Post by crystalineshadow on Apr 10, 2009 16:51:48 GMT -5
Well, I've read most of the board and it's time for me to jump on in.
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)?
Two female ferrets. Nipper 5 years old and Spaz 1.5 years old. They do not have any health problems that I am aware of at this time.
2. What are your ferrets currently eating? Include their main diet, plus any treats or supplements (such as duk soup).
Kibble - currently a mix of mazuri and several sample packages from diamond/chicken soup. They are not eating anything else (no treats, soups, ferretone, or anything else). I would like to teach them to eat a soup just in case one of them gets sick and needs it.
3. What kind of diet do you want to switch to?
Eventually I want a raw/RMB diet, however I will first be switching to a kibble and raw combo until I run out of kibble (that will take a while).
4. Why do you want to switch to this more natural diet?
Because it will be better for them, I feel that they have low energy levels, and I want to help Nipper to gain weight and be a happier ferret.
5. Where/what/who got you interested in natural diets?
Ferret village sent me over here, and the more I read the smarter an idea it seemed.
6. Please list the current weight for your ferret(s). Do they appear overweight? Underweight? How is there muscle tone?
Spaz is 1 lb and 10 ounces (down 2 oz in the month I've had her). She seems to have poor muscle tone. She cannot jump onto the couch yet, however she is now able to leave her cage in a single hop instead of getting her upper body through the opening and then scrambling to pull herself through.
Nipper I am worried about. She is 1lb 14 oz (up 2 oz in the month I've had her). She seems to be very underweight. I can feel her ribs, her backbone, her hipbones and her shoulderbones and sometimes I can even see her hipbones sticking out when she is standing still. Definatly need to get some weight on this furbaby. I believe her previous owners said that she was the one who went nuts for fruit loops so hopefully some good nutrition can remedy this.
7. What is the condition of your ferret's teeth/gums? (can you get a picture?)
Nipper has odd canine teeth... they are thin then suddenly get thicker toward the top.
Spaz's teeth:
Nipper's teeth:
8. Describe the texture/color of your ferrets coat.
Texture - Spaz has soft silky fur and Nipper's fur is thinner and rougher but not like straw, however both of them had conditioner used at their last bath.
Color - Spaz: Off white base coat, black and white guard hairs, darker front legs. Her front feet are white, she has a orangish yellowish stripe from her shoulder blades down to her tail and a white head.
Nipper: Cream base coat, chocolate guard hairs and a caramel mask. She has a white bib and front toes and her front legs are darker. Wish I could get a good pic of her as I feel she is an absolutely beautiful ferret.
9. How often does your ferret go to the bathroom?
I don't really keep track... I'd say about 4 or 5 times a day.
10. Does your ferret's feces and/or urine smell?
Normally no problem. Sometimes there is a smell like mild skunk, but I'm not sure if that is from the normal feces, the litter box informing me that it's a little past it's normal cleaning time or someone having gas.
11. Smell your ferret. How strong is their odor?
Mild odor - smells like dried flower petals. If I change the bedding once a week, you can't really smell the cage once you are over 2-3 feet away (the cage is at the end of the couch and you can always smell them from the cushion right next to the cage, but not so much from the middle cushion)
12. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being completely lethargic and 10 being "through the roof!" what is your ferret's energy level?
I'd say about 3. It is difficult to interest them in any games (except Spaz and the kitty teaser, but even that only lasts a few minutes) and they don't stay awake for very long (I think 45 mins is the longest either of them has ever been awake at a stretch).
13. How excited is your ferret about meal time (when fed kibble)?
Umm, excited... yeah right. There is food and they eat it. It's always available but that seems to be the best that either they or I can say about their current food.
14. Have you attempted to switch from kibble to a natural diet in the past? If so, what methods have you tried. Be specific.
Nope
15. What other information about your ferret(s) would you like to share?
Nipper does not yawn when scruffed. Neither ferret stashes. I know it's not important to the switch, but Spaz has a really short tail.
16. If you can, please post a clear photograph of EACH of your ferrets directly below:
Well, I can't get a very clear photo, but these are the best I've got.
Nipper:
Spaz:
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?
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?
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?
A,B,& C - yup, just makes sense that way.
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)?
Two female ferrets. Nipper 5 years old and Spaz 1.5 years old. They do not have any health problems that I am aware of at this time.
