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Post by myfirebandit on Feb 4, 2010 15:18:49 GMT -5
I want to switch my two fuzzballs onto a partial raw diet. I believe I will eventually switch all the way, but it really grosses my boyfriend out (we both don't eat meat) and I think it will have to be a slow battle to entirely raw. Haha. We also don't have a lot of freezer space at this time, so smaller amounts of meat are great.
Is it significantly better to feed partial raw over a kibble diet?
Also, what do you use for sanitation? Is the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide method suitable?
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Post by sherrylynne on Feb 4, 2010 23:50:20 GMT -5
Supplemental raw is certainly better than all kibble, but as I'm sure you know- all raw is that much easier on their systems. I had two foster ferrets(who I've since adopted!). Since one of the conditions of fostering was to keep them familiar with kibble, we switched out every other day. I did notice a bit of a difference in their energy and coat levels with the supplemental, but once they went to a totally raw/whole prey diet, the differences became that much more pronounced. We do have some vegetarians on this forum who feed a natural diet, including one of our mentors It's a matter of getting beyond your comfort level with meat, and realizing your ferret truly is a carnivore. Myself, I just use a 50/50 vinegar/water mix for cleaning cages prior to the next meal going in. Some do use vinegar and hydrogen peroxide however, I believe. Just for your own info, here's a link to an interesting article on diet and potential insulinoma: holisticferret.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=talking&thread=3097&page=1
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Post by myfirebandit on Feb 6, 2010 17:35:16 GMT -5
Thanks for the info!! That was a great article ^_^
The boyfriend is already being swayed a bit... "is it really THAT much better for them? Hmm..."
And I like hearing that 50/50 vinegar/water works great! Sounds easier than the hydrogen peroxide deal.
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Post by sherrylynne on Feb 7, 2010 1:36:55 GMT -5
Yup- it is DEFINITELY that much better for them. Consider the fact that a ferret(and a cat, for that matter!) is what's called an "obligate" carnivore. Meaning meat/bone/organ are quite literally the only things they derive any nutrition from. They cannot digest any sort of vegetable, grain, or fruit. Not to say they wouldn't eat them- but they get as much benefit from that as we do from candy. Which is why something like squash or pumpkin is used for a potential blockage, their stool will come out the same colour as the pumpkin or squash. They've not digested any of it, it's simply help to "push" through the foreign object.
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