Post by Forum Administrator on May 2, 2008 8:58:49 GMT -5
This forum, The Holistic Ferret Forum, is actually a branch of a larger entity, The Holistic Ferret Website. The Holistic Ferret site opens this August (2008) and there will be a variety of topics covered. This thread is stickied and appears at the top of each section of the HF Forum. This is the place to come and see updates and announcments regarding the Holistic Ferret Website.
At the moment here is the outline for what will be covered in the Holistic Ferret Website. There is a color coded key below that shows the progress of the site. Check back often for updates on the status of the site, as I WILL be coming in here regularly to change the colors as the site progresses to completion
Black- Rough Draft
Red- In process of re-writing
Orange- Done re-writing
Pink- Edited for flow and major errors by jojodancer
Green- Professionally edited for gram/spell/flow
Blue-[/b] Properly cited
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Homepage/Welcome to Holistic Ferrets:
Welcome to the website, instructions on how to view the site
News/Announcements (Blog):
Get the latest news about natural feeding/care in the ferret community, as well as announcements about the Holistic Ferret Website
Holistic Ferret Resource Trifecta-Here you can learn about the three resources Holistic Ferret offers to our guests: our mentor program, natural diet community database, and official HF forum
........................................................................................................
Natural Diet Basics: What is it? Why Bother? What
Are the Benefits? What if it’s Not for Me? Etc...
Anatomy/Biology of the Ferret:
A brief overview (with instructional photo) of the anatomy of the ferret and how nature has equipped them with the tools to consume and digest whole prey.
Natural Feeding Terminology:
A list of words commonly used by natural feeders, and just what those terms mean.
You have options:
Here Holistic Ferret discusses the various diets available to pets (Commercial dry ferret kibble, Commercial wet ferret food, BARF diet, Raw Diet Based on the Prey Model, Pre-packed raw diets, whole prey diets) and outlines the pros and cons of each diet.
Why do people bother feeding a natural diet?-Want to learn about why many people are choosing to feed natural diets to their ferrets? Then this is the section for you! Here Holistic Ferret addresses how poor diet can contribute to: insulinoma, IBD, bladder stones, and peridontal disease).
The Benefits of feeding a natural diet- What are the benefits of feeding your ferret(s) a natural diet? Find out here! There is also a special section here that discusses how to manage IBD using a natural diet.
Cost Breakdown of a Natural Diet: We do a rough estimate of what it would cost to feed two ferrets a raw diet, a whole prey diet, a raw/whole prey diet, and a commercial raw diet. We also include a list of money saving tips and tricks for buying raw food and whole prey.
Common Reasons Why People Dont Feed Naturally, and Why You Shouldn't Let Those Reasons Stop You! Addresses the most common reasons why people don't "go natural" including: it costs to much, it takes to much time to prepare, I cant provide my pet with complete and balanced nutrition) and a rebuttle for each reason why you "cant" go natural.
Common questions (and answers)- Learning how to feed a natural diet brings many questions, such as "How long can meat sit out?" "Won't my ferret choke on bones?" "Will feeding naturally make my ferret more agressive? Doesn't it take a long time to prepare and feed a raw diet?" Find out the answers to these questions and more, right here! All questions are answered by the Holistic Ferret Mentors. Check out each mentor's "mentoring" style and learn about random, important natural diet facts.
2007 Pet Food Recall/The Shocking Truth About Pet Food-
This section will be added AFTER the HF website opens this august. At this time I am not sure exactly when, just plan on sometime between Aug 08-Jan 09.What exactly happened during the 2007 pet food mass recalls? Why was all that food recalled? How does this affect me and my ferret(s)? This section provides links for additional info on the recall and discuss how this recall caused many people to start to really look at what they are feeding their pets. This section also briefly mention the dangers of cheap, low quality, commercial pet foods.
Vets and A Natural Diet-
How do vets feel about natural diets for ferrets? Come here to find out! A list of vets that provide a natural diet can be found here, as well.
What if a natural diet isn't for you?-This section reiterates WHY feeding a natural diet is a necessity, not a luxury. Here many of the common reasons for not feeding naturally are addressed. EG: "Feeding natural is too expensive." "I dont have a degree in animal nutrition. I dont feel comfortable feeding my pet.") Holistic Ferret stands by its "kibble free's the way to be" stance and trys to show people that no matter what their "turn offs" are to a natural diet, there is a way around them. We believe EVERY ferret should eat naturally, no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
........................................................................................................
