet: To the ferrets? Since May '07. To animals period, for about 4 years +/-
6. What type of diet do you feed: ferrets - whole prey / others - raw
7. Do you have any other pets? Yes If so, what kind, and do you feed them a natural diet as well? 3 dogs and a cat at the moment and yes, absolutely
8. Why did you begin feeding a natural diet:
I started feeding my ferrets raw because I had fed my dogs and cats (and snakes and fish, etc) natural, raw diets for the last few years. It only makes sense that an animal eat the diet that is biologically appropriate for them. After seeing my other pets flourish on their appropriate raw diets, I knew the ferrets would have to be fed the same. I never fed the dogs or cats veggies, so it was easy to feed the ferrets basically the same thing - all meat/organs/bones/etc - starting out, then I discovered how much easier it is to feed whole prey - no more wondering if they're getting the proper ratio of everything!
An added bonus that happened while learning how to feed my animals appropriately was that I learned how to better take care of myself and my family, without using as much man-made stuff....
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ferretmaster
Going Natural
Ferretopia Ferret Forum[/color]
Ferret Slave
Posts: 120
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Post by ferretmaster on May 26, 2008 9:28:18 GMT -5
1. Name: Dominick
2. City/State: Tomkinscove, New York
3. How long have you owned ferrets: Dec 2003
4. How many ferrets do you currently own: 13 age range from 11 months to five plus years old
5. How long have you been feeding a natural diet: Mid 2004
6. What type of diet do you feed: Wysong 1 & 2, EVO red, Available 24/7 Home made soup with fresh beef, chicken, liver, beef heart, duck, turkey, rabbit when i can find it cheap, and other goodies. As a supplement or treat Beef cubes and other meats, chicken wings and mice.
7. Do you have any other pets? If so, what kind, and do you feed them a natural diet as well? No other pets 13 ferrets are all i need.
8. Why did you begin feeding a natural diet: I got to reading about how ferrets are obligate carnivores and how prey diets will benefit them, so i got 1 feeder mouse to see if they would eat it and the 6 ferrets i had at the time went nuts for it. I started to feed them mice 2 times a month and then added other natural food to it. Not all my kids will eat the raw meats but all will eat the soup and mice.
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Post by jojodancer on May 29, 2008 9:07:37 GMT -5
1. Name: Jojo 2. City/State: Chicago 3. How long have you owned ferrets: October 2005 4. How many ferrets do you currently own: 6 Sadie: 2.5 (shelter) Posh: 3 Bear: 3 Sam-I-Am: 5.5 (shelter) Morris: 6 (shelter) Mr Lynx: 8.5 (shelter) RIP, our little angel, Casey (died Feb 08 at age 5.5) 5. How long have you been feeding a natural diet: Since March 2008 6. What type of diet do you feed: Commercial Raw twice a day, and kibble available all the time 7. Do you have any other pets? If so, what kind, and do you feed them a natural diet as well? I have a husband, does that count? 8. Why did you begin feeding a natural diet:We had always tried half-heartedly to get our ferrets to eat pieces of chicken or eggs since we read that it was good for them. They wanted nothing of it, and we never pushed. They were on good kibble: EVO and Natural Gold. When we adopted Casey though, he would only eat Marshall’s ferret food, and we knew we had to get him eating more protein and fat for his insulinoma, so we got him eating a gruel of EVO, Natural Gold, baby food, Pingford’s Porridge, and A/D. After Casey's death in February 08, we really started pushing a more natural diet on our ferrets. I joined the natural ferrets forum, and did some research into foods that would fit our lifestyle, but would be good for the ferrets, too. After asking the forum about Wildlife Whole Prey, I splurged, and bought 10 pounds of ground frozen whole hen. It was scary, since the ferrets hadn’t liked the natural foods before – would I be wasting the money? The first batch of raw ground hen was given to them, with equal amounts of softened kibble, Pingford Porridge, and A/D on March 8, 2008. They sniffed it, and then started eating it. Bay March 27, they were eating gruel made only of whole hen and porridge (95% hen, 5% porridge). Their coats are so soft now, and they seem to love gruel time! The vet is happy that we are feeding more natural foods. EVO and Natural Gold are available to them 24 hours a day in their cage, and the hen is put out in the morning and the evening. We are constantly looking for different types of food to add to their gruel and their kibble mix. They didn’t like the freeze-dried nibblets (AFS) very much, but I will try giving those again. I might have to soak them first. We have added AFS real beef and chicken to their soup rotation, and will probably add other commercially prepared raw stuff such as Stella and Chewy’s, Steve’s Real Food, Aunt Jeni’s, and of course, the Wildlife whole prey. The ferrets will eat ZiwiPeak if it is mixed in with the EVO and NG for a few days.
