Chewy.Com Review

First, let's get the legal stuff out of the way. I was not compensated for this review. I use this service personally and all opinions are 100% mine.

We live in a busy and hectic world. Many of us working outside the home and taking our kids, whether they be four footed or two legged, to some activity. Trying to remember how much pet food is left or the cost can be difficult. Let alone going to the store and finding out they are out of the brand you need.

Enter Chewy.com this online retailer caters to all pets not just a few like many other online retailers.  Living in a household with a variety of pets it is nice to be able to do one-stop shopping.

Not only does Chewy.com cater to ferret owners and other small animals but also cats and dogs. Chewy.com offers free shipping on orders over $49 which is easily met by this household. They also give 20% off your first autoship. How awesome is that you can set up when your next order should be sent to you and have it delivered right to your door?

The other feature I love is that I can set up to have an order delivered somewhere else. Like a shelter or rescue that can often use a donation of food or treats that they might not otherwise have.

Chewy.com also has flea preventives, toys, and other care supplies.  One can spend hours perusing the site. They also have customer service available 24/7, not that I've had to use it yet.
Why not give Chewy.com deals a look be sure to read the About Us Page and scroll all the way to the bottom to see the Nonprofits they help support.

Jo and the Fur Crew

Blog Paws Adventure Ferret Style

Normally I would write posts while at Blog Paws and/or on my way there. This year things went a little haywire to say the least. So I will start from the beginning and go from there.

The start of the adventure actually starts the night before we are suppose to leave on our road trip across the states. A call comes from the car rental company to say they don’t have any cars for us. I was livid as they had called that morning to confirm our reservation and then to call moments before closing was rude and irresponsible. They wanted us to wait two days to give us a car. Which would have been the start of Blog Paws so that was so not going to happen.

After blowing up on twitter and face book and a call to the corporate office we had a car but would have to go an extra ten miles out of our way to get it at this point I probably would have gone fifty miles just to have a car.

Roomie decided that we should go up a little earlier as we weren’t hundred percent sure where the rental office was but we found it easily and Chris the manager went over well out of his way to make what started out as a really bad experience into something wonderful. First we got upgraded to a nicer car at the same price as what I had reserved the car for and he kept the rental within my budget. Granted it was an extra fifty dollars because of the insurance but I could afford that. He also saw us as soon as they were open instead of making us wait until our appointment time. The car was a Malibu with a lot of bells and whistles.

So I drive back to the house to get the car packed up and ready to go. The chosen hash tag was #TravelingFerrets Finally we are on the road headed to Blog Paws in Las Vegas only to be diverted before we even get out of the state of Pennsylvania due to a major accident on Interstate 80 after getting lost a couple of times on the back roads we finally got back on I-80 in Ohio and an hour behind schedule.

Ohio has a different idea about pet rest areas they are small fenced areas with large smooth stones while not optimal for ferrets it does allow dogs a few minutes off leash and there is water available. Marylin was enjoying getting out of the car for a little bit before heading in to Indiana   where I should have realized that this trip was going to be a lot different than I had planned on.

 

I stopped at one of the travel plazas that are on I-80’s toll road to get something to eat. I chose McDonalds mainly because it was the only thing available besides convince store hot dogs Belch. Ordered a Big Mac and a small fry. The guy who ordered before me took three steps to the left of me and the cashier basically through my receipt at me and got my food quickly. It wasn’t until I got back into the car I realized what the problem was.   Just numbers to me but I know to many that was a bad omen.

 

After a beautiful sunset in Iowa   and me driving all night found me with a large cup of coffee and a face that said I really needed it.  We crossed the boarder into Nebraska   at one of the rest stops there was this very strange sculpture   still have no idea of what it was as the fur kids didn’t want to go near it. Finally we made it to Colorado before the first of the storm clouds started to roll in that brought thunder and lightening with them. The rain came down in sheets so thick you couldn’t see very far ahead but I pushed forward as I really wanted to make Denver before nightfall. The storm passed over and you can see where the edge was unfortuantly I hit Denver well after nightfall and drove up the Rockies in basically pitch blackness not something I like doing as you can’t see very far ahead of you.

I stopped at a lookout called No Name to take a picture of the sunrise   My photos from Utah are fuzzy and jumpy so you can’t see the snow dusting that was there. Finally I made it to Nevada and about two hours later we were at the hotel and the start of Blog Paws   and this was just the start of the adventure.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Review: Stewart Pro-Treat For Ferrets

Disclaimer: I received two free bags of Stewart Pro-Treat to review. The opinions of my ferrets and me are our own and have received no further compensation for this post.

