New member

[brenda]

Hello,
My name is Brenda and I live in eastern Pennsylvania. I currently have 12 wonderful fuzzies and will be adding 2 kits this weekend. The kits were privately bred so I'm looking forward to the benefits of them being altered at the appropriate time rather than when they are just wee little babies! I've been doing some reading on the whole prey/ raw diet and I'm very interested in learning more. I do believe it is the healthiest diet for them but at the same time I feel nervous about making the switch. I don't think it will be difficult to get the new babies adjusted...I'm more concerned about my older fuzzies...a couple have insulinoma and I've had issues in the past with bad GI illnesses, so reading some posts that say vomiting is pretty common during the switch makes me nervous. I also think it will be easier for me to monitor their progress if I make the switch in groups rather than everyone at the same time.

OK...I'll continue to read information and when I'm ready I'll request a mentor to help me.

Brenda

[sherrylynne]

Welcome to the forum! Good for you, looking to switch the lot of them
With that many, it's actually a good way to do it. Plus, the others learn from the ones eating raw/whole prey!
So please, feel free, browse, ask questions, etc.! I look forward to hearing about you and yours

[Heather]

Hi and welcome to the forum. Yes, I could understand being a little nervous about changing 14 fuzzies, but if you go to the nutritional section, check out our mentoring section. With help there have been a number of large businesses that have switched their furbabies. Some do it all at once, others in groups. I agree your little babies will probably change in a flash and should probably be one of your first ones to benefit from your switching plans. Perhaps, your breeder already feeds a natural diet, many do. If you would like some help check out the mentoring program that offers one on one assitance and allows you to work with someone who's already switched a number of fuzzies including their own. I've switched ferrets with insulinoma and watched them thrive on the raw diets (depending on where your furchildren are in the progress of the disease you may actually be able to give up kibble in their diet, at least for awhile) I've also had a couple of furkids who when they were turned in to me had ulcers and IBD/IBS and they too benefited from the easier to digest raw diet. I hope that I will be seeing you around.
ciao

[brenda]

OK...how do you think I should approach the mentor request form? List my entire group broken down into sub-groups or just focus on one particular group at a time?

I have really been enjoying this site! I commend you guys for doing such a great job! I'm sure it takes a lot of work & dedication to keep things running smoothly!

Thanks,
Brenda

[sherrylynne]

Some prefer to break them up into groups to make it easier. Some prefer to just go whole hog . I personally think go for cage groupings, while offering it to the others if they want. That way, they all get a taste of the raw, and it may make further switches a bit easier. Here are the links for you:
If you are new to natural feeding, here are some links to help you navigate the site:

Post all questions about natural ferret diet here:
holisticferret.proboards80.com/index.cgi?board=newbquest

When you are ready to make the switch to a natural diet, fill out one of these forms:
holisticferret.proboards80.com/index.cgi?board=newbie&action=display&thread=822

and start a thread in this section (copy/paste the filled out form into your first post):
holisticferret.proboards80.com/index.cgi?board=newbie

Post all questions/updates on the progress of your ferret's diet switch in that one thread.

After making your initial post we will help you start the switch and we will assign you a "Holistic Ferret Mentor" to assist you and monitor your progress.

[brenda]

Thanks Sherrylynne...I'm going to check out those website links on raw/natural feeding and once I get through all that information ask questions if needed and then I'll get my info together for the mentor request form!

Brenda