Post by Heather on Mar 11, 2010 0:52:11 GMT -5
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Name: Karen
HF Forum Username: vierireamourferret (also on FH)
1. Where did you first learn about natural diets for ferrets?
I work at a pet supply store and we sell raw food. My manager feeds it to her cats and I'd been thinking about doing it for the ferrets since they're carnivores too. Someone recommended this forum to me and I learned a lot from here.
2. Please describe the type of diet you would like assistance in switching your ferret(s) to.
My work sells ground, raw food along with some buffalo and lamb bones, whole herring, and chicken and turkey necks. I'd want to switch them to that, not whole prey. And I'd want to switch them completely over to it, no more kibble.
3. Why are you interested in switching your ferrets to a natural diet?
I've been working in pet nutrition for 2 years now and while kibble is great and I know tons of fantastic foods there's no comparing to raw. The stories I've heard and the proof I've seen has definitely been more than enough to convince me that raw is the best way to go, I've just never been gutsy enough to really commit to making the switch...until now!
4. Do you understand that switching your ferret to a natural diet can be a lengthy, arduous process? Its not an overnight switch. It can be a commitment of several weeks or even months. Your HF Mentor will be more then happy to assist you in switchng your ferret(s) to a natural diet, but you need to be equally as commited. If you aren't willing to tough out a potentially lengthy switching process, or if you have major life changes approaching (baby on the way, moving, starting school, getting married/divorced, etc) then it might be a better idea to wait on switching your ferret's diet until you have more time. Are you willing to make the commitment?
Definitely. My life is very steady, I've got the money, and I'm feeling confident enough to finally switch them, or at least try my darndest. I'm pretty positive that it's gonna be a really, really difficult process considering none of them have been interested in raw when I've tried, but I'm not going to give up!
5. How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names? Ages? Genders? Do they have any health problems? Are they overweight? Underweight?
I have 5 frerets: Percy (male, 4), Pyatt (male, 1), Mitchell (male, 1), Myra (female, 1), and Farris (female, 4 or 5). All of them are rescues so I'm not sure of their exact ages, especially Myra and Farris. The only health problem is Farris who is definitely overweight and I'm also wondering if she has adrenal. She has no energy and never plays, hence the fatness. I'll be taking her in for a Vet appointment hopefully within the next few weeks.
6. What diet do you currently feed your ferrets? (Please include all treats, supplements, etc)
They're currently on a mix of Wellness Core cat food and Eagle Holistic Select Chicken cat food with some Ferretone dribbled on top. Their treats consist of freeze dried chicken breast, beef liver, ocean whitefish, as well as turkey jerky, and dried salmon, herring, and pacific whiting. Myra also chews on an N-Bone every now and then but I think she's the only one who likes them.
7. Have you ever tried to switch your ferrets to a natural diet in the past? If yes, what happened?
Nope. I've brought home some raw (have some in the freezer right now, actually!) and tried them on it but my only animal that liked it was my 15 (almost 16) year old cat, everyone else snubbed it.
8. What additional information about yourself or your ferrets would you like to share?
Raw is scary with having to make sure I'm giving them the right amounts of everything so I'm definitely in need of a mentor!!
9. How often during the week do you have access to a computer?
All the time! if I'm not at work or sleeping or playing with the pets I'm probably on my laptop!
Thanks ya'll!
Hi and welcome to the mentoring program. In a little while your mentor (Cristina) will introduce herself and you can get started on a new adventure in natural ferret care and diets. Please remember to post regularly (daily or as per arranged with your mentor) so that your mentor can assist you move along safely in this adventure. If you experience computer difficulties or are going to be away, please notify your mentor and most of all relax and have fun . Your mentor is here to help you on this journey.
ciao
Name: Karen
HF Forum Username: vierireamourferret (also on FH)
1. Where did you first learn about natural diets for ferrets?
I work at a pet supply store and we sell raw food. My manager feeds it to her cats and I'd been thinking about doing it for the ferrets since they're carnivores too. Someone recommended this forum to me and I learned a lot from here.
2. Please describe the type of diet you would like assistance in switching your ferret(s) to.
My work sells ground, raw food along with some buffalo and lamb bones, whole herring, and chicken and turkey necks. I'd want to switch them to that, not whole prey. And I'd want to switch them completely over to it, no more kibble.
3. Why are you interested in switching your ferrets to a natural diet?
I've been working in pet nutrition for 2 years now and while kibble is great and I know tons of fantastic foods there's no comparing to raw. The stories I've heard and the proof I've seen has definitely been more than enough to convince me that raw is the best way to go, I've just never been gutsy enough to really commit to making the switch...until now!
4. Do you understand that switching your ferret to a natural diet can be a lengthy, arduous process? Its not an overnight switch. It can be a commitment of several weeks or even months. Your HF Mentor will be more then happy to assist you in switchng your ferret(s) to a natural diet, but you need to be equally as commited. If you aren't willing to tough out a potentially lengthy switching process, or if you have major life changes approaching (baby on the way, moving, starting school, getting married/divorced, etc) then it might be a better idea to wait on switching your ferret's diet until you have more time. Are you willing to make the commitment?
Definitely. My life is very steady, I've got the money, and I'm feeling confident enough to finally switch them, or at least try my darndest. I'm pretty positive that it's gonna be a really, really difficult process considering none of them have been interested in raw when I've tried, but I'm not going to give up!
5. How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names? Ages? Genders? Do they have any health problems? Are they overweight? Underweight?
I have 5 frerets: Percy (male, 4), Pyatt (male, 1), Mitchell (male, 1), Myra (female, 1), and Farris (female, 4 or 5). All of them are rescues so I'm not sure of their exact ages, especially Myra and Farris. The only health problem is Farris who is definitely overweight and I'm also wondering if she has adrenal. She has no energy and never plays, hence the fatness. I'll be taking her in for a Vet appointment hopefully within the next few weeks.
6. What diet do you currently feed your ferrets? (Please include all treats, supplements, etc)
They're currently on a mix of Wellness Core cat food and Eagle Holistic Select Chicken cat food with some Ferretone dribbled on top. Their treats consist of freeze dried chicken breast, beef liver, ocean whitefish, as well as turkey jerky, and dried salmon, herring, and pacific whiting. Myra also chews on an N-Bone every now and then but I think she's the only one who likes them.
7. Have you ever tried to switch your ferrets to a natural diet in the past? If yes, what happened?
Nope. I've brought home some raw (have some in the freezer right now, actually!) and tried them on it but my only animal that liked it was my 15 (almost 16) year old cat, everyone else snubbed it.
8. What additional information about yourself or your ferrets would you like to share?
Raw is scary with having to make sure I'm giving them the right amounts of everything so I'm definitely in need of a mentor!!
9. How often during the week do you have access to a computer?
All the time! if I'm not at work or sleeping or playing with the pets I'm probably on my laptop!
Thanks ya'll!
Hi and welcome to the mentoring program. In a little while your mentor (Cristina) will introduce herself and you can get started on a new adventure in natural ferret care and diets. Please remember to post regularly (daily or as per arranged with your mentor) so that your mentor can assist you move along safely in this adventure. If you experience computer difficulties or are going to be away, please notify your mentor and most of all relax and have fun . Your mentor is here to help you on this journey.
ciao