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Post by Jaycee on Jun 29, 2008 19:03:12 GMT -5
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Post by hales on Jun 29, 2008 19:21:39 GMT -5
I know exactly how you feel  I've come across so many people (including vets) that know nothing about ferrets... But don't worry anymore-just think about how happy and healthy she'll be now that she has you as her mommy!  |
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Post by Jaycee on Jun 29, 2008 19:25:20 GMT -5
Another thing is the fact she just turned 1 in May, and she is the same size and weight as my 10 week old baby! |
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Post by Jaycee on Jun 29, 2008 19:29:44 GMT -5
......AND she just pooped and I nearly paniced. It was neon green! I thought it was ECG or whatever it is called, until I realized it is the same color as her fruity kibble!!! Grrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!! I know she is now going to have a better life. She just doesn't like me too much right now since I had to give her a flea bath, trim her overgrown nails and now am switching the only diet she ever knew! She will just have to forgive me later! |
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Post by meli on Jun 29, 2008 21:14:19 GMT -5
awe thats horribe..its insane the how many people out there are ignorant to an animals needs. I hate giving my dogs veggie filled kibble and I don't dare buy the crap that states its vet approved. Did you know vet approved foods are basically pet food industries that "beg" for vet endoursements? Its a bunch of crap. I wish people would educate themselves before jumping into a animal. You're right. She's going to have a better life now with you. Hey try making her a raw soupy or add cream to her zupreem to fatten her up? I know it helps from what I've read and I have had pocus on it for a week now and he's already put on some weight. I would get her off that crap food the next day. |
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Post by usmom on Jun 29, 2008 22:12:01 GMT -5
You know, I rescue suggies, and deal with the same issue. I get so angry when people will get a pet, then refuse to care for it properly. Or research or anything. Now, I don't know everything about ferrets, but I got the basics down before I brought them home. I have faith that someone who has the heart to be angry about this, will have the heart to bring her through. I just pray that no health problems crop up later because of this.
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Post by buzzonesbirdie on Jun 29, 2008 22:13:12 GMT -5
I am sooo sorry that you have to deal with this, but that being said i am sooo happy that she has found you so that she will have a better life. I understand how you feel when we got Xena and Zues i thought we had gotton two ferrets at the door to the rainbow bridge. But once we got them cleaned up and on good food they both turned around unfourtanly Xena was only with us a short time but Zues looks nothing like the ferret we brought home. Hang in there and show her what its like to be loved.
You can add cream to her soupie and i would give her soupie along with getting her on a different kibble. This should also help you and her when you go to switch her to raw.
It saddens me how badly people will treat their animals. But just hang in there you will all be ok.
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Post by josiesmom on Jun 29, 2008 22:38:38 GMT -5
8 in one makes a fruit & veggie ferret food? I knew Kaytee did, or used to. Didn't know 8 in one did also.
I'd be willing to bet she takes right off on her improved diet! Glad she's got a good home now!
Cheers,
Kim
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Post by Jaycee on Jun 30, 2008 6:32:35 GMT -5
"It infuriates me, that people see "ferret" on the lable, and automatically assume it is good. Furthermore, these companies that sell such crud should have to answer to someone! 8in1 knows better!" -as quoted from pentacle565 from the ferret.com forum
My reply:
Yes, I agree. They should be held accountable. It would be like marketing a bag of sugar to an unstable diabetic. It just isn't responsible! What is worse is the fact that companies like 8-1 know it isn't good quality food, but they still sell it (at a cheaper cost) to make a profit from people who aren't knowledgeable in ferret diet. It's sickening!
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Post by Jaycee on Jul 3, 2008 14:44:03 GMT -5
So, for the past several days I have been struggling with trying to feed my new ferret....anything. I finally figured out a couple days ago that a mixture of duc soup and finely ground kibble in watery soup form was the only thing she would eat, and only if given by syringe, or by spoon. So, since sunday I have been feeding her every 3-4 hours during the day by spoon or syringe. I've been worried that she may be ill because she wouldn't eat anything of thicker consistancy than mushy, watery soup. She would take chunks and run just to drop the food in a corner and leave. She would also lick her mouth during meals as if she had something stuck to the roof and was unable to get it off. I've looked in her mouth to see if there were any sores. NOthing. Not even a red spot. She does seem to have a few small teeth missing on the bottom jaw, but I figured this shouldn't effect anything.
