Taratee's Switching Thread/Heather

[Heather]

You can get supplemental taurine, some actually add it on top of the hearts. I don't like to use supplements and would rather use the natural components. This is your choice, you can use the supplement if you choose either instead or in addition to. You will want to take a close look at the non medicinal ingredients, making sure that their is no sucrose, lactose or soya
There is no proof that ferrets actually need taurine the way cats do but it's better to be safe than sorry. It has also come to light in the last few years that dogs require taurine and up until then the powers that be claimed that they didn't need it.
ciao

[taratee]

my boys are eating quite large chunks now and tia as well lulu still seems to be holding out but i dont mind making soup for her and having food out for the other three this morning because i didnt have any wings i just thawed out some of the thigh i cut up thinking if they eat it good if they dont eat it ill make the soup and the boys took to it pretty quickly i dont know if they were hungry or what, they dont have kibble in their cage trying for some extra encouragement to eat the soup and wings tia seems to be in much better spirits shes playing much more now then when she was on kibble, icha is starting to go silver on his head it really showed up yesterday, i was a bit excited that hes growing into his coat but he seems to be a bit more tired then normal, not lethargy so much as he seems to be taking naps more and he seems a bit more relaxed maybe because hes got some structure?

[Heather]

I've found that my raw fed ferrets weren't as edgy. Not sleepy, just not as fidgety (ADHD ). It's not that they don't have the energy and the gogo that they're supposed to have. I just found that they were more alert, more ready to play but at the same time more content?? Sounds weird, I hope you understand what I mean because it actually sounds like a contridiction but if you have an ADD skinkid you would know. My son refers to it as itching under your skin. That maybe what you're noticing. I'm glad to hear that you're starting to see some of the differences that the change in diet is giving your little ones.
I'm thinking that your boys might be ready for a different type of protein? You can hold back or just toss them a piece of meat that you were going to serve yourself (just a small chunk of raw meat that you can spare) and see what happens. I don't think I would try the girls just yet, they're still trying to get a handle on the whole soupy thing.
ciao

[taratee]

what other type of protein should i move on to? something ground? something bone in? what is something popular that ferrets seem to enjoy? ive heard some like pork but what cut?

[Heather]

Your guys are eating chunks right? Do yo eat spareribs? Buy some spareribs and give your guys a sparerib. Try and give them something with a smaller narrower bone (the ends of the rack are often really good as they're mostly softer bones and cartilage.) My guys are particularly fond of something called button bones which is a pork cut. If you want to try beef, stewing meat works well. Both proteins come in ground so if you want to make up a soupy then you can do that with either meat. Turkey is another protein that is usually easily accessible
ciao
Heather

[taratee]

good news is that i found a butcher, more good news two turkey necks is a dollar so ill be trying turkey neck tonight and see how they do i was thinking about smushing half the bone and leaving the other part whole so they can have either, i was thinking its bone in and their poops have been a little watery lately so i thought it was a good idea

[Heather]

Sounds good. I find that my guys (because of the hardness of the bone) either need some assistance (give it a smack or two with a hammer) or need to be left with the meat and bone longer than some of the other boned meats.
Having problems with loose stools or just looser? Raw fed ferrets have much looser stools than kibble fed (a whole lot more moisture)
ciao

[taratee]

just normal switching loose, tia is having some really loose stools that smell so i was thinking she might have an excess of bacteria

[Heather]

Some pumpkin might help. Acedophelus might also help regulate gut bacteria. I've never had much positive experience with using yogurt but kefir works too to help balance the gut bacteria
ciao

[taratee]

i made sure she got some pumpkin last night via syringe, because i wanted to know for sure she got the right amount, didnt care much for the texture but ill watch her poo tonight and see how its helping

[taratee]

the pumpkin was so bad tonight i had to hold her in a towel and force feed it to her
im not quite sure how much she got, any tips on what to do with the pumpkin?

[Heather]

Have you tried mixing it with some meat? so that maybe it doesn't taste so bad to your little one? or maybe some ferretone? That might make it more tasty. I've got a couple of little ones who don't like pumpkin either I mix it in with their soupy
ciao

[taratee]

will pumpkin discolor poo? tia had a bright yellow poo this morning and im starting to worry

[Heather]

yes

[taratee]

oh thank gawd!!!