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Post by aleronferrets on Jun 1, 2008 12:40:41 GMT -5
1. Name: Nikki
2. City/State: NE Ohio
3. How long have you owned ferrets: Since 1993
4. How many ferrets do you currently own: 9+
5. How long have you been feeding a natural diet: Since about 98 (first switched to half homecooked/half kibble, than partial raw, than all raw)
6. What type of diet do you feed: Mostly home prepared raw: chicken backs/necks/wings, organ meats of a variety of animals(hearts, livers, gizzards), canned or frozen fish, eggs, ground green tripe and occasionally Nature's Variety Raw or Three Cheers Raw commercial foods for variety. I give whole prey - frozen mice or goldfish from time to time but not very often. I also use small amounts of gravy/soup made with chicken, beef, eggs when I want to add supplements and don't have ground food.
7. Do you have any other pets? If so, what kind, and do you feed them a natural diet as well? Yes multiple dogs, two cats and a skunk. All are raw fed and all get basically the same diet as the ferrets. The dogs occasionally get oatmeal, barley or veggies -my breed is very active and sometimes the carb meals are needed to keep weight on them.
8. Why did you begin feeding a natural diet: I bought a GSD puppy in 1997 from a breeder who was switching to raw when i got my puppy, as were a good number of the people I knew from agility classes. I thought they were nuts! The breeder had an 8 year old GSD boy who she was considering having PTS because he had so many health problems and his quality of life was very much in question. The dog had severe hip dysplasia and terrible allergies and skin problems - chewed large parts of his body until his fur was gone and his skin was very irrated and sore. He was unhappy most of the time, could hardly get up to go outside and was grouchy when anyone did much of anything with him. I hadn't seen the breeder for quite some time (at least 8 months I'd say) and ran into her at an agility trial. She had a stunning male GSD with her - thick, plushy coat and looked like he was in the prime of his life. I figured she must have had to have her older male PTS and had gotten another boy, so I asked who he was. She laughed and told me it was her older boy and that after switching him to raw, he has been like a new dog. His coat came back, he went on several miles long walks every day with the other dogs, went swimming with them and was happy.
I was sold! I switched my dogs and soon started thinking I should switch the ferrets and cats as well. Prior to this, I honestly thought ferrets were just sickly creatures and laughed at the old books which said they had a lifespan of 8-10 years. Mine were all lucky to make it to 6 years and even at that they were sick with something by then (usually adrenal). I had already stopped vaccinating, after almost losing one of my first ferrets to a reaction.
The first "batch" of ferrets that I switched to raw food included three littermate brothers - Jareth, Goblin and Iggy. Jareth and Goblin lived to be 8 and 8 1/2 and Iggy lived to be over 9 years old. The amazing thing about them was that almost every ferret in their line died by time they were 6 years old from adrenal and/or insulinoma including most of their first degree relatives (parents, littermates, grandparents). I have not had any insulinoma since switching to a natural diet and the only adrenal ferrets I have ever had are my current three, all three being early alters.