So I started to wonder if I needed to take her to the vet.
I came home from work today. Same thing. Spoon feeding the poor girl. She runs off, and lo and behold she starts gnawing on one of those hard rubber dog toys. So I started to wonder. Is she just playing me for a fool? If she is gnawing on a rubber toy, then she doesn't have mouth sensitivity that would lead her to not wanting to eat. So I grabbed a bag of ferret treats (my husband bought them...not me!), and what do you know. She ate them all. All the crunchy little kibble treats....gone! So, now I know her dirty little secret, but she still won't eat kibble. I want to switch her to a raw diet eventually, but I've got to start from the basics. I've got to get her switched to quality kibble first, and go from there. But how do I switch someone as stubborn as Whisp???
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Post by meli on Jul 3, 2008 17:58:43 GMT -5
ack still playing hardball huh. I wish I could give some tips, but I not experienced yet. Good luck with her jen. |
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Post by Jaycee on Jul 3, 2008 18:07:07 GMT -5
ack still playing hardball huh. I wish I could give some tips, but I not experienced yet. Good luck with her jen. I needs more than luck. I needs a bloody miracle!  |
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Post by Heather on Jul 3, 2008 18:14:15 GMT -5
I know where you're coming from ... but why wait....just switch. you have to convince her to eat a better brand of kibble why wait. The battle you're going to have to get her to switch to a high quality kibble is probably worse than you're going to have getting her to eat raw. I had two brave little boys that I picked up 2 yrs ago...I named them Houdini and Shazam (picked them up on Oct 31). I cried when I was handed these two little bundles. They had been through 5 homes. They didn't smell like ferrets (they smelt like an ashtray) They were so thin that my son was afraid to touch them. The woman actually had the nerve to tell me they stank. They were covered in fleas. She then handed me a bag of their effects. There was a hammy, a bag of kibble and a blankie. When I pulled out the bag of kibble (I'd never seen the brand name before but it was $5.98 for a 2 kg bag, I had just picked up a bag of zupreem for a friend and it had cost me $39) The bag of kibble was empty....the woman sounded surprised and the daughter turned to her and said. I told you mom on Monday that they were out of food. I picked those poor little ferts up on Sunday. I couldn't leave fast enough. We stopped in picked up a bag of zupreem and headed home. I got them in clean blankies and set up in the hospital cage. I gave them fresh kibble and fresh water (oh, ya there was a water bottle in that bag too...it was full of green slimy crap) I threw out all of their effects. Anyway, the long and the short of it by feeding their poor little tummies such good quality kibble after the crap they'd eaten...they were sick  They had horrible runs... They actually solved my dilemma for me....they decided to switch themselves. They were roaming with some of my boys and they just ate what everyone else was eating. Now Houdini was 4 or 5 and Shazam was at least 7. I never had to do anything...they just didn't want to be hungry. Six months down the road you would never have recognized my two fat little boys. Houdini, I was sure had adrenal, he had practically no fur on his little body but neither did Shazam. My vet didn't want to do any major blood work on them until they were in better shape because she was afraid of false readings. It turned out that they were just suffering from malnutrition and fleas. That's how I dealt with it and it worked out fantastic. Ciao |
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Post by Jaycee on Jul 3, 2008 19:08:37 GMT -5
That is exactly what I wanted to do in the first place! But, as my husband logically (yeah, right) explained to me "you want her to like kibble in case there is a meat shortage, natural disaster, meat recalls...so you can supplement the diet with kibble." Any thoughts on that?