 

             

I love the face of the ferret that is on the bag of treats it is just adorable.

The bag is a little hard to open and can’t be resealed. The bag holds a good amount of freeze dried chicken liver. 

Which is rich in protein (70.45%) and many ferrets love the taste of chicken livers.

I like the fact it states right on the front of the bag that they are made in the USA and on the back states that is USDA inspected Chicken liver.

With so many recalls on pet treats from China it is refreshing to see that there are still companies that are made in the USA.

When I first opened the bag I had a lap full of ferrets trying to see what I had.

One by one they each stuck their nose in the bag and sniffed but only one took something.

That was Manny my treat connoisseur who will only take treats he thinks are worth taking.

The piece he took from the bag seemed a bit big but I had just opened the bag and hadn’t read the rest of the bag yet.

Which says “Stewart ® Pro-Treat® maintains the aroma, full-flavor and nutritional value of 100% raw Chicken Liver. Fresh, conveniently freeze dried and diced into Reward Size Treats, Pro-Treat® is an excellent obedience ad training too. Rich in protein and always preservative free, Pro-Treat® is the delicious and nutritious way to share your love.”

By now Manny was back asking for another treat. I reached into the bag and pulled out a piece that was about an inch thick and wide.

Breaking off a bite size piece for Manny who scampered off to enjoy his new found love. I looked inside the bag and was greet by several large slices.

To me diced means small squares. For a dog or a cat the size wouldn’t be an issue but with ferrets you have to worry about choking and internal obstructions.

Freeze dried items tend to expand when liquid is added and one of the things Manny does is dip his food into the water bowl to moisten it.

Thankfully he didn’t feel the need to do that with the first piece he had.

I do like the fact that they offer a Guaranteed Delicious encase a pet doesn’t like the treats and while I think the pieces are too big for ferrets they are not hard to break up and Manny has found where I’ve hidden them repeatedly to prove how much he loves them.

For me I would give the treats a 3 paw rating but then I don’t count in the rating system.

Manny gives them a five paw rating as it is the highest there is.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Are We Jeopardizing Our Pet’s Health?

I watched The Doctors yesterday, February 27, 2013; the show was titled Guilty Pleasures Jeopardizing your Health.

I am sure most of us try to eat healthy and avoid the sugar trap. I found that many of the foods we think are healthy really aren’t. The most disturbing fact was that most of us consume 150 pounds of sugar a year. The recommended about is 34 pounds. That equals out to 6 tablespoons of sugar daily for women and men get to consume 9 tablespoons.

Most of us blow those amounts out of the water with our first can of soda or with our daily coffee intake. One can of soda has 10 tablespoons of sugar.

These facts got me thinking about our pets and how much sugar do we give them unknowingly? We know that sugar plays a role in obesity, diabetes, and it has also been suspected as part of heart disease.

Most of us know to read labels on the foods we eat and some of us have started reading the labels on our pet’s food as well. The problem is that our food is required to have a nutrition facts panel that must have specific things such as serving size, the amount servings per contain/package, and the amounts per serving and what the recommended daily value.

One of these facts is the amount of sugars. Example did you know that a serving of Cheez-It® has 0 grams of sugar.

But most pet food labels have what is called the Guaranteed Analysis.

“At minimum, many state regulations require a pet food to guarantee the minimum percentages of crude protein and crude fat, and the maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture. The "crude" term refers to the specific method of testing the product, not to the quality of the nutrient itself.” Pet Food Labels – General

Typical Guaranteed Analysis for a Good Ferret Diet
Crude protein	38.0%
Crude fat	18.0%
Fiber	3.5%
Ash	6.5%
Moisture	10.0%

 

It is normal to see the following ingredients in ferret food.

Chicken by-products, herring meal, corn, cod fish, animal liver, dried beet pulp, brewer's dried yeast, cane molasses, salt, sodium propionate, DL-methionine, L-lysine, taurine, vitamin A, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, riboflavin supplement, niacin, biotin, choline chloride, folic acid, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, BHA, vitamin B12 supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (a source of vitamin K), D calcium pantothenate, manganese oxide, inositol, ascorbic acid, iron sulfate, copper sulfate, zinc oxide, cobalt carbonate, potassium iodide, sodium selenite.

You can see there is no mention of the amount of sugar on the Guarantee Analysis. For ferrets that develop Insulinoma these ingredients can play a devastating role.