2. What are your ferrets currently eating? Include their main diet, plus any treats or supplements (such as duk soup).
Kibble - currently a mix of mazuri and several sample packages from diamond/chicken soup. They are not eating anything else (no treats, soups, ferretone, or anything else). I would like to teach them to eat a soup just in case one of them gets sick and needs it.
3. What kind of diet do you want to switch to?
Eventually I want a raw/RMB diet, however I will first be switching to a kibble and raw combo until I run out of kibble (that will take a while).
4. Why do you want to switch to this more natural diet?
Because it will be better for them, I feel that they have low energy levels, and I want to help Nipper to gain weight and be a happier ferret.
5. Where/what/who got you interested in natural diets?
Ferret village sent me over here, and the more I read the smarter an idea it seemed.
6. Please list the current weight for your ferret(s). Do they appear overweight? Underweight? How is there muscle tone?
Spaz is 1 lb and 10 ounces (down 2 oz in the month I've had her). She seems to have poor muscle tone. She cannot jump onto the couch yet, however she is now able to leave her cage in a single hop instead of getting her upper body through the opening and then scrambling to pull herself through.
Nipper I am worried about. She is 1lb 14 oz (up 2 oz in the month I've had her). She seems to be very underweight. I can feel her ribs, her backbone, her hipbones and her shoulderbones and sometimes I can even see her hipbones sticking out when she is standing still. Definatly need to get some weight on this furbaby. I believe her previous owners said that she was the one who went nuts for fruit loops so hopefully some good nutrition can remedy this.
7. What is the condition of your ferret's teeth/gums? (can you get a picture?)
Nipper has odd canine teeth... they are thin then suddenly get thicker toward the top.
Spaz's teeth:
Nipper's teeth:
8. Describe the texture/color of your ferrets coat.
Texture - Spaz has soft silky fur and Nipper's fur is thinner and rougher but not like straw, however both of them had conditioner used at their last bath.
Color - Spaz: Off white base coat, black and white guard hairs, darker front legs. Her front feet are white, she has a orangish yellowish stripe from her shoulder blades down to her tail and a white head.
Nipper: Cream base coat, chocolate guard hairs and a caramel mask. She has a white bib and front toes and her front legs are darker. Wish I could get a good pic of her as I feel she is an absolutely beautiful ferret.
9. How often does your ferret go to the bathroom?
I don't really keep track... I'd say about 4 or 5 times a day.
10. Does your ferret's feces and/or urine smell?
Normally no problem. Sometimes there is a smell like mild skunk, but I'm not sure if that is from the normal feces, the litter box informing me that it's a little past it's normal cleaning time or someone having gas.
11. Smell your ferret. How strong is their odor?
Mild odor - smells like dried flower petals. If I change the bedding once a week, you can't really smell the cage once you are over 2-3 feet away (the cage is at the end of the couch and you can always smell them from the cushion right next to the cage, but not so much from the middle cushion)
12. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being completely lethargic and 10 being "through the roof!" what is your ferret's energy level?
I'd say about 3. It is difficult to interest them in any games (except Spaz and the kitty teaser, but even that only lasts a few minutes) and they don't stay awake for very long (I think 45 mins is the longest either of them has ever been awake at a stretch).
13. How excited is your ferret about meal time (when fed kibble)?
Umm, excited... yeah right. There is food and they eat it. It's always available but that seems to be the best that either they or I can say about their current food.
14. Have you attempted to switch from kibble to a natural diet in the past? If so, what methods have you tried. Be specific.
Nope
15. What other information about your ferret(s) would you like to share?
Nipper does not yawn when scruffed. Neither ferret stashes. I know it's not important to the switch, but Spaz has a really short tail.
16. If you can, please post a clear photograph of EACH of your ferrets directly below:
Well, I can't get a very clear photo, but these are the best I've got.
Nipper:
Spaz:
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?
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?
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?
A,B,& C - yup, just makes sense that way.
I will have someone assigned to you shortly, I just have to check with a couple of the mentors to see who you get. 
. I've tried to switch ferrets when I feel lousy and you just don't have the patience to think right and get around what they want to pull on you. I hope too, that your little guys don't come down with the virus that the two of you are sharing. If it's the common cold (rhino virus) they won't get it, but it sounds like a common share and share alike virus as you've already noted that your guys are lethargic and not themselves. All of you snuggle up with a big comforter and a good book (if you really can read with a pair of ferrets in the blankies with you 
