sherik
Going Natural
Posts: 105
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Post by sherik on Nov 26, 2010 18:38:11 GMT -5
I'm sure this has been asked a million times, but I can't find anything on it here. If I start feeding my ferrets raw, should I worry about the bacteria?
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Post by Heather on Nov 26, 2010 20:24:22 GMT -5
No.... Really, their digestive track is so short that none of those bacteria have time to go "Hi there" on their way through Dogs eat bones they've buried for weeks in the heat of the summer, a ferrets digestive track is even shorter than that and is even better equipped to handle the bacteria load. This may sound weird considering a ferrets track record for eating things that will "stop" them up, but they won't eat meat that's off or too contaminated for their systems to handle. I've been feeding a raw diet to dogs, cats and ferrets for over 12 yrs now and that's not one of the problems that I've ever had, even when feeding the "sickies" on pred. It's you that has to worry (I've never had a problem) you take the same precautions that you would for yourself in preparing their dinners. I used to be absolutely meticulous when handling meat when I first started raw feeding....ferrets have relaxed me in that regard ciao
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Post by sherrylynne on Nov 27, 2010 10:02:01 GMT -5
Vets and others who don't understand what raw feeding is about will also use scare tactics about how you WILL make everyone around you sick by feeding raw. Although yes, they DO shed those bacteria in their stool, unless you are prepping your own food after cleaning their boxes and messes without hand washing, there's not a problem.
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Post by mustelidmusk on Nov 27, 2010 23:42:10 GMT -5
The first time I fed raw, I literally ran into the ferret room the next morning as soon a I woke up just to make sure the brats were all still alive And I did not/would not feed that raw meal raw until after I went to 2 different well-known holistic vets to discuss the risks. So here I am on this raw site over 5 years later. Heather has been feeding raw for about 12 years now. The ferrets handle the raw really well. I'm not all that overly careful with raw feeding - I may miss an empty bowl in the ferret room hat may have a little dried meat left in it. But honetly, my previous ferret got more sick from eating kibble that would fall into the drip cup under their water bottles. The water would cause the kibble to go bad, and the frrets would either lick up the water or eat the kibble ---- Now THAT definitely caused problems. The raw food has been a lot more problem-free than the kibble! -jennifer
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Post by mrsringo on Nov 28, 2010 16:05:44 GMT -5
So you clean the bowls with Vinegar? Same with bedding, I'm assuming? And litter boxes? How often do you clean the cages (using Vinegar also?) How do you dispose of the waste in order to keep the salmonella/e coli contained? Just a few questions regarding sanitariness (wow, had to look the form of that word up on Dictionary.com, haha!)
Thanks!
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Post by sherrylynne on Nov 28, 2010 17:27:59 GMT -5
As for cleaning up litter boxes daily, I just scoop like I do with my cat's boxes, and it goes in the garbage. I try to wash down the entire cage weekly when I change bedding, using a 50/50 mix of vinegar/water. As for plates? This is about what they are good for
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Post by bluemoose on Nov 28, 2010 17:30:59 GMT -5
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Post by Heather on Nov 28, 2010 17:33:51 GMT -5
I guess that's what you call "being served" ciao
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Post by sherrylynne on Nov 28, 2010 17:34:58 GMT -5
Now you know why I don't bother with them anymore, unless they are getting grinds
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Post by mrsringo on Nov 28, 2010 22:19:54 GMT -5
Haha! Love it! Okey dokey.
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odin
Going Natural
Posts: 153
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Post by odin on Nov 29, 2010 18:25:02 GMT -5
If you ask my wife, she will tell you that I'm OCD about germs. I don't think i'm quite that bad, but i'm a little over meticulous and it's really not that bad with the fuzkid. Of course i have the stubborn one who's insisted on staying with soupy for months now and will just turn her nose up to anything that has chunks in it, and if it's RMB... forget about it. We'll keep trying till she's on something healthier for her teeth though.
Anyway, she's still on soupy, and we feed her in one of two places. a bowl on a towel in the dining room, or in a bowl in her cage. in either case, when she's done, she very politely wipes her face and chin off on the towel provided. I just pick it up and wash it every few days.
Just as Heather said, normal precautions are more than enough. When you really think about it, the bacteria can't multiply somewhere there isn't food for it. So the little bit of mess she makes in the towel, it's not like i'm wiping my hands with it and then making a sandwich.
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Post by mrsringo on Nov 29, 2010 18:30:47 GMT -5
I will probably be extremely weird about germs.. I have a 5 month old daughter right now (she'll be at least 1 year old when we actually get a Ferret though), and she CONSTANTLY sticks her hands (and whatever else) in her mouth. Obviously, she will have zero access to the cage or the room the cage will be kept in, but I don't want to risk anything! I just want to make sure we're being as safe as possible and have all of the knowledge necessary to decrease the chance of anything going wrong.
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Post by rarnold18 on Nov 30, 2010 23:42:18 GMT -5
I understand! My daughter is 2 1/2 and we've been feeding raw since before I was pregnant with her... Abigail is my trouble maker and has had to be taught that they food bowls are not her's to eat out of or play with (and she has tried to eat the dogs food too...ew!) My oldest, 11, helps with the dog and ferret feeding duties and my middle kid, 5, feeds the cats their kibble (I have not been successful in switching them) We have how ever made it a rule that all hands get washed before and after feeding the animals and anytime their bowls, empty or not, are handled. I don't use hand sanitizer, I think the cleaning supply companies are influencing us to keep our homes and selves too clean... if that makes any sense. But since the introduction of handsanitizer into the schools I have seen in increase of sicknesses and antibiotic resistant strains of sicknesses and bactierias like MERSA. Thankgoodness my kids were all BF until they were atleast 1 1/2 and Miss Abigail my trouble maker was just past 2! eh...I guess I believe that a little dirt (or germs) won't hurt...but I do promote proper handwashing...
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Post by mrsringo on Dec 2, 2010 18:35:13 GMT -5
Oh my! You have your hands full Rarnold18! That is definitely a good rule (washing hands prior to and after feeding/handling bowls). I'm having to figure out what the heck to do with my dogs' bowls as of now because they've always been in the living room (which is obviously where my daughter crawls around) and I swear, that is the FIRST thing she goes after! My dogs are on Kibble, but I recently read that you can still contract Salmonella and E. Coli bacterias from Kibble (on your hands) due to it collecting moisture from the air! My dog foods are both in sealed containers, but that doesn't mean air doesn't get in there! Sheesh! Kids are complicated. (At the moment she is trying to stick my toes in her mouth.. ) hehe.
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Post by sherrylynne on Dec 2, 2010 19:40:31 GMT -5
Hey- at least she doesn't have those sharp little canine teeth the ferrets do when they go after MY toes
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