Meeting your ferret’s nutritional needs when feeding a whole prey diet:
This section addresses the following topics: how domestestication has not changed the digestive system of the ferret and how it is still capable of digesting the foods it evolved eating. Also mentions the diet of the european polecat and how it relates to the diet of domestic ferrets. “Variety is Key” is the theme of this section, it points to the importance of feeding different types of feeders and different ages of feeders. The pros and cons of feeding live vs. frozen-thawed whole prey are discussed. The section ends with a brief statement of where to purchase live and frozen whole prey. A link to a comprehensive list of whole prey providers worldwide is also provided.
Meeting your ferrets nutritional needs when feeding ONLY a RMB diet (that does not include whole prey)- Learn about the prey-model way of feeding a raw diet. This section teaches you how to feed a balanced, healthy, raw diet. Links to sample feeding schedules and acceptable foods are provided at the end of this section.
Healthy Nutrition at Any Stage of Life-
The nutritional needs of ferrets change as they go from kit to adult to senior. In this section learn how younger ferrets will need more food, more calcium etc, what adult ferrets need for maintenance, and how to deal with the special needs of older ferrets. This section also discusses how to determine HOW MUCH food to feed your ferret. We also cover how to feed: underweight, overweight, IBD, and insulinomic ferrets.
What a ferret's diet can/should include- A detailed list of ferret foods. Foods are organized into different categories: Whole Prey, Raw Meaty Bones, Boneless Meat, Organ Meat, Bugs, Commercial/Homemade treats, and Misc.
Sample Weekly Feeding Schedules-For one ferret on a raw/whole prey diet, one ferret on a raw only diet, and one ferret on a whole prey only diet
Sanitary precautions when feeding a natural diet-
Learn about proper food handling skills. 10 safety tips for handling whole prey/raw meats are provided in this section.
Supply List
A list of items/supplies that might come in handy when feeding a natural diet
........................................................................................................
Preparing for the Switch-
This section helps you preparing mentally and physically for the switch. We show you what to expect during the switch and we explain what is normal during the switch, and what is not!
Switching to natural food from kibble-This section provides the reader with several ways to switch their ferret to a raw diet or a whole prey diet. Three different methods are provided for each diet (raw or whole prey) and each method consists of two versions: the long version and the short version. The shot version is for people who don’t mind fasting their ferrets. Or for people who have young ferrets that aren’t imprinted on kibble. The long version is for ‘problem switchers’ or people who feel uncomfortable fasting their ferret or making abrupt changes to the diet of the ferret.
Problems during the switch-
What if you try fasting your ferret AND the soup method and none of these work. Meet your new secret weapon. We share with you our tried and true way to switch ANY problem ferret.
Once You've Made The Switch-
So You've made it through the fire, and your ferret is FINALLY eating natural foods! (Yay!) Now where do you go from here? Come here to find out!
........................................................................................................
Natural Ferret Care: Its not just about diet-
Discuss the other components of natural ferret care. This section addresses: Accupuncture, Accupressure, Aroma-Therapy, Enrichment, Natural Flea and Parasite Remedies, Herbs, Massage, Time outside, Vaccinations/Titers, and Water.
........................................................................................................
Natural Diet/Care Resources for Ferrets-
10 resources that address natural ferret diets.
Natural Diet/Care Resources for Dogs and Cats-
Find a list of websites, yahoo groups, and books that will help you in your quest to provide a natural diet for your cat(s) and/or dog(s).
The Holistic Ferret Mentor Program and Natural Diet Community Database-Providing one-on-one assistance free of charge to the visitors of Holistic Ferret. Learn more about both programs in this section. Applications for the mentor program can be found here.
........................................................................................................
All lists and charts found in other areas of the website (plus a few lists and charts that are ONLY in this section) can be found here. This is why you will see some of these lists/charts listed both here and in other sections.
Sanitary precautions when feeding a natural diet-
Learn about proper food handling skills. 10 safety tips for handling whole prey/raw meats are provided in this section.
What a ferret's diet can/should include- A detailed list of ferret foods. Foods are organized into different categories: Whole Prey, Raw Meaty Bones, Boneless Meat, Organ Meat, Bugs, Commercial/Homemade treats, and Misc.
