Post by blaire on May 3, 2009 20:39:10 GMT -5
Hello All,
This is my first post on Holistic Ferret. I was referred here by the folks at Ferret Village. I have been a member of FV for several years, so I have quite a bit of accumulated knowledge about ferrets, but I have never tried to switch to raw, simply because my kids are very picky eaters.
My oldest ferret (Sid) recently passed, and I have decided that I would like to try switching to raw to improve the overall health of all my babies. My primary concerns with switching to raw are price and convenience - I don't have time to go to the store every day, so I really need a good way of stocking up and storing the meat (can it be frozen?).
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)?
I currently have 4 ferrets, having recently lost one of them.
Sasha is approximately 2.5 yrs old, with a history of stomach bacteria problems (suspected helicobactor). When we first got her, she needed extensive surgery and antibiotics, but since then, she has been generally healthy and active. She weighs about 1.5 lbs.
Izzy is around 1.5 years old, and she is extremely energetic and active, but she has some sort of chronic sinus issue that the vet has been unable to diagnose. We have tried switching food, changing litter, more/less ventilation, switching laundry detergent, antibiotics, and steroids. Nothing works. Izzy weighs about 2 lbs, and she is my little acrobat!
Jabba is around 1.5 years old, and he is healthy as a horse. He is a mammoth fuzz, weighing about 5 lbs.
Solo is my newest addition, and he has no health problems that I know of. We've had him for about a month. He is also going to be huge - he weighs about 3.5 lbs now, and he is only 5 months old!
2. What are your ferrets currently eating? Include their main diet, plus any treats or supplements (such as duk soup).
My kids were on Orijen Cat until about 2 months ago, when we switched to a mix of Innova Evo ferret and Chicken Soup for the Kitten Lovers Soul. Solo is still making the switch, so he gets Eagle Pack Kitten mixed in, which is what the pet store was feeding him. We supplement this diet with Kitten Milk Replacer and for treats we give ferretone (very little). Sasha and Jabba will eat anything, but Izzy is extremely picky, and I'm not yet sure about Solo.
3. What kind of diet do you want to switch to?
I want to switch to an all-meat diet, but I will not feed whole prey. The easiest for me would be meat that I can get at the grocery store.
4. Why do you want to switch to this more natural diet?
I want to do whatever I can to give my kids the healthiest and happiest lives possible.
5. Where/what/who got you interested in natural diets?
I learned about raw feeding from some of the people at Ferret Village.
6. Please list the current weight for your ferret(s). Do they appear overweight? Underweight? How is there muscle tone?
As mentioned above, Sasha weighs approx. 1.5 lbs, Izzy weighs 2 lbs, Jabba weighs 5 lbs, and Solo weighs around 3.5 lbs. Sasha, Izzy, and Jabba have recently lost some weight due to the season, and I believe that they have also been grieving for Sid (he was my first ferret, and also the alpha male). Izzy in particular has lost a noticable amount of weight, so the about estimates may be overstated. However, they are all healthy and muscular, with the exception of Jabba, who is a bit of a tubby-pants!
7. What is the condition of your ferret's teeth/gums? (can you get a picture?)
All of their teeth appear to be healthy. I will try to get a pic for my next post.
8. Describe the texture/color of your ferrets coat.
Sasha is a bibbed sable mitt, but she is getting much lighter as she ages. Her coat has taken on a silvery colour on most of her body. Izzy is a dark sable. Jabba is a silver, but we have had some problems with yellowing, particularly on his belly. Solo is a sable.
9. How often does your ferret go to the bathroom?
Sasha, Izzy, and Jabba have regular bowel movements - about 4-5 times per day?? Solo seems to be a poop-machine, at least 6-8 times per day (3 times in a 4 hour play session).
10. Does your ferret's feces and/or urine smell?
Yes!
11. Smell your ferret. How strong is their odor?
They have the usual ferret musk. Lately I have noticed that Sasha, Izzy, and Jabba are starting to smell a bit rodentish.
12. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being completely lethargic and 10 being "through the roof!" what is your ferret's energy level?
Sasha - 7, Izzy - normally 9, but during grieving - 6, Jabba - 7, Solo - 7.
13. How excited is your ferret about meal time (when fed kibble)?
They have kibble all the time, so they just eat when they feel like it. They get VERY excited about Kitten Milk Replacer, though!
14. Have you attempted to switch from kibble to a natural diet in the past? If so, what methods have you tried. Be specific.
No.
15. What other information about your ferret(s) would you like to share?
I am very concerned about the kids grieving, and I am worried about Izzy's lung health. I am also having some trouble with introducing Solo to the others, so he is still in a separate cage. We are taking it slowly.
16. If you can, please post a clear photograph of EACH of your ferrets directly below:
This is the best I can do for now.
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?**
Yes.
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?
Yes.
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?***
Yes.
**Note 1: If you are unable to make it to a computer (such as on weekends) please indicate below so we know whether you just dont have computer access or if you have gone MIA.
***Note 2: If you would like to try the switch again and you are committed to making regular updates you ARE welcome to restart your thread. Failure to provide regular updates will result in the deletion of your thread.
