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Post by crazyferret17 on Mar 25, 2009 19:55:44 GMT -5
don't worry I am watching my others but they seem to be better then me dealing with his death. I asked my vet the same thing. And we think that they will be ok champ was kind of by my side 24/7 the last couple weeks so they knew something was going on and he had not been able to do anything so they kind of ignored him. I also wanted to let you know that I will be pet sitting for a week so i might not be able to be able to update as regular as a have. I am still going to go home once and a while and my boyfriend is taking care of my babies. Thanks for your support.
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Post by sherrylynne on Mar 25, 2009 21:30:44 GMT -5
Not a problem. You do what you need to do. Life does sometimes get in the way, doesn't it? I'm just glad the other two are coping ok.
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Post by crazyferret17 on Apr 2, 2009 19:56:17 GMT -5
hey I am finally back home. I am so happy... any way I was thinking of trying to start them on some of the natures variety raw. do you think that this is an ok food. I noticed that it is for both dogs and cats but they do not talk about the tourine level in the food. I am also a little confused about the amount of food to feed them. I was talking to some of my friends and they feed their cats 4 oz of raw food per day and the cats weigh more then my ferrets. Is it because they have high metabolisms or what, just wondering.
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Post by sherrylynne on Apr 3, 2009 8:39:23 GMT -5
Nature's Variety raw is fine. Just not NV freeze dried. It has whole pumpkin seeds- perfect for a blockage! If you can, aim for some whole bone in meals as well, for the dental benefits if nothing else. It also gives them stimulation, chewing on bone. I kind of went through that whole cat/ferret weight thing as well, when trying to switch my cats. A ferrets metabolism is much higher, and some of the dietary requirements are very different. Fuzzies need more bone than cats, as well as more liver/organ. If you give cats more than a chicken neck a couple times a week, they get constipated, but ferrets need bone at least 4 days a week, or they get diarrhea. Also kitties only need a grape sized piece of liver a couple times a week. Ferrets- a whole chicken liver weekly. They do metabolize it differently.
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Post by crazyferret17 on Apr 3, 2009 13:10:53 GMT -5
Thanks that is what I was thinking. We do have chicken necks and duck necks at work that I will start to try and give them. I am still having issues with riku eating raw but i will some more time since i am back home
thanks
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Post by sherrylynne on Apr 3, 2009 22:40:49 GMT -5
If they don't take to the bone right away, I wouldn't worry too much. They really do have to build up their jaw strength. You may have to smash the necks a bit with a mallet after segmenting them.My guys still won't do a duck neck on their own without it being chopped a bit(mind- they are a bit spoiled ) If they have too much trouble with it, try chicken wing tips, just to get them into the idea.
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Post by crazyferret17 on Apr 7, 2009 21:18:24 GMT -5
So moose is really liking the raw he would rather eat that then the evo kibble. Riku on the other hand is a little cautious with starting the raw, she seems to really like the evo. She is also weird in the sense that she eats when she wants to so when I give moose raw she does not want to eat. Do you have any other suggestions. Thanks.
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Post by sherrylynne on Apr 8, 2009 8:28:23 GMT -5
I can't remember- are you taking the kibble out when you go to bed? A bit of an appetite won't hurt them. You could also put the meat in when you take the kibble out. It won't hurt them to have it sitting out overnight, and that way, they can eat if you're not up at dawn . That's when mine eat the most.
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Post by crazyferret17 on Apr 11, 2009 22:51:40 GMT -5
Ok so I was taking away the dry and she was kind of eating it but not that much. Moose on the other hand is the exact opposite he loves his raw and and sticks his nose up at the dry. I must be honest i am pretty stressed and tired right now (that time of the month) and still waiting for champs final results (it has been 3 weeks called the vet friday and said results would be early next week the lab has been back logged). Anyway and because of champ I have been paranoid about my other two ferrets. But they are acting fine and playing and eating so I think everything is fine. Anyway I digressed, so basically it comes down to this. I have noticed that their poops have been a little runny so I gave back riku her dry and giving moose his raw which i mix between the dog and the cat so he gets his bones from the dog and taurine from the cat. so i started to give him the dog with the bone and they seemed to be looking better I am also going to give him some pumpkin and see how that works. Anyway what I am thinking is getting moose doing well on the raw first and then worry about riku. I can only do so much. I was wondering though should I be soaking the dry food in some water before she eats it. I don't your thoughts on the benefit about dry food cleaning their teeth (I don't really think it does that is why I want to get them onto raw) Anyway any thoughts would be helpful. sorry for being kind of a pain but ever since champ died my life has been turned upside down. Thanks for all of your help though...
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Post by sherrylynne on Apr 12, 2009 9:59:46 GMT -5
I do understand! I've(fortunately) not lost a ferret yet, and hope it's a very long time before I do.
If you are worried about the runny poops with the raw, add some powdered eggshell to the meat until they are both eating bone. Works like a charm! You will find poops can get really weird with a raw diet, but unless it's consistent diarrhea, it's not going to hurt them. And no, kibble won't clean their teeth. All it does is to help scratch the enamel, or get lodged in the back teeth, causing problems down the road. Are you planning on mainly sticking with premade raw, supplementing with something like necks/wings? Just so I know what we're aiming for.
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Post by crazyferret17 on Apr 12, 2009 12:38:47 GMT -5
Most likely I an going to do that I dont think I have the courage to do whole prey. I mean I don't really like mice, actually they really freak me out, and have had rats as pets so I dont think i could do that. I know that it is good for them, but there is only so much that I am willing to do. I tried the natures variety but they did not really like it.
about the eggshell is it something that I should go get or can i just grind up an egg shell. secondly how much should I give them.
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Post by sherrylynne on Apr 12, 2009 18:48:57 GMT -5
Not a problem about the whole prey. Not eveyone is comfortable with it, and the ferrets don't actually need it. It is the ideal, but you can get away with feeding frankenprey. For the eggshell, just rinse out the shells after you've used an egg, let them dry for a day or two, until totally dry. I use a coffee grinder I keep just for that. Powders them up quick as a wink . All I add is a pinch per meat meal. I believe the correct ratio is 1 tsp per 8 ounces though.
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Post by sherrylynne on Apr 18, 2009 10:25:35 GMT -5
Hi there, any updates?
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Post by crazyferret17 on Apr 20, 2009 18:07:09 GMT -5
Sorry for not being online my life has just been hectic once again, with school, and then my boyfriend got me sick... Anyway the ferrets have been doing well. Moose like usual loves his raw food. I have noticed that Riku is starting to warm up to it. But I have definitely noticed a difference in Moose's energy level he is like a youngster again running around like crazy. It might also be the weather it is starting to warm up here in Washington (finally) One question that I do have is I am going to start volunteering at the Washington state ferret shelter. And thinking about fostering. I know that for the most part you want to keep fosters on kibble. What are your views and how do you think I should approach the subject with my ferrets on raw and wanting to foster? Thanks P.S. I also got more information about champs lab results which I will post in the rainbow bridge section.
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Post by sherrylynne on Apr 20, 2009 20:49:05 GMT -5
Sorry to hear you've been ill! Hope your feeling better now . I'm glad Moose is doing so well, and that Riku is finally starting to come around. As to the potential fosters, all I can tell you is when I started to foster, the shelter was concerned about was that they(the fosters ) be able to recognize kibble as food. They had no trouble with the idea of raw soupies, and not much trouble with the idea of SOME raw supplementation. Good luck with it!
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