cooked vs. raw

[ejt08]

this may have been on another thread, but this is my first post and i haven't looked thoroughly on the subject. i've started switching my babies to raw, but was wondering if i really needed to do only raw. the thing is, they love to give "kisses" and i'm a little worried about how sanitary that will be once they're fully switched. i could give them uncooked bones, and lightly boil the meat. however, i want to do what's best for them. is there a reason for only raw feeding, or could they get the same nutritional value from the cooked meat as the raw?

also, i have 2, a brother and sister. the girl is about 2 pounds, and the boy is easily 3 pounds, if not more (he's a big guy), and they're about 5 months old. how much would you say a proper portion of meat per day is enough for each?

thanks!

[Heather]

In the nutrition section you will find the approximate amounts of what they should be eating of a "raw" diet (it's stickied, so it's easy to find). This varies from ferret to ferret, from season to season and between genders. Ages are also a variable, kits will eat more than an adult, an intact ferret will eat more than an altered. Right now, my brats are eating me out of house and home .
Raw vs cooked....why? It's much easier to serve raw and it's better for them. Kisses...I get them all the time, ferret, cats and dog. All are raw fed. I've been feeding raw for over 11 yrs now, my guys have snuggled a lot of people, no one has suffered. If you're concerned....wash their faces I'm not making light....if you're going to go through the trouble of switching your little ones, for all the benefits...go raw. If you're really afraid then cook it but don't go part way, pan searing, semi raw is greater risk of bacteria. As long as you practice safe food preparation, you shouldn't run into any problems.
ciao

[sherrylynne]

Obviously, mine are raw fed as well. I take one of my guys into the nursing home I used to work at. He gives kisses there all the time. Not a single problem has resulted from that. Even though some of the patients there are somewhat immune compromised.
They love it, and so does he
As for raw versus cooked- cooking destroys a lot of the nutrients in the meat, and you'd have to start adding a ton of supplements to replace those that have been cooked out of the meat.

[ejt08]

that's what i figured. they like to kiss my mouth which is a little gross after they've just eaten (this is their favorite time to give kisses as if they're saying "thanks for dinner mom!") but i've just been washing up after. i take sanitary to the extreme when preparing their food too. my boyfriend hates them giving kisses after eating raw because he's afraid of bacteria, so he asked why i shouldn't just cook the meat, i explained it probably would destroy good stuff, but i figured i would ask the experts. thanks so much! only the best for my babies, he'll just have to forgo his share of kisses if it bothers him.

[mustelidmusk]

I think my ferrets have French bloodlines

[sherrylynne]

As do some of mine, Jennifer

[Heather]

Same here. Little Sprite is the worst, she starts kissing and doesn't know when to stop and she's sure there must be something really tasty in your mouth
ciao