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jul 3, 2008 19:14:49 GMT -5
This is my thoughts on that (I made this post on the ferret.com forum):
For those who are worried about feeding raw because of travel, natural disaster, emergencies, and more (NOTE: Words in bold are originally from our mod, Snapper13 (hi Snap! ):
For example, what happens if there is a natural disaster (eg: hurricane, tornado, fire) and there is a loss of electricity and you are unable to feed raw?
IMO there will always be a butcher SOMEWHERE that has fresh meat available, even if there is a local power outtage, you shouldnt have to drive to far to get meat. In a natural disaster you arent going to grab the kibble as you flee for your life, you're gunna grab your fuzzies, your photo albums, and whatever else is important. You have to buy more kibble when you get to your new location. Finding raw meat locally will always be easier then finding the kibble you feed locally.
Or what happens if you are unavailable for a while (eg vacation, hospital stay), you will have to find someone you trust to feed the correct proportion of raw.
I am going on a vacation to Hawaii in August. My mother (who knows NOTHING about natural diets) will be feeding my fuzzies. In addition to knowing nothing about feeding naturally, she's squeemish. However she still will be feeding my kids raw (although she said she wont do whole prey though). If you are going into the hospital or are away on vacation, you can usually find SOMEONE who will feed the raw food AS LONG as you already have it prepared.
In my freezer I have various raw foods (chicken wings, raw beef) They are all cut into the appropriate portions and are labeled (Monday-Turkey). They are each wrapped into individual servings in plastic wrap. All my mom will have to do when I am away, is thaw out the proper food for the day and feed the ferrets. I have done all the prep work for her. Its as easy as pouring kibble into a bowl.
If there is an emergency and I am suddenly unavailable I have all the foods labled in the freezer. I (or my boyfriend if I am unable to call) can call a family member and say "hey, we wont be home tonight, can you stop by and feed the ferrets?" all they have to do is feed the food that is labeled for that day.
And in the event you have to give up your ferrets (disaster, family problems) you'll have a hard time rehoming them to another natural feeder, and most shelters don't feed raw either.
I had to rehome five raw fed ferrets. I personally rehomed them because a shelter wouldnt take them and keep them on raw. and honestly I didnt want them to go to a shelter, they were my babies and it was MY responsiblity to find them a good home.
I was able to find three good homes for all five ferrets. All homes fed raw (one fed whole prey). I put that as a requirement in my craigslist ad. The people who adopted the fuzzies all new nothing about natural diets, but they were more then willing to learn. I sent all familes home with a raw diet info packet (written by me) All three families sent me pics and video and regularly contacted me with feeding questions regarding their new additions. Did it take me a while to find a home for my fuzzies? Yes, about 3 months. I wanted to be sure that their new home would not only feed them raw, but keep them on it. Would I have taken any less time to rehome them even if they werent on raw? No way, I wanted to be sure they went to the best home possible.
I have also moved with raw fed ferrets, and travled with raw fed ferrets. Feeding naturally has never been a hindrence to me at all.
So for me, having a kibble mix available 24 hours is important. They get raw in the morning and the evening, but the kibble is there if they want it and 2) allows them to expereince new textures, flavors, and scents.
It is wonderful to provide enrichment to your ferret through food variety. And many people feed half kibble, half raw. I personally am disgusted by kibble. I dont want my ferrets eating it, so I find ways to avoid it, and its really not that hard. Others may not feel as strongly about kibble as me and I understand that. I wont try and sway your opinion or judge you (not at all). I just want people to be aware that if you really want to feed all raw, you can. Situations can and do come up, but you work around them if you really are set on feeding all raw. Also, IMO my guys et plenty of different textures and flavors in their raw foods, I dont feel they need kibble to get enrichment.
I hope Snapper (and all other raw/kibble feeders) understand I am not passing judgement, or trying to force you to feed all raw. I think its great that people at the very least do a raw/kibble combo, such a small change can really make a big difference in the overall health of the ferret. The topic of feeding kibble because of the fear of emergency/disaster is something I've been meaning to address for a while, bear in mind that the text above is just my personal opinion. You can and should do what is best for YOU and YOUR ferrets.
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