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Post by amyandfuzzies6 on Jun 5, 2008 14:47:03 GMT -5
1. Name: Amy & Fuzzies7 (oh yeah, and hubby David, too!) 2. City/State: Auburn Hills, MI 3. How long have you owned ferrets: 10+ years 4. How many ferrets do you currently own: 7 ranging in age from 6 months to 6+ years - all Marshall babies 5. How long have you been feeding a natural diet: Almost 2 years as of June 2008 6. What type of diet do you feed: Raw Meaty Bone (RMB) 7. Do you have any other pets? If so, what kind, and do you feed them a natural diet as well? We have 2 Polypterus. These are Jurassic fish that haven't evolved any since this time period. They are native to tropical Africa and have both gills and lungs. They thrive in murky puddles of water which, when dry up, they walk to a new one. They get a natural diet of rosies, goldfish, ghost shrimp, and, as a special treat, a few loaches. 8. Why did you begin feeding a natural diet: I knew I was failing my furkids because they were getting so sick and dying prematurely. I followed all the ferret books, vets, etc. but still wasn't seeing the improvement I wanted. I also got tired (and broke) spending thousands of dollars at the vet to no avail so I started researching....I joined the online Natural Ferret group and it started become more clear - people in England have healthier ferrets WITHOUT kibble. I read Dr. Tom Lonsdale's book "Raw Meaty Bones: Promote Health" and then it all made sense. The last straw was learning I contributed to causing the insulinoma in my 2 babies, I was done with the kibble. Along the way, I learned how kibble was rendered and was horrified knowing what went into it - including drugs used to euthanize pets that remain after the rendering. I learned that the lifespan of a wild European Polecat was longer than that of some of my domesticated ferts then really knew something was wrong since my ferts have a constant food supply, no threat from predation, etc. It has been the best thing I could have ever done for them. Natural raw pet feeders must truly "think outside the box". Myths have a way of being perceived as truth if they've been around long enough. In addition, I believe too much trust and faith is placed too blindly in the hands of doctors. I had a vet tell me to feed my ferrets meow mix yet he took the sacred oath to "do no harm"? I'm not trying to bash all vets - I know there are a lot of good ones out there. I just wish ALL had the courage and strength to tell and practice the truth as Dr. Lonsdale does - a true animal ambassador.
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Post by theslave on Jun 12, 2008 6:14:51 GMT -5
Here goes nothing: 1. Name: Megan / M 2. City/State: West Midlands, England. 3. How long have you owned ferrets: about 5-6 years? 4. How many ferrets do you currently own: 3 of my own, care for 5 more. 5. How long have you been feeding a natural diet: about 2 years. (as of June 2008) 6. What type of diet do you feed: Anything with meat mix of raw and whole prey (rabbit, quail, DOC, hen, moor hen, pheasant etc.) 7. Do you have any other pets? If so, what kind, and do you feed them a natural diet as well?: 3 cats 1 parrot 4 guinea pigs 1 rabbit 5 birds of prey and yes, they all eat a natural diet. 8. Why did you begin feeding a natural diet:We had rescue some 2 week old kits and fed them milk until they were 4 weeks, started them on raw foods and noticed a dramatic difference when they took raw meat, they were muscular, happy, affectionate, excited, energetic - everything a fert should be, yet when I changed them to kibble they were the opposite. They didn't even look forward to seeing me and weren't happy to be fed, so I switched them back (yet again) to raw and they were back to normal, I started feeding my lot more and more raw and they were the same. Haven't looked back since.
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Post by Heather on Jun 12, 2008 23:06:28 GMT -5
1. Name: Heather 2. City/State: Bewdley, Ontario, Canada 3. How long have you owned ferrets: forever lol 4. How many ferrets do you currently own: 14 5. How long have you been feeding a natural diet: 10+ years (As of June 2008) 6. What type of diet do you feed: raw/prey 7. Do you have any other pets? Yes. If so, what kind, and do you feed them a natural diet as well? I have 2 cats that I switched to a raw diet. Samurai, a 21 yr old siamese whom I switched over when he was 12 and Merlyn a 11 yr old black bad tempered piece of feline that I rescued 9 yrs ago. I had 2 dogs who have since gone to the bridge who were also raw/natural fed. I'm soon going to be the proud slave to a raw fed/born to raw fed parents/limited no vaccine Irish Wolfhound puppy by the end of the month. 8. Why did you begin feeding a natural diet: It makes perfect sense. Why would you feed anything else
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Post by crazylady on Jul 16, 2008 20:54:45 GMT -5
1.Name Crazy lady
2. City/state England
3. How long have you owned ferrets 41 years ( my father gave me my first when I was 7 )
4. How many ferrets do you currently own 74
5. How long have you been feeding a natural diet 41+ years ( as did my father and grandfather )
6. what type of diet do you feed Raw/ whole prey
7. do you have any other pets yes
8. if so what kind and do you feed them a natural diet as well? two jack russel terriers one whippet and 2 cats all are fed a natural raw meat diet all of my animals are fed raw this is the way I was educated by my father and grandfather who had over 100 years of ferret ownership between them I was taught to think of the animal in its wild enviroment( how it eats what it eats how it sleeps etc) and keep it in the same conditions with regard to diet and lighting the only exception is all of my ferrets have one distemper vaccination in there lifetime all of my ferrets are whole with the exception of two vasectomised males ( who are used to bring females out of season naturally each year if not included in my breeding program I breed only for myself and to keep blood lines going I keep whole litters hense 74 ferrets lol ) take care bye for nowcrazy lady
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