Sample Weekly Feeding Schedules-For one ferret on a raw/whole prey diet, one ferret on a raw only diet, and one ferret on a whole prey only diet
Various Whole Prey Suppliers-
Whole prey suppliers in US, Canada, UK, Australia, International, Etc
Ferret Related Links-
-Natural Breeder Links
-Organic/Holistic Pet Foods
-Fun Ferret Links
-Informative Ferret links
-Ferret Product links
-Etc
Supply List
A list of items/supplies that might come in handy when feeding a natural diet
Natural Diet Poop Chart
Explains how ferret poop looks different every day on a natural diet and shows several pics of poop in a chart that outlines what to look for in a healthy and sick ferret.
Cost Breakdown of a Natural Diet: We do a rough estimate of what it would cost to feed two ferrets a raw diet, a whole prey diet, a raw/whole prey diet, and a commercial raw diet. We also include a list of money saving tips and tricks for buying raw food and whole prey.
Common Reasons Why People Dont Feed Naturally, and Why You Shouldn't Let Those Reasons Stop You! Addresses the most common reasons why people don't "go natural" including: it costs to much, it takes to much time to prepare, I cant provide my pet with complete and balanced nutrition) and a rebuttle for each reason why you "cant" go natural.
........................................................................................................
About the Author-
About me! Yea!!!
Special thanks to page-
All the wonderful people who took the time to review, revise, comment, contriburte, and edit the Holistic Ferret Site are acknowledge here. Their experience with ferrets and natural feeding as well as any other ferret related credentials (shelter operator, judge, breeder, etc are also mentioned in this section.
Meet the Holistic Ferret Mentors:
A brief description of all the mentors can be found here. A pic of each mentor along with a banner that contains pics of their fuzzies can be found here.
Visitor Photo Gallery:
This section focuses on showcasing pictures (and some video) of my ferrets engaging in natural lifestyle activities (including eating raw/whole prey or going outside for walks) this section also shows pics/video submitted by guests.
The Official Holistic Ferret Forum:
Companion forum to the Holistic Ferret Website. Forum geared towards natural diets and care (what you are on right now )
........................................................................................................
Questions/Comments/Suggestions-
A place to send Holistic Ferret your questions, comments, and suggestions regarding the information on the site.
At the moment here is the outline for what will be covered in the Holistic Ferret Website. There is a color coded key below that shows the progress of the site. Check back often for updates on the status of the site, as I WILL be coming in here regularly to change the colors as the site progresses to completion
The Official Holistic Ferret Website Outline:
Key:
[/u][/color]Key:
Black- Rough Draft
Red- In process of re-writing
Orange- Done re-writing
Pink- Edited for flow and major errors by jojodancer
Green- Professionally edited for gram/spell/flow
Blue-[/b] Properly cited
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Homepage/Welcome to Holistic Ferrets:
Welcome to the website, instructions on how to view the site
News/Announcements (Blog):
Get the latest news about natural feeding/care in the ferret community, as well as announcements about the Holistic Ferret Website
Holistic Ferret Resource Trifecta-Here you can learn about the three resources Holistic Ferret offers to our guests: our mentor program, natural diet community database, and official HF forum
........................................................................................................
Natural Diet Basics: What is it? Why Bother? What
Are the Benefits? What if it’s Not for Me? Etc...
Anatomy/Biology of the Ferret:
A brief overview (with instructional photo) of the anatomy of the ferret and how nature has equipped them with the tools to consume and digest whole prey.
Natural Feeding Terminology:
A list of words commonly used by natural feeders, and just what those terms mean.
You have options:
Here Holistic Ferret discusses the various diets available to pets (Commercial dry ferret kibble, Commercial wet ferret food, BARF diet, Raw Diet Based on the Prey Model, Pre-packed raw diets, whole prey diets) and outlines the pros and cons of each diet.
Why do people bother feeding a natural diet?-Want to learn about why many people are choosing to feed natural diets to their ferrets? Then this is the section for you! Here Holistic Ferret addresses how poor diet can contribute to: insulinoma, IBD, bladder stones, and peridontal disease).
The Benefits of feeding a natural diet- What are the benefits of feeding your ferret(s) a natural diet? Find out here! There is also a special section here that discusses how to manage IBD using a natural diet.
Cost Breakdown of a Natural Diet: We do a rough estimate of what it would cost to feed two ferrets a raw diet, a whole prey diet, a raw/whole prey diet, and a commercial raw diet. We also include a list of money saving tips and tricks for buying raw food and whole prey.