One of the ingredients Brewer’s Yeast is used to lower blood sugar which is something we don’t want to do in a ferret with insulinoma as his/her blood sugar is already low due to having too much insulin in his/her blood stream.

The other ingredient is cane molasses, which is a byproduct of white sugar, and the gram amount is 55-70 per 100 grams of molasses.

Just by having these two ingredients, we are causing a blood sugar drop only to have it spike again in our ferrets.

It would be interesting to know if these two ingredients could be causing the Insulinoma to show up in so many ferrets over the age of three.

Learning what goes into our pet’s food needs to become as high of a priority as knowing what is in our own food. By learning this we can better help our pets live longer and have happier lives.

What is your opinion? Of this list of ingredients do you know what they do or where they come from?

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Can Ferrets Become Overweight?

 

 

While it is true most healthy ferrets don’t become overweight, it should be realized that it is possible for a ferret to gain more weight than is healthy. One has to take into consideration the amount of exercise to food ratio a ferret may get.

Ferrets should have food available throughout the day as they have a high metabolism but they should also have plenty of exercise for them to maintain a nice weight.

While I try to give my boys plenty of time out of the cage, Manny has a bad habit of eating all the food he can and will stash food in his hidey-hole for later. This habit has given him a rather large butt and has required me to start feeding the boys in separate areas.

Manny is on a diet of smaller portions than Marcuz who doesn’t feel the need to inhale his food so he is a lot smaller than Manny. To some Marcuz may look underweight but he isn’t as a healthy ferret can weigh anywhere from 2-5 pounds. Manny may be tipping the scales at the 5-pound mark.

The other difference is where both boys come from. Manny is a Marshall ferret. Marshall has been breeding ferrets for over 30 years. Marcuz is from Path Valley breeder in PA. I’ve had mainly Path Valley ferrets and they have all been under the 3-pound mark. Manny is my first Marshall ferret and so his larger size is new to me.

Therefore, the answer to the question is yes a healthy ferret can become overweight just like a human can.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Top 10 Ferret Shelter Needs

 

In featuring Lucky yesterday I realized that most don’t know what a ferret shelter/rescue needs are so here are the top 10.

10. Cleaning Supplies this includes but not limited to:

• Paper towels
• Cloth towels
• baby wipes
• laundry detergent
• Simple Green

9. Medical Supplies

• Alcohol pads
• Ferretone
• lancets
• glucometer
• gauze wrap/pads
• Q-tips®
• tweezers
• Benadryl®
• Distress Remedy

8. Treats

• Bandit® from Marshall
• Greenies®
• Ferretone
• Fer-vite
• Chew weasel
• Foamy fries

7. Grooming

• brush
• ferret shampoo
• small animal nail clippers
• Q-tips®
• Fer-lax
• Ferretone
• pet toothpaste/brush
• towels/drying sack

6. Bedding/ Litter

• Hammock
• sleeping sack
• blankets
• Any non-clumping, no fragrance, no clay litter.

5. Toys

• Jingle balls
• stuffed mice
• socks
• squeaky toys
• infant toys that aren’t rubber/latex

4. Ferret Food

• Marshall’s Ferret Food
• Evo
• 8 in 1
• Zupreem
• Young Again
• Path Valley

3. Cages/ Carriers

Made for rabbit/guinea pig/ferret

Carriers for easier transport to vet or foster homes

2. Volunteers/foster homes

 

1. Donations

Can be gift cards to the local pet store, Wal-Mart™, grocery store, gas card.

Find out where the shelter/rescue takes their fur babies and donate to their vet account.

Monetary to the rescue/shelter itself.

 

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

End of Month Review

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be my end of the month post so I went back and read what I had written about for the month. In doing so I realized that some of the information was important and I wanted to be sure it was understood.

From that came the idea of a Month in Review post only instead of my just repeating what I’ve told you I made up a test to do two things.

