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Post by crazyferret17 on Mar 11, 2009 21:12:10 GMT -5
I was just wondering what kind of supplements people give their ferrets. Right now I am giving them some prebiotics and some ferretone once a week when they get their nails trimmed. Just wondering...
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Post by sherrylynne on Mar 12, 2009 8:41:40 GMT -5
All mine get is the ferretone once every couple of weeks, strictly so I can do their nails(I don't like a lot of what's in ferretone, but it's the only thing I've found that works well enough), and a bit of grizzly salmon oil every third day or so for their coats.
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Post by Kerit on Mar 12, 2009 18:49:28 GMT -5
I've been adding a taurine capsule about once a week now.
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Post by cristina on Mar 12, 2009 19:22:08 GMT -5
I give taurine once a week as well as fish oil for coat at least once a week, sometimes twice given the season.
During change of season (shedding season) I give Vetasyl once a week to help the hair move through their system (instead of ferret lax, that has lots of sugar).
Instead of ferretone I use olive oil and emu oil (vivify), they LOVE olive oil so I give them just a bit (usually during ear cleaning time, since I use it when cleaning their ears).
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Post by Heather on Mar 16, 2009 0:16:51 GMT -5
As long as you feed heart and variety of meats and blood you shouldn't have to supplement. Most taurine supplements have an artificial or chemical base, it's better to use the real deal. The best supplier of taurine is the darker meats. So chicken legs have more taurine that chicken breast, emu has more taurine than rabbit. I believe that Giuli has a listing of what meats have higher taurine levels. The more variety that you feed the less you will have to supplement. If my guys get itchy then I give them some small marine fish oil, if they're shedding then I feed them whole mice and rats and pumpkin if I think they might be having some hair issues. I haven't given ferret tone in years, not since I discovered the setting agent was BHT/BHA a proven carcinogen. I understand that the product made by Marshals (they do get things right occasionally) doesn't carry these agents therefore is slightly better than the 8 in 1 product  ciao |
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Post by Forum Administrator on Mar 17, 2009 0:33:33 GMT -5
Only supplements I use are: 1. Fish Oil (Anchovy/Sardine and Salmon) 2. Emu Oil Finely Ground eggshells (for extra calcium every now and then) Pedialyte/Probiotics (When we have runny poop) Digestive enzymes (when we are introducing a new food) As Heather said, providing a varied diet removes the need for fancy supplements.  Sounds like you are right on track with your ferretone and prebiotics. You shouldn't need anything else. |
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Post by mustelidmusk on Mar 17, 2009 8:55:32 GMT -5
Since I feed a lot of ground frozen diet (commercial raw), I provide the following supplements
1. taurine *
2. Salmon oil (I sometimes get flax seed oil instead) "
3. egg shell (to replace bone bits that may not be eaten)
4. egg yolk - 1 yolk per week for all 4 ferrets
5. trace minerals * (smaller quantity per serving than recommended)
5. probios and enzymes (minor digestive upset -see poop protocol under medical section for treatment)
* about 3 times per week
A note about the egg shell....larger food sources (beef, venison, etc.) have harder bones. My ferrets do not eat the larger bits from the shaft of load bearing bones from larger animals. This does not represent much bone itn their diet, but I replace this with a pinch of ground egg shell anyway.
about the trace minerals - some people feel that our soils are depleted of trace natural minerals, and this deficiency is asse along in the food chain. My integrative vet recommends this. I use Mezotrace.
After 4 years of feeding this way, my kids had exemplary bloodwork (no major, detectable diet issues)
-jennifer
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