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Post by misstee on Dec 23, 2008 5:19:05 GMT -5
Hi all, this is my first time here. I see you are all very happy for switching to a raw diet. I have still doutbs, not too sure to have a whole raw ferret. Before we adopted Bubo he was on a double way diet. He had kibbles during the day and meat for the night and I can tell he was a lot more healthy. He lost a lot of weight since he decided to abort meat and be a full kibbler. Right now he is having a mix of three types of kibbles (totally ferret, zupreem and ferret complete) plus cat's oral cares and some treats. At teh moment I'd like to get back to his old diet and see if he puts back some weight. He's only 920 grams while he used to be 1200 grams. I mean, he's not a big ferret, he's small and short, he's not bony but I'd like him to reach at least the kilo. AT LEAST! I tried to leave him with no food except his chicken for a few days but he rather starved.. I tried to mince a mix of meat (chicken, rabbit, quail and turkey). He does likes a few bites but only from my hands. Now I'd like to try to add some kibbles to the mix and maybe an egg. I also tried with the tone but he only licked the tone and litterally moved away the meat-- I have to say, he switched to kibbles only because he grew addicted to chicken intestines and since I had to stop giving him, he refused the meat ever after.
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Post by sherrylynne on Dec 23, 2008 11:35:32 GMT -5
The only way I got mine to even try raw meats was to mix them into a soup. Instead of using the cooked meats to make a duck soup, I used raw, and just slightly warm it. I'd scruff, and keep putting a taste either in their mouths(when I could), or on the nose, and they'd lick it off. We then graduated to licking it off my finger, then a spoon, then a bowl. After that, I slipped a few pieces of ground in the soupies. Try that, see if it works. Also, take the kibbles out at night, and leave a small amount of soup instead.
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Post by tsslilsis on Dec 24, 2008 10:19:32 GMT -5
Yes, I agree it would be better to start out with a soup. You could try the following:
1/2 cups chicken gizzards and hearts (ground, pureed or blended) 2 jars meat baby food 1 cup kibble 1 cup water
Since it has so much kibble in it it will be kibble flavored, and then if he accepts it you will slowly lessen the amount of kibble and add chunks of meat to it.
Welcome Mistee. I'm glad you saw my post on the lazy hammock.. I think my sister and I are the only raw feeders over there.. No one over there is educated about it too well so most of the people just look down upon raw feeding.
-~Ketlin
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Post by bigsis7 on Jan 21, 2009 20:00:22 GMT -5
I agree. Soups usually work better. Instead of blending the kibble you could pour it over the kibble and stir it in too. Also you can try soaking his kibble in meat juice/blood. Good luck!
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Post by Heather on Jan 22, 2009 1:45:53 GMT -5
Good stuff, good conclusion...great suggestions Please remember that there are as many ways of changing ferrets as there are ferrets and mentors So don't allow all these different methods and suggestions to overwhelm you. The biggest problem is finding the right one for your ferret. As you don't have a problem with kibbles any of these methods will work within your parameters. You have to remember, kibbles are filled with carbs, carbs to a carnivore (it works for us too) are addictive. There is a reason why we call them "kibble addicts". It's rather like offering broccoli and chocolate to a child. Most children will eat the chocolate and leave the broccoli. Ferrets are the same way. You offer kibbles, and meat they will eat the kibbles. Your little furbaby made his choices, he would sooner eat the kibbles...they're not good for him but to him they taste better. You mention weight loss, have you had your ferret into the vet recently? checked out his weight loss, has there been any change in his demeanor, sleeping more? eating less? A raw diet doesn't necessarily put on more weight, the weight that they put on tends to be leaner, more muscle, kibble has a tendency to be more fat. You can usually pick out ferrets on a raw diet vs a ferret that's on kibbles. There are long term health benefits as well when feeding a more natural diet. If you wish more personal assistance go to the mentoring section and fill out an application and work one on one with a mentor. You can continue asking questions here, and you will get help. Everyone is more than willing to help you get your furbaby back to a healthier lifestyle. Good luck ciao
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