From:
Troy Lynn Eckart
Date: 2010-08-25 15:19:25 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Ferrets and recipes
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
In my opinion I would never recommend going cold turkey when trying to switch ferrets from any type of feeding to another. Doing so can cause serious health and sometimes psychological problems. Ferrets have a quick digestive process and a high metabolism which means they should be fed free-style or several times a day. With ferrets being prone to insulinoma, not doing so will have an impact on that condition.
In my experience, there are specific reasons for ferrets not switching back to kibble. It isn't just that they like the recipe. They could have digestive issues that we are unaware of, bad teeth, difficulty absorbing nutrients, or some other ailment, etc.
I have ferrets that eat recipe and kibble as well, others that only eat recipe. The healthy ferrets eat both, the older or ailing ferrets are fed recipe to make sure they are eating well enough and getting the nutrients they need even when they do eat kibble. I serve recipe to all my ferrets twice daily, every day, and let all of them eat as much as they want. The old or ailing get additional recipe feedings as needed.
When a ferret loses a companion they will grieve, and become depressed, eat less and sleep more. If that ferret will eat recipe that is a good way to help them keep their strength up. If it is an older ferret, the recipe may be easier for them to eat and absorb the nutrients. Ferrets stress easily. A companion dying causes stress, that would not be the time to change something that will add to the stress factor.
To try to switch them back to kibble, the recipe can slowly be made thicker with each batch, very slowly. If they refuse to eat it, one can try coaxing and finger feeding. If they still refuse, add more fluid to the texture they prefer and try again at a later time. Even if they do go back to kibble, I would recommend at least one recipe feeding daily for the rest of their lives.
Feeding a recipe is so simple I often wonder why people do not want to do it when their ferret prefers it. It is such a great way to get extra nutrition into ferrets, especially when they are sick, old, or grieving, and to keep good weight on them.
tle
www.ferretfamilyservices.org
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