1. To see if I have been clear in my writing

2. To see who does read my blog.

E-mail Address: *

What species are ferrets * A. Rodent B. Canine C. Mustelidea

This includes * A. Badger otter, mink, and weasel B. Mice, rats, voles, and moles C. Cats, cougar, lions

Ferrets have been used in what jobs * A. Wiring buildings B. Pest Control C. Both A & B

How long has the ferret been domesticated * A. 1000 years B. Over 3000 years C. Never we scoop them up out of the wild

What is the best food for ferrets * A. Cat food B. Dog food C. Raw or Made for Ferret food D. High quality kitten food E. C & D

Ferrets need what type of fat * A. Low fat content B. They shouldn't have any fat C. High Fat content

What are the steps to ferret proofing * A. Child Proofing B. Pet Proofing C. You don't have to ferret proof D. Ferret proofing is an ongoing thing E. A & B F. A, B, & D

Ferrets are allowed everywhere * Yes No

What else would you like to learn

* Required Powered by myContactForm.com

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Feeding Your Ferret

There are several views on what a ferret should be fed. Raw vs. Processed. Both have their merits in the well-being of your ferret it comes down to how you feel about feeding your ferret unprocessed, uncooked, and/or live meat. Or just being able to pour the food out of a bag.

I personally don’t have the time or the finances to feed Manny and Marcuz a raw diet so they get most of their food out of bag but I do supplement it with treats of chicken liver offered both raw and boiled. The verdict is still out on which way is preferred.

There are many articles online about feeding your ferret a raw diet but do your research carefully and ask a lot of questions before you decide this is the best diet for your ferret.

Even with feeding a processed bagged food there are many things you need to know.

1. A ferret’s digestive process takes 2-3 hours from mouth to elimination.
2. Ferrets need quick digestible protein.
3. Ferrets need high levels of fat
4. Ferrets don’t have a Cecum so they can’t process plants

You need to learn how to read the food labels on bags of ferret food to get them the best one for their needs. Pet food labels are regulated by two agencies in the United States.

The federal regulations are enforced by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).

“The FDA established standards applicable for all animal feeds, including but not limited to the proper identification, the proper listing of ingredients.”(2)

“The AAFCO are more specific in that they cover the labeling name of a product, the guaranteed analysis, feeding directions.” (3)

Start with the ingredients the first two should be meat based. Often this is chicken meal, chicken digest, and/or chicken fat. These seem like a great start until you learn that chicken meal is “rendered from mammal tissues which could also contain parts of the animal you wouldn’t think of as meat. “ (1)

Chicken digest basically is stock. Like you use to create some soups, dressings, gravies. It gives the food some flavor but doesn’t have any chicken. Chicken fat is self-explanatory.

With ferret food chicken or any fowl is a good start and won’t often lead to a heavier musky scent like foods that have herring or any fish as the main ingredient.

Another ingredient to look for is Brewers’ yeast. This natural supplement is added to most processed ferret foods and because of its blood sugar lowering properties could be problematic to a ferret with Insulinoma (4)

Learning about what goes into your ferret’s food will help you pick the best diet for them and it will help them to live longer and healthier lives.

(1) Ingredient list 3rd par
(2) FDA 1st par
(3) AFFCO 1st par
(4) Brewers’ Yeast

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Review of Young Again Ferret Food

      On May 5^th I received a free bag of Young Again Ferret food from Young Again Pet Foods.

     When I was asked if I would like to receive a bag I expected a small trial size bag that would maybe hold enough for three days of feeding. What a surprise it was to receive a full size bag of food.

     Because Manny has a warranty on him I have to feed him a “Named” food for a year.

     James on the other paw got to do the taste test of the new food. At first I had to mix the food he had been eating with the Young Again Ferret food for a couple of days so it didn’t upset his tummy.

     The first couple of days James ignored the tiny pellets because they weren’t molded into the shapes he was used to. During that time frame I also used the pellets as treats for when he was playing outside his cage. I am sure there is a mound of Young Again Ferret food in one of his hidey-holes but it did do the trick by the third day he was eating both foods.

     The first time James shed he lost most of his black and gray coloring leaving him to look like Dark Eyed White (DEW) when in fact he was considered a silver mitt. James now has color returning to his fur.

James has been eating this food for just over two months now and can I see more differences than just his color returning. His eyes are alert and sparkling. His fur is a lot softer than it has been in a long time.

Their site states that in a few short weeks you will see these differences in your ferret:

· Soft, luxurious fur

· Promotes proper weight management

· Helps promote fat loss and increases muscle density

· Less waste in the litter box

· More sociable behavior

· More Positive energy

· Helps prevent urinary bladder and kidney disease

· Helps prevent insulinoma and diabetes mellitus.

· Ferrets love the taste so it is easily adapted

     Out of their list I have seen a difference in James fur, his weight has gone up a little bit and he has bulked up in his muscles. I am changing the litter box less and the odor isn’t as bad as it has been. James has always been sociable so I can’t really comment on that area but he does have more energy than most 10 year olds I have seen.