Common Reasons Why People Dont Feed Naturally, and Why You Shouldn't Let Those Reasons Stop You! Addresses the most common reasons why people don't "go natural" including: it costs to much, it takes to much time to prepare, I cant provide my pet with complete and balanced nutrition) and a rebuttle for each reason why you "cant" go natural.
Common questions (and answers)- Learning how to feed a natural diet brings many questions, such as "How long can meat sit out?" "Won't my ferret choke on bones?" "Will feeding naturally make my ferret more agressive? Doesn't it take a long time to prepare and feed a raw diet?" Find out the answers to these questions and more, right here! All questions are answered by the Holistic Ferret Mentors. Check out each mentor's "mentoring" style and learn about random, important natural diet facts.
2007 Pet Food Recall/The Shocking Truth About Pet Food-
This section will be added AFTER the HF website opens this august. At this time I am not sure exactly when, just plan on sometime between Aug 08-Jan 09.What exactly happened during the 2007 pet food mass recalls? Why was all that food recalled? How does this affect me and my ferret(s)? This section provides links for additional info on the recall and discuss how this recall caused many people to start to really look at what they are feeding their pets. This section also briefly mention the dangers of cheap, low quality, commercial pet foods.
Vets and A Natural Diet-
How do vets feel about natural diets for ferrets? Come here to find out! A list of vets that provide a natural diet can be found here, as well.
What if a natural diet isn't for you?-This section reiterates WHY feeding a natural diet is a necessity, not a luxury. Here many of the common reasons for not feeding naturally are addressed. EG: "Feeding natural is too expensive." "I dont have a degree in animal nutrition. I dont feel comfortable feeding my pet.") Holistic Ferret stands by its "kibble free's the way to be" stance and trys to show people that no matter what their "turn offs" are to a natural diet, there is a way around them. We believe EVERY ferret should eat naturally, no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
........................................................................................................
Providing a Healthy Raw or Whole Prey Diet:
Meeting your ferret’s nutritional needs when feeding a whole prey diet:
This section addresses the following topics: how domestestication has not changed the digestive system of the ferret and how it is still capable of digesting the foods it evolved eating. Also mentions the diet of the european polecat and how it relates to the diet of domestic ferrets. “Variety is Key” is the theme of this section, it points to the importance of feeding different types of feeders and different ages of feeders. The pros and cons of feeding live vs. frozen-thawed whole prey are discussed. The section ends with a brief statement of where to purchase live and frozen whole prey. A link to a comprehensive list of whole prey providers worldwide is also provided.
Meeting your ferrets nutritional needs when feeding ONLY a RMB diet (that does not include whole prey)- Learn about the prey-model way of feeding a raw diet. This section teaches you how to feed a balanced, healthy, raw diet. Links to sample feeding schedules and acceptable foods are provided at the end of this section.
Healthy Nutrition at Any Stage of Life-
The nutritional needs of ferrets change as they go from kit to adult to senior. In this section learn how younger ferrets will need more food, more calcium etc, what adult ferrets need for maintenance, and how to deal with the special needs of older ferrets. This section also discusses how to determine HOW MUCH food to feed your ferret. We also cover how to feed: underweight, overweight, IBD, and insulinomic ferrets.
What a ferret's diet can/should include- A detailed list of ferret foods. Foods are organized into different categories: Whole Prey, Raw Meaty Bones, Boneless Meat, Organ Meat, Bugs, Commercial/Homemade treats, and Misc.
Sample Weekly Feeding Schedules-For one ferret on a raw/whole prey diet, one ferret on a raw only diet, and one ferret on a whole prey only diet
Sanitary precautions when feeding a natural diet-
Learn about proper food handling skills. 10 safety tips for handling whole prey/raw meats are provided in this section.
Supply List
A list of items/supplies that might come in handy when feeding a natural diet
........................................................................................................
How to Switch Your Ferret To A Natural Diet:
Preparing for the Switch-
This section helps you preparing mentally and physically for the switch. We show you what to expect during the switch and we explain what is normal during the switch, and what is not!
Switching to natural food from kibble-This section provides the reader with several ways to switch their ferret to a raw diet or a whole prey diet. Three different methods are provided for each diet (raw or whole prey) and each method consists of two versions: the long version and the short version. The shot version is for people who don’t mind fasting their ferrets. Or for people who have young ferrets that aren’t imprinted on kibble. The long version is for ‘problem switchers’ or people who feel uncomfortable fasting their ferret or making abrupt changes to the diet of the ferret.
Problems during the switch-
What if you try fasting your ferret AND the soup method and none of these work. Meet your new secret weapon. We share with you our tried and true way to switch ANY problem ferret.
Once You've Made The Switch-
So You've made it through the fire, and your ferret is FINALLY eating natural foods! (Yay!) Now where do you go from here? Come here to find out!
........................................................................................................
Natural Ferret Care: Its not just about diet-
Discuss the other components of natural ferret care. This section addresses: Accupuncture, Accupressure, Aroma-Therapy, Enrichment, Natural Flea and Parasite Remedies, Herbs, Massage, Time outside, Vaccinations/Titers, and Water.
........................................................................................................
Natural Diet/Care Resources for Ferrets, Cats, and Dogs:
Natural Diet/Care Resources for Ferrets-
10 resources that address natural ferret diets.
Natural Diet/Care Resources for Dogs and Cats-
Find a list of websites, yahoo groups, and books that will help you in your quest to provide a natural diet for your cat(s) and/or dog(s).
The Holistic Ferret Mentor Program and Natural Diet Community Database-Providing one-on-one assistance free of charge to the visitors of Holistic Ferret. Learn more about both programs in this section. Applications for the mentor program can be found here.
........................................................................................................
Lists and Charts:
All lists and charts found in other areas of the website (plus a few lists and charts that are ONLY in this section) can be found here. This is why you will see some of these lists/charts listed both here and in other sections.
Sanitary precautions when feeding a natural diet-
Learn about proper food handling skills. 10 safety tips for handling whole prey/raw meats are provided in this section.
What a ferret's diet can/should include- A detailed list of ferret foods. Foods are organized into different categories: Whole Prey, Raw Meaty Bones, Boneless Meat, Organ Meat, Bugs, Commercial/Homemade treats, and Misc.
Sample Weekly Feeding Schedules-For one ferret on a raw/whole prey diet, one ferret on a raw only diet, and one ferret on a whole prey only diet
Various Whole Prey Suppliers-
Whole prey suppliers in US, Canada, UK, Australia, International, Etc
Ferret Related Links-
-Natural Breeder Links
-Organic/Holistic Pet Foods
-Fun Ferret Links
-Informative Ferret links
-Ferret Product links
-Etc
Supply List
A list of items/supplies that might come in handy when feeding a natural diet
Natural Diet Poop Chart
Explains how ferret poop looks different every day on a natural diet and shows several pics of poop in a chart that outlines what to look for in a healthy and sick ferret.
Cost Breakdown of a Natural Diet: We do a rough estimate of what it would cost to feed two ferrets a raw diet, a whole prey diet, a raw/whole prey diet, and a commercial raw diet. We also include a list of money saving tips and tricks for buying raw food and whole prey.
Common Reasons Why People Dont Feed Naturally, and Why You Shouldn't Let Those Reasons Stop You! Addresses the most common reasons why people don't "go natural" including: it costs to much, it takes to much time to prepare, I cant provide my pet with complete and balanced nutrition) and a rebuttle for each reason why you "cant" go natural.
........................................................................................................
Get to Know the Holistic Ferret Family:
About the Author-
About me! Yea!!!
Special thanks to page-
All the wonderful people who took the time to review, revise, comment, contriburte, and edit the Holistic Ferret Site are acknowledge here. Their experience with ferrets and natural feeding as well as any other ferret related credentials (shelter operator, judge, breeder, etc are also mentioned in this section.
Meet the Holistic Ferret Mentors:
A brief description of all the mentors can be found here. A pic of each mentor along with a banner that contains pics of their fuzzies can be found here.
Visitor Photo Gallery:
This section focuses on showcasing pictures (and some video) of my ferrets engaging in natural lifestyle activities (including eating raw/whole prey or going outside for walks) this section also shows pics/video submitted by guests.
The Official Holistic Ferret Forum:
Companion forum to the Holistic Ferret Website. Forum geared towards natural diets and care (what you are on right now )
........................................................................................................
Questions/Comments/Suggestions-
A place to send Holistic Ferret your questions, comments, and suggestions regarding the information on the site.