poop

[odin]

So I have just started my switch, I have a mentor and i am just curious about what all you veterans noticed when you first started feeding raw. I was prepared for a poop reduction, but it has been such a significant change it sort of scared me a little.

Cassi was already on a pretty good feeding schedule b/c of when I wake her up and when i get home etc... so it was easy to predict the best times to offer her the soupy. She took to it pretty quickly, she was used to the texture from chicken babyfood in the past. But the pooping is crazy. she must be pooping at least 75% smaller poops than before. At first I started freaking out a little as my mind wandered into the intestinal blockage realm, but she always poops about 4 hours after she is fed, unless she slept for a longer time and then goes within 15 minutes after waking up. But it is SO small. The change definitely coincides with the diet change, i'm just wondering if the rest of you were startled by the change as much as me. and i probably need a few of you to tell me that you were and that i'm not crazy and that cassi is fine. for my own sanity.

[luci]

I wasn't quite as startled with the reduction of ferret output after the switch because I had already gone through it with my cats!

After switching the cats neither of them pooped AT ALL for three days. Then when they did go it was so, so small I was just shocked. Now that it has been a few years their poops are slightly bigger and happen every 2-3 days.

So seeing a much smaller ferret poop happen 5 or 6 times a day wasn't nearly as jarring. It's normal! You can trust that it's normal.

[sherrylynne]

No, you're not crazy, and yes, Cassi is fine Isn't it wonderful?

[joclyn]

yeah, seeing the huge reduction in the quantity as well as lower frequency of the poo IS a bit scary!!!

i also knew to expect it...what i'm seeing now (or not seeing, as the case may be, lol) that it's been about a full month on raw actually has me questioning if it's normal or not. in fact, i just posted about it on my switching thread!

i mean, 5 ferrets using one box previously required almost full switch out twice a day (i tried keeping two boxes in the cage for them...and they insisted on using one as a sleeping spot, so got rid of it). this past week/10 days it's been only light scooping once a day and then full clean out later in the day. and some days i've only had to do light scooping morning and night.

my cat is VERY interested in the raw and has actually demanded some things as i'm getting it ready for the ferts...and has jumped up into their cages to get at it too. i am SO looking forward to switching him!! i didn't think he'd be a candidate because he's always been kind of picky and he's almost 6 - he's proved me wrong with his interest and, boy, does his poo need some help!! it's always been so stinky (even with good kibble) that you could smell it upstairs on the second floor and i keep his boxes in the basement...and less of it will be an extra-added bonus!!

[sherrylynne]

Just to warn you Joclyn- your kitty will only go once every 2-3 days, like Luci mentioned, so be prepared

[joclyn]

yes, i understand it'll be once every few days and that will definitely be an improvement even if the odor of it doesn't change.

his really DO stink to high heaven!!! and it's every day that it's got to be dealt with - and he usually goes when i'm home (not while i'm at work) so i always have the 'pleasure' of experiencing them...

[odin]

Thanks guys. It really is crazy how little she poops.

I also just posted in my mentor thread about my concerns with vitamin A poisoning, with the liver. the puree i made was 8 ozs meat half a chicken liver. it was way more than i needed for one girlie who is small to begin with. I remade it after 3 days with 5 ozs meat and 1/4 a liver. (i'm searching for the hearts desperatly) 1 full liver a week is what i was told. If she is getting too much will her poop be liquid or just wet?

Also, anatomical question, i feel stupid but chicken livers have two lobes with some connective tissue right? Like two big chunks tied together? That whole package (both lobes) is what we are saying is ONE liver right? so one full lobe is half a liver?

The easiest way would be for someone to give me a quantitative ratio if they can. Like how many ozs of liver per oz of meat. sorry, i'm very measurement oriented. I'm the guy who asks my fiance "how much of this do i add to the soup" and she says "just a little bit" and i say "EXACTLY how much is a little bit?"

[luci]

Well, 5% is to be liver. So of every 10 oz. of meat you need 1/2 an ounce of liver. Does that help?

[odin]

That's perfect. i'll measure out my amounts next time.

[sherrylynne]

If she's not getting kidney, etc, you can substitute that amount with liver. In that case it would be 10%.
Just to give you an idea, the average chicken liver weighs in at about 2oz each, and yes, that's both lobes.