     While Manny isn’t suppose to get any other food but the one recommend for him it hasn’t stopped him from sneaking a nibble or two of James food. He really likes it also.

     The food has shown some great improvements in James there are some down points to it.

1. It isn’t’ available in stores which adds to the cost of a bag of food.
2. The zip lock closer doesn’t always stay closed and has lead to some spills. (Not that Trixie minded)
3. It only comes in 8lb bags. For many this is the perfect size but for others it may not be.

     These may seem like petty down points but ferret food is expensive to being with and sometimes an extra shipping charge takes to big of a bite out a person’s budget.

     I do like the fact they do offer you two different ways of getting free shipping but until I know how long it will take James to eat a bag of food the bottomless bag option is out of the question. At the moment we aren’t even half way through the bag.

     Out of a paw rating of one to five we give Young Again Ferret Food a Four paw rating.

Be sure to check out Young Again Pet Foods and tell them Enlightened Ferret sent ya.

 

Jo

The Thank You

     I am sure many of you now know I was lucky enough to rub elbows and paws with some awesome people and their pets this last weekend. I hope I gave you a peek into some of the greatness of the whole idea of Blogpaws but we cannot as a group of unique people forget how this wonderful conference came to be so make sure you go back and thank these people either with an email or a comment on their blog.

     First I think we need to make sure that the founders are never forgotten because if it hadn’t been for that first spark of inspiration Blogpaws™ would have never come to be.

     This was the brainchild of Caroline Golon, Yvonne Divita, and Tom Collins. Writers for Romeo the Cat, Scratching and Sniffings, and Books Blogs and Beyond, who had an idea of getting a few pet people who wanted to learn how to improve their blogging skills and connect with other like minded people.

     At first it was set up as a pod cast which would have maxed out sixty people. These founders were overwhelmed with the response they got when they put the idea out on their blogs and twitter. Sixty people swelled into a mass of over two hundred fifty people and their pets that wanted to attend.

     They might have been overwhelmed but like all good pet owners they grabbed hold of a great opportunity and changed the format into a one day conference. With that I give you the Standing Ferret Paw Award especially created because of this wonderful event.

 

     Columbus Ohio is a beautiful place to visit. Like someone said it reminded them of New York City without the prices of New York. The Westin ™ hotel out did themselves with welcoming us, pets and all. The rooms were spacious and the beds, not that many of us slept in them, were soft.

     The room service was fantastic as was the food from the High Street Grill. I’ll never forget that piece of cake. Friday night’s opening exquisitely dressed wait staff milled around us with ease and grace offering us appetizers that were simple and tasty or as our pets at a pawty would say NOMMY. My only suggestion for next year is to make sure us coffee drinkers are able to have a cup on opening night.

     The morning spread was beautiful and tasty. The fruit was sweet and the choices of breads, Danishes, and muffins were outstanding.

     Lunch was nice. Coming in to a room with tables ready for people was nice. Salads were placed as people were coming in the door and the huge piece of cheesecake was waiting to tempt you into eating it before you had your lunch. It was nice to hear the wait staff ask if any of us were vegetarians so they didn’t get a place of chicken placed in front of them.

     The chicken was surprisingly good and so was the rice. Green beans that crunch are good but they almost had a plastic consistency but that cheese cake made up for that it was wonderful.

     Thank you Westin Hotel for putting up with pet bloggers and their animals along with having a huge wedding the same weekend. You did a spectacular job.

     None of this would have been possible without the great sponsors who provided for this conference. Being able to see and meet representatives of these great brands was a wonderful opportunity to network and get information that might of seemed impersonal any other way.

Thank you goes to:

Del Monte Pet Foods markers of Meow Mix and Kibbles ‘n Bits

Purina Care® Pet Health Insurance

Pet Smart®

Dogtime Media™

Wellness® Natural Food and Treats for Pets

Bissell®

Puppy Tweets

Cats Against Clay

Kodak®

AAHA™ The Standard of Veterinary Excellence

I Love Dogs® Premium Canine Vitamins and supplements

Bamboo®

 Fat Cat®

TPPC.tv®

Destinations Design LLC

Centipede Graphics

FURminator®

West & Co. Diamonds and Jewelry

Bella's

Blogger Black Book

The Pet Bus

Purrfect Play

Embrace Pet Insurance®

     The after party at the A&R Music Hall was nice. Although for my tastes the live music could have been a little lower than at the volume it was at. It was hard to hear what people were saying and many people drifted from the front of the bar to the back and still couldn’t hear what was being