xeopse
Cageless and Roamin' Free
Raw Feeder
Posts: 235
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Post by xeopse on Nov 8, 2010 17:03:09 GMT -5
Somebody please tell me a ferret-safe rubber alternative. They are the ONLY toys Lulabelle loves, and I just can't get her interested in anything else. She goes to steal Leia's rubber toys, like her Kong, a rubber bone, and another variation of the kong that's a blue tube kind of thing you're supposed to stuff with food. She DESTROYED them, I thought she was just dragging it around but then I found her in a bag absolutely demolishing it - now I've had to throw two of them out and had to buy Leia replacement toys.
Is there something I can give her that's like rubber but isn't so dangerous for them? I want her to play, but I don't want her to choke on pieces obviously.
And can they have bully sticks? Or something like that? If Lulabelle wants to chew, I'm trying to think of ferret-appropriate options for her to gnaw on and drag around all she wants.
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Post by sherrylynne on Nov 8, 2010 18:19:22 GMT -5
Bully sticks would likely be ok, but absolutely no rubber. Not for the choking risk(although I'm sure there is one), but she'll get a blockage if she ingests it.
As for a replacement for chewing, not even sure, sorry.
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Post by mjohn143 on Nov 8, 2010 18:25:28 GMT -5
What are bully sticks?
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Post by bluemoose on Nov 8, 2010 18:26:46 GMT -5
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Post by mjohn143 on Nov 8, 2010 18:31:40 GMT -5
Ew lol
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xeopse
Cageless and Roamin' Free
Raw Feeder
Posts: 235
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Post by xeopse on Nov 8, 2010 18:36:05 GMT -5
I know no rubber, she is just destroying it so I have to make sure I pick up Leia's kong toys before the ferrets come out to play. I just wish there was something similar to it that won't break down like rubber does - it doesn't hold up at ALL with little sharp teeth.
Coincidentally, I had this problem with the macaques I used to work with. If you don't know, old world monkeys have extremely large canines and they are SHARP. For whatever "brilliant" reason, people thought dog toys were good enough for animals with jaws far more powerful than any breed of dog, teeth like humans, and canines several inches longer than dogs that shred just about everything. As their vet tech, I went and removed all the Kong toys and other bits of rubber from their cages as I found them. I replaced them with various Nylabones, Galileo bones (http://www.bio-serv.com/Primate_Enrichment_Devices/Galileo.html), the Hercules (http://www.bio-serv.com/Primate_Enrichment_Devices/K3213.html), and a long list of other things like swings, perches, etc which don't really apply to ferrets. Is Nylabone an acceptable alternative, or could that be an issue too?
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xeopse
Cageless and Roamin' Free
Raw Feeder
Posts: 235
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Post by xeopse on Nov 8, 2010 18:37:47 GMT -5
Bully sticks are dried bull thingy, they are like beef jerky for dogs - it's great dental stimulation to reach back teeth especially. They don't last that long of heavy chewing for a dog, but I figured with a ferret they would last longer and would be easier to digest. Has anyone done this?
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Post by Heather on Nov 8, 2010 23:04:25 GMT -5
Please...please no rubber. I can understand your frustrations though...no Nylabones either. They can totally destroy them. You would be devastated if she ate a piece or got a blockage (they don't pass them very well) Funny, I didn't know what bullysticks were either  ....we call them pizzles My guys wouldn't give them a time of day, but they're cheap so it might be worth a try. I'm always nervous about dried meat treats, but that's me. ciao |
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xeopse
Cageless and Roamin' Free
Raw Feeder
Posts: 235
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Post by xeopse on Nov 9, 2010 17:17:09 GMT -5
Lulabelle does not approve of this. In fact, she gave me the stink eye when I took away yet another one she managed to somehow find (I didn't even know my dog had this many toys hidden away places, she is literally pulling them out of the woodwork) and I told her I would find her a new toy... she knows I'm lying.
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Post by Heather on Nov 9, 2010 23:46:02 GMT -5
Poor Lulabelle. She sounds like my Calypso. She would eat any indigestible item she could find. She ate through a ferret tent, a couple of rubber toys that she managed somehow to find (I think they were old cat toys). I'd never met a little one quite like her. She loved the toys (to eat  ), she didn't (doesn't) play with others, not even her cagemate that she was turned in with, Captain Jack. I wish I had an answer for you. She did eventually stop, once she became totally converted to raw. She still takes these peculiar tastes where she will eat all the chipped bone chunks around the bowl and not eat the food  . ciao |
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xeopse
Cageless and Roamin' Free
Raw Feeder
Posts: 235
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Post by xeopse on Nov 10, 2010 19:51:25 GMT -5
Yep, sounds like Lulabelle! She is.... "unique" LOL I love her just the same. I'm sure she will grow out of it, or I will find something eventually that she can live with. What neglected animals we have... geez! Spoiled rotten.  |
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Post by sherrylynne on Nov 10, 2010 20:59:58 GMT -5
Not spoiled- just rotten |
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xeopse
Cageless and Roamin' Free
Raw Feeder
Posts: 235
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Post by xeopse on Nov 11, 2010 9:43:24 GMT -5
SO TRUE! |
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Post by katt on Nov 27, 2010 5:18:04 GMT -5
Bison wafers! Mustelidmusk sent me some, I think it is dehydrated buffalo lung. Koda LOVES it and it has a nice chewy consistency. And since it is food, she can eat it without getting a blockage! Oh look! I found a link! I love google! haha Scroll down, it is the 5th one down on the right. It looks like they have chews and stuff too, those might be worth a try... www.boulderdogfoodcompany.com/dog_treats.html |
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