Natural/Healthier Alternative to Ferretone etc.?

[candiceboggs]

I wasn't sure where to post this but I'm wondering what to use instead of Ferretone when clipping nails, and Ferret-lax to prevent hairballs (I never bought Ferret-lax or whatever it was called, just used 100% petroleum jelly at the advice of some ferret people I know).

From what I've been reading there are a lot of dangers inherent in petroleum jelly (this off of natural make-up and skin care websites) so it doesn't seem wise at all for it to go on the INSIDE, and when it comes to Ferretone, which is high in (vitamin A? I can't remember) certain ingredients and sugars that can exacerbate or provoke insulinoma, which I want to avoid at all costs. Some people mix half and half with Olive Oil, but surely there is something else to use entirely?

What could I do instead that would nicely compliment the raw diet?

[bluemoose]

I use extra virgin olive oil and fish oil mixed. The olive oil is a good hair ball preventative and the fish oil is a good source of omega threes. Plus most ferrets love fish oil.

Borrowed from Jennifer's supplement post:

FISH OIL
********
Highly recommended
* good source of essential fatty acids such as omega 3s
* health benefits for heart/circulatory system and brain
* May reduce risk of cancers
RISKS
* May cause digestive upset/aggravation of IBD in some individuals
* potential for oxidation of oils
(recommend capsule over bottles - less exposure to air)/oxidation)
(refrigerate bottles)
* organic and inorganic toxins and heavy metals may be in fish oils
smaller fish (anchovies, sardines) tend to have less accumulation of toxins/metals. Salmon has relatively low lead levels.
not all pharmaceutical grade oils are the same - know your brand.
* My Dosage: 250 mg per ferret per day.
* My Brand: Super EPA (Thorne Research)

EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
**********************
Highly Recommended

* Ecellent Hairball remedy
* May reduce cancer risk
* May help with IBD
* Proven to be effctive against Helicobacter Pylori
* Risk: Unknown
* Dose: ~1/2 teaspoon per ferret per day. (I don't measure this)

[jacksmomma]

I use salmon oil instead of ferretone and Jack Loooooves it! I use the 1 mL capsules and draw it out with a hypodermic needle, remove the needle and use the syringe as a dropper and you never have to touch the stuff. Its pretty pungent

[kainslie]

I would imagine a great substitue would be olive oil.

I sometimes use ferretone (less than once a month.. now I only do it for nail clipping, I didn't know it was so easy....ahaha) but it helps me with any 'liver' i missed with the added vitamin a

I didn't know there was petrolum in it though...

[KD]

Wow, I feel kind of dumb. The oils in ferretone can be bought for a lot less money, it's like paying for brand name jeans versus generic brands, same quality, different label.

[rarnold18]

I buy Salmon oil from our local specialty pet food shop, it comes with a pump dispenser and every couple of days I'll give dinner a squirt or two on all of the carnivor animals foods, dogs, cats and ferrets...

[candiceboggs]

Dec 15, 2010 10:33:33 GMT -5 kainslie said:

I would imagine a great substitue would be olive oil.

I sometimes use ferretone (less than once a month.. now I only do it for nail clipping, I didn't know it was so easy....ahaha) but it helps me with any 'liver' i missed with the added vitamin a

I didn't know there was petrolum in it though...

There is not any petroleum in Ferretone, at least not that I'm aware of. Highly doubt it. I'm just asking about alternatives to that product and the product Ferret-Lax, which is given regularly (once a week to twice) to prevent blockages. The alternative I had been using formerly was pure, 100% petroleum jelly. I think that's what you must have seen. Anyway, someone mentioned I should use fish oil in place of Ferretone and Olive Oil in place of Ferret-Lax/Petroleum Jelly for the blockages I believe, and so I think I'll concoct my own mixture and have an all-in-one! Woo-hoo.

[candiceboggs]

Dec 15, 2010 5:11:56 GMT -5 @bluemoose said:

I use extra virgin olive oil and fish oil mixed. The olive oil is a good hair ball preventative and the fish oil is a good source of omega threes. Plus most ferrets love fish oil.

Thanks so much! What ratio do you mix to make your own nail clipping/hairball remedy? It's great it can be all in one instead of two separate products.

[candiceboggs]

Dec 15, 2010 17:46:21 GMT -5 KD said:

Wow, I feel kind of dumb. The oils in ferretone can be bought for a lot less money, it's like paying for brand name jeans versus generic brands, same quality, different label.

That's pretty much what I thought too! Althought instead of Ferretone being "designer" buying generic can provide better health. I thought of it because so many ferret owners I know mix Ferretone half and half with Olive Oil as it is, so I figured there must be something else to make your own, if you're mixing Olive Oil anyway. Like fish oil, and there it was! Cool.

[candiceboggs]

Dec 15, 2010 10:28:53 GMT -5 jacksmomma said:

I use salmon oil instead of ferretone and Jack Loooooves it! I use the 1 mL capsules and draw it out with a hypodermic needle, remove the needle and use the syringe as a dropper and you never have to touch the stuff. Its pretty pungent

I buy human-grade salmon oil 1,000 mg capsules for my cats and they get 1-2 a week each, I just puncture it and drizzle, and when it gets on my hands whoo-eeee. So this is a really great idea - I never liked the smell of Ferretone on my hands, either. Where do you get the hypodermic needles?

[bluemoose]

I make a mixture of 25% fish oil (made from small fish like anchovies and sardines), 25% salmon oil, and 50% extra virgin olive oil. I give this mixture daily to the cat, dog, and ferrets and use it for ferret nail clipping. Many ferrets aren't fans of olive oil so mixing it with fish and/or salmon oil makes them more willing to take it.

[3kaw]

As well for blockages/ hair balls, pumpkin can work really well, and they dont seem to have any issues accepting it. Mine get a bit every day.

[maddiesmom]

Another vote for fish oil... and pumpkin!!

[sunnyberra]

I use olive oil and pumpkin (I need to get fish oil!) I think olive oil as a lubricant is fine most of the time, but periods of heavy shedding or when you think one of your guys has ingested an object, pumpkin is best, because besides just making passing whatever it is easier, it (the fiber) also binds to the stuff, and helps actively push it out.

It's saved Yogi from a pretty nasty hairball in his first year, and it got ingested earbuds (for an mp3 player) out of Hiko, and it helps soothe and regulate Pixie's IBD, so I'm definitely an advocate for it!

My guys get it pretty frequently, as a result, and I also give the olive oil (which they absolutely adore) about every couple of days, as well, a bit more frequently during sheds and the winter (they get itchy skin from the dry air).

[sherrylynne]

I use olive oil, salmon oil, small fish oil, and pumpkin. I will confess- I still use ferretone as a training treat, especially for biters, and my adrenals get it at the vet's every month for their injections