Post by jackie on Oct 24, 2008 11:19:50 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)?
Monster: age 6 yrs, male, no known health problems
Smokey: age 11 mo, male, no known health problems
Bandit: age 11 mo, female, no known health problems although she is deaf and has only 3 toes on one back foot (birth deformity)
Marley: age 6 mo, male , no known health problems
Fritz: age 5 mo, male, no known health problems
All but Fritz have seen the vet within the last month. Fritz is new and will go in next week.
2. What are your ferrets currently eating? Include their main diet, plus any treats or supplements (such as duk soup).
They were on Zupreme mixed with Chicken Soup for the Kitten Lovers Soul however all but Monster have boycotted kibble since I started giving them bits of raw as treats/experiments.
They have so far tried and enjoy: chicken wings, beef liver, chicken liver, chicken gizzards, beef strips/chunks
Monster seems to like the taste as he licks and chews on the meat like crazy. Seems like he is having a bit of a texture issue. I have been cutting up the meat in small bites and mixing it with some kibble so that the texture is somewhat similar and he can get used to it. I have also been feeding him separate as he is a bit older and the youngins tend to be greedy and push him out of the way.
3. What kind of diet do you want to switch to?
Raw/whole/live prey...all will eat raw now, Bandit has tried a pinky mouse and liked it. I have no doubt the younger ones will enjoy live at some point in the near future.
4. Why do you want to switch to this more natural diet?
I want the best for my fuzzy buddies. I want them to be as healthy and happy as possible for as long as possible. After doing a lot of reading and info gathering and this seems like the best rout to that end.
5. Where/what/who got you interested in natural diets?
I think I read about raw feeding for the first time in ferrets for dummies however I never really considered it until I found this forum and poked around. The info and positive feedback of other ferret owners made me want to give it a try.
6. Please list the current weight for your ferret(s). Do they appear overweight? Underweight? How is there muscle tone?
I am not completely sure about the weight, I will weigh them when I get home.
Monster is a little old man, when I pick him up he feels really frail and he is a bit wobbly at times.
All the young ones are strong and healthy. The boys are all fairly large but do not appear to be fat. Bandit is small but is strong and agile (even with her missing toes
7. What is the condition of your ferret's teeth/gums? (can you get a picture?) All the young one's have nice pretty white baby teeth and their gums look nice too. Monster has old man teeth that are pretty discolored.
8. Describe the texture/color of your ferrets coat.
9. How often does your ferret go to the bathroom?
Unsure as they all share two litter boxes which get scooped out in the am and pm. There is usually a fair amount of poo.
10. Does your ferret's feces and/or urine smell?
I have a fairly limited sense of smell but have been told by others that they do indeed smell.
11. Smell your ferret. How strong is their odor?
As stated above my sense of smell is limited however no one has mentioned them smelling too bad. However not that many people go around sniffing them so it is always possible.
12. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being completely lethargic and 10 being "through the roof!" what is your ferret's energy level?
Monster I would give about a 4...he has slowed down a lot as he has gotten older. He still likes to wrestle with the other ferrets, the kittens and even the dog (they have been fast friends since she was a puppy) but he appreciates his naps.
All of the others I would give an 8, 9 or maybe even a 10...they will go for hours and then some....
13. How excited is your ferret about meal time (when fed kibble)?
Unless their bowl was empty for a while they could have cared less...one thing I have noticed since they started eating raw is that they bicker and argue over who get what (even though it is all the same). They never did that with the kibble.
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?
My babies are spoiled rotten and rule the house. They moved into their own room a couple of weeks ago and really enjoy being able come and go from their cage pretty much at will.
Bandit was a terrible biter when she came to us but has mostly gotten over that now (the occasional nip as opposed to a full on attack).
They are all evil...but in a really good way! They make me laugh and are better for my depression/PTSD then any antidepressants the doc could prescribe.
16. If you can, please post a clear photograph of EACH of your ferrets directly below:
I am at work and am running out of time but will do this when I get home.
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?**
Yup
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?
Yup
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?***
Yup
Monster: age 6 yrs, male, no known health problems
Smokey: age 11 mo, male, no known health problems
Bandit: age 11 mo, female, no known health problems although she is deaf and has only 3 toes on one back foot (birth deformity)
Marley: age 6 mo, male , no known health problems
Fritz: age 5 mo, male, no known health problems
All but Fritz have seen the vet within the last month. Fritz is new and will go in next week.
2. What are your ferrets currently eating? Include their main diet, plus any treats or supplements (such as duk soup).
They were on Zupreme mixed with Chicken Soup for the Kitten Lovers Soul however all but Monster have boycotted kibble since I started giving them bits of raw as treats/experiments.
They have so far tried and enjoy: chicken wings, beef liver, chicken liver, chicken gizzards, beef strips/chunks
Monster seems to like the taste as he licks and chews on the meat like crazy. Seems like he is having a bit of a texture issue. I have been cutting up the meat in small bites and mixing it with some kibble so that the texture is somewhat similar and he can get used to it. I have also been feeding him separate as he is a bit older and the youngins tend to be greedy and push him out of the way.
3. What kind of diet do you want to switch to?
Raw/whole/live prey...all will eat raw now, Bandit has tried a pinky mouse and liked it. I have no doubt the younger ones will enjoy live at some point in the near future.
4. Why do you want to switch to this more natural diet?
I want the best for my fuzzy buddies. I want them to be as healthy and happy as possible for as long as possible. After doing a lot of reading and info gathering and this seems like the best rout to that end.
5. Where/what/who got you interested in natural diets?
I think I read about raw feeding for the first time in ferrets for dummies however I never really considered it until I found this forum and poked around. The info and positive feedback of other ferret owners made me want to give it a try.
6. Please list the current weight for your ferret(s). Do they appear overweight? Underweight? How is there muscle tone?
I am not completely sure about the weight, I will weigh them when I get home.
Monster is a little old man, when I pick him up he feels really frail and he is a bit wobbly at times.
All the young ones are strong and healthy. The boys are all fairly large but do not appear to be fat. Bandit is small but is strong and agile (even with her missing toes
7. What is the condition of your ferret's teeth/gums? (can you get a picture?) All the young one's have nice pretty white baby teeth and their gums look nice too. Monster has old man teeth that are pretty discolored.
8. Describe the texture/color of your ferrets coat.
9. How often does your ferret go to the bathroom?
Unsure as they all share two litter boxes which get scooped out in the am and pm. There is usually a fair amount of poo.
10. Does your ferret's feces and/or urine smell?
I have a fairly limited sense of smell but have been told by others that they do indeed smell.
11. Smell your ferret. How strong is their odor?
As stated above my sense of smell is limited however no one has mentioned them smelling too bad. However not that many people go around sniffing them so it is always possible.
12. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being completely lethargic and 10 being "through the roof!" what is your ferret's energy level?
Monster I would give about a 4...he has slowed down a lot as he has gotten older. He still likes to wrestle with the other ferrets, the kittens and even the dog (they have been fast friends since she was a puppy) but he appreciates his naps.
All of the others I would give an 8, 9 or maybe even a 10...they will go for hours and then some....
13. How excited is your ferret about meal time (when fed kibble)?
Unless their bowl was empty for a while they could have cared less...one thing I have noticed since they started eating raw is that they bicker and argue over who get what (even though it is all the same). They never did that with the kibble.
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?
My babies are spoiled rotten and rule the house. They moved into their own room a couple of weeks ago and really enjoy being able come and go from their cage pretty much at will.
Bandit was a terrible biter when she came to us but has mostly gotten over that now (the occasional nip as opposed to a full on attack).
They are all evil...but in a really good way! They make me laugh and are better for my depression/PTSD then any antidepressants the doc could prescribe.
16. If you can, please post a clear photograph of EACH of your ferrets directly below:
I am at work and am running out of time but will do this when I get home.
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?**
Yup
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?
Yup
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?***
Yup
Hang tight. 
