Post by alexa on Jul 6, 2009 9:38:50 GMT -5
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)?
2 ferrets that we adopted on Saturday, both girls one called Ember, a 2 year old polecat and one called Ash a 1 year old female. To my knowledge and the rescues they have no health issues. Ash has recently (2 weeks ago) been spayed.
2. What are your ferrets currently eating? Include their main diet, plus any treats or supplements (such as duk soup).
James Wellbeloved Kibble and Chicken wings and Chicken Mince
3. What kind of diet do you want to switch to?
I would like them to eat a raw meaty bones/prey diet
4. Why do you want to switch to this more natural diet?
My dogs eat a raw diet and do so much better on it, I assume my ferrets will do better and enjoy it too
5. Where/what/who got you interested in natural diets?
A friend about 4 years ago that fed her dogs a raw diet showed me how to do it fdor my dogs.
6. Please list the current weight for your ferret(s). Do they appear overweight? Underweight? How is there muscle tone?
Ember - neither overweight or underweight Ash - Slightly underweight - both small females
7. What is the condition of your ferret's teeth/gums? (can you get a picture?)
Good - unable to take pic at the moment, no one to hold whilst i take pics
8. Describe the texture/color of your ferrets coat.
Ember - Polecat, black, grey and white hairs, soft to the touch
Ash - Albino - coat is course and currently shedding, old coat has yellow tint new coat coming through is white
9. How often does your ferret go to the bathroom?
Everytime they wake up - approx 4-5 times a day
10. Does your ferret's feces and/or urine smell?
Not excessively
11. Smell your ferret. How strong is their odor?
Faint
12. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being completely lethargic and 10 being "through the roof!" what is your ferret's energy level?
Ember - 8 appears when she hears you for playtime.
Ash - 5 stays in her bed and takes a long time to wake up and stir - sometimes she stays in and watches.
13. How excited is your ferret about meal time (when fed kibble)?
Kibble is left down all the time on the advice of the rescue so couldnt say - they do seem to eat a fair bit 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.
Never for ferrets, they have some raw food already as part of their diet.
15. What other information about your ferret(s) would you like to share?
Cant think of anything off the top of my head apart from that I love them to bits and that they live in the UK
16. If you can, please post a clear photograph of EACH of your ferrets directly below:
The best I have so far
Ember
Ash
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.
2 ferrets that we adopted on Saturday, both girls one called Ember, a 2 year old polecat and one called Ash a 1 year old female. To my knowledge and the rescues they have no health issues. Ash has recently (2 weeks ago) been spayed.
2. What are your ferrets currently eating? Include their main diet, plus any treats or supplements (such as duk soup).
James Wellbeloved Kibble and Chicken wings and Chicken Mince
3. What kind of diet do you want to switch to?
I would like them to eat a raw meaty bones/prey diet
4. Why do you want to switch to this more natural diet?
My dogs eat a raw diet and do so much better on it, I assume my ferrets will do better and enjoy it too
5. Where/what/who got you interested in natural diets?
A friend about 4 years ago that fed her dogs a raw diet showed me how to do it fdor my dogs.
6. Please list the current weight for your ferret(s). Do they appear overweight? Underweight? How is there muscle tone?
Ember - neither overweight or underweight Ash - Slightly underweight - both small females
7. What is the condition of your ferret's teeth/gums? (can you get a picture?)
Good - unable to take pic at the moment, no one to hold whilst i take pics
8. Describe the texture/color of your ferrets coat.
Ember - Polecat, black, grey and white hairs, soft to the touch
Ash - Albino - coat is course and currently shedding, old coat has yellow tint new coat coming through is white
9. How often does your ferret go to the bathroom?
Everytime they wake up - approx 4-5 times a day
10. Does your ferret's feces and/or urine smell?
Not excessively
11. Smell your ferret. How strong is their odor?
Faint
12. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being completely lethargic and 10 being "through the roof!" what is your ferret's energy level?
Ember - 8 appears when she hears you for playtime.
Ash - 5 stays in her bed and takes a long time to wake up and stir - sometimes she stays in and watches.
13. How excited is your ferret about meal time (when fed kibble)?
Kibble is left down all the time on the advice of the rescue so couldnt say - they do seem to eat a fair bit 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.
Never for ferrets, they have some raw food already as part of their diet.
15. What other information about your ferret(s) would you like to share?
Cant think of anything off the top of my head apart from that I love them to bits and that they live in the UK
16. If you can, please post a clear photograph of EACH of your ferrets directly below:
The best I have so far
Ember
Ash
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.