Fattening up and Lard Lick?

[katt]

So I'm trying to put a little fat on Koda. I got a thing of Lard but I am concerned about the BHT. It was the only lard the store carried though.

www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10052&productId=370449

What do you guys think about a lard lick and/or mixing lard into some soupies? waht about the BHT and stuff?

Also, what are some fatty meats? Now that I know he isn't sensitive to a particular food really I want to put the variety back in his diet. lol

[sherrylynne]

Yeah, I don't like the BHT's or the BHA's in it either. I did find a site while looking for something else that you may be interested in, lol:
www.newresilient.com/2009/06/29/simple-recipe-make-your-own-lard/
How to make your own lard!
As for a lard lick, the good thing about that is they can have it as they want/need it, for the extra fat. Same for the lard in the soupies.
Good fatty meats? Duck, chicken with skin, any well marbled meats.

[Heather]

I know that some people use lard licks and other funky things to fatten their ferrets, heavy cream, butter licks....Use what is natural. Fattier meats, trim off your own steaks and such before you cook them. This is the season that these little ones start to put on weight. Koda's been ill, very ill. He may never become fat, fat again. It's probably healthier for him. I've got Napoleon who would gladly share some of his flub so he could get off the treadmill....the vet has told him he has to loose some weight off his fat little butt.
Feed fatty meats like duck, lamb...cheaper cuts of beef (brisket). Koda already has digestive issues, I wouldn't be greasing up his system with lard (you can use this as a laxative too ) If you've been using vaseline a lot lately....every time you use it, you stop whatever is absorbed for the next little while. That is why some of us no longer use a lot of the ferretlax and other laxatives (check the ingredients) Ferrets have a difficult enough time absorbing nutrition because of their shortened digestive track, add a lard, butter or vaseline and you've speeded up the process that much more. I know he's in the habit of dining on "odd" objects but I would limit the use of the vaseline, butter and lard to those times I'm not much in favour of using lard. Just my personal opinion, though

ciao

[sherrylynne]

Really? I actually though pure meat lard wouldn't cause any problems? It is rendered, yes, but I was under the impression they gain at least the fatty component from it?

[rarnold18]

duck, lamb, and the really cheap cuts of beef... but definitely duck!

[Heather]

It's cooked. I'm not saying not to use it, I'm just saying "I" wouldn't use it. I will use natural "raw" fats before using cooked fats which actually changes the components of the fat. In dogs (not saying its the same with ferrets they need more fat, but is it different??) this change will actually put a heavy stress on the pancreas. If you feed a dog 1 lb of fat, they will be able to better digest this than if you feed them 1 lb of lard. Will the ferret gain weight, possibly but wouldn't it be better to put on weight slowly and through more natural means? If you're going to use lard, render your own fats so that you don't have odd preservatives in it and know exactly where it comes from.
ciao

[katt]

I don't think I can get duck here...I will have to check the oriental market that is the only place I know of that carries uncommon foods...

[katt]

If I can even get hog fat would I be better off just putting the fat in Koda's cage for him to eat?

[zoologist]

get that boy some rawwwww bacon fatty enough for you?

[sherrylynne]

Unfortunately, the bacon I get here is all cured. You cannot buy the fresh stuff anymore. Not sure about where you are, though.

[katt]

I doubt it. I haven't seen any, but I have not checked some of the natural stores here, they might carry some. I assumes bacon was cured by definition so I never looked for non-cured bacon. lol