This is my first post on Holistic Ferret. I was referred here by the folks at Ferret Village. I have been a member of FV for several years, so I have quite a bit of accumulated knowledge about ferrets, but I have never tried to switch to raw, simply because my kids are very picky eaters.
My oldest ferret (Sid) recently passed, and I have decided that I would like to try switching to raw to improve the overall health of all my babies. My primary concerns with switching to raw are price and convenience - I don't have time to go to the store every day, so I really need a good way of stocking up and storing the meat (can it be frozen?).
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)?
I currently have 4 ferrets, having recently lost one of them.
Sasha is approximately 2.5 yrs old, with a history of stomach bacteria problems (suspected helicobactor). When we first got her, she needed extensive surgery and antibiotics, but since then, she has been generally healthy and active. She weighs about 1.5 lbs.
Izzy is around 1.5 years old, and she is extremely energetic and active, but she has some sort of chronic sinus issue that the vet has been unable to diagnose. We have tried switching food, changing litter, more/less ventilation, switching laundry detergent, antibiotics, and steroids. Nothing works. Izzy weighs about 2 lbs, and she is my little acrobat!
Jabba is around 1.5 years old, and he is healthy as a horse. He is a mammoth fuzz, weighing about 5 lbs.
Solo is my newest addition, and he has no health problems that I know of. We've had him for about a month. He is also going to be huge - he weighs about 3.5 lbs now, and he is only 5 months old!
2. What are your ferrets currently eating? Include their main diet, plus any treats or supplements (such as duk soup).
My kids were on Orijen Cat until about 2 months ago, when we switched to a mix of Innova Evo ferret and Chicken Soup for the Kitten Lovers Soul. Solo is still making the switch, so he gets Eagle Pack Kitten mixed in, which is what the pet store was feeding him. We supplement this diet with Kitten Milk Replacer and for treats we give ferretone (very little). Sasha and Jabba will eat anything, but Izzy is extremely picky, and I'm not yet sure about Solo.
3. What kind of diet do you want to switch to?
I want to switch to an all-meat diet, but I will not feed whole prey. The easiest for me would be meat that I can get at the grocery store.
4. Why do you want to switch to this more natural diet?
I want to do whatever I can to give my kids the healthiest and happiest lives possible.
5. Where/what/who got you interested in natural diets?
I learned about raw feeding from some of the people at Ferret Village.
6. Please list the current weight for your ferret(s). Do they appear overweight? Underweight? How is there muscle tone?
As mentioned above, Sasha weighs approx. 1.5 lbs, Izzy weighs 2 lbs, Jabba weighs 5 lbs, and Solo weighs around 3.5 lbs. Sasha, Izzy, and Jabba have recently lost some weight due to the season, and I believe that they have also been grieving for Sid (he was my first ferret, and also the alpha male). Izzy in particular has lost a noticable amount of weight, so the about estimates may be overstated. However, they are all healthy and muscular, with the exception of Jabba, who is a bit of a tubby-pants!
7. What is the condition of your ferret's teeth/gums? (can you get a picture?)
All of their teeth appear to be healthy. I will try to get a pic for my next post.
8. Describe the texture/color of your ferrets coat.
Sasha is a bibbed sable mitt, but she is getting much lighter as she ages. Her coat has taken on a silvery colour on most of her body. Izzy is a dark sable. Jabba is a silver, but we have had some problems with yellowing, particularly on his belly. Solo is a sable.
9. How often does your ferret go to the bathroom?
Sasha, Izzy, and Jabba have regular bowel movements - about 4-5 times per day?? Solo seems to be a poop-machine, at least 6-8 times per day (3 times in a 4 hour play session).
10. Does your ferret's feces and/or urine smell?
Yes!
11. Smell your ferret. How strong is their odor?
They have the usual ferret musk. Lately I have noticed that Sasha, Izzy, and Jabba are starting to smell a bit rodentish.
12. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being completely lethargic and 10 being "through the roof!" what is your ferret's energy level?
Sasha - 7, Izzy - normally 9, but during grieving - 6, Jabba - 7, Solo - 7.
13. How excited is your ferret about meal time (when fed kibble)?
They have kibble all the time, so they just eat when they feel like it. They get VERY excited about Kitten Milk Replacer, though!
14. Have you attempted to switch from kibble to a natural diet in the past? If so, what methods have you tried. Be specific.
No.
15. What other information about your ferret(s) would you like to share?
I am very concerned about the kids grieving, and I am worried about Izzy's lung health. I am also having some trouble with introducing Solo to the others, so he is still in a separate cage. We are taking it slowly.
16. If you can, please post a clear photograph of EACH of your ferrets directly below:
This is the best I can do for now.
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?**
Yes.
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?
Yes.
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?***
Yes.
**Note 1: If you are unable to make it to a computer (such as on weekends) please indicate below so we know whether you just dont have computer access or if you have gone MIA.
***Note 2: If you would like to try the switch again and you are committed to making regular updates you ARE welcome to restart your thread. Failure to provide regular updates will result in the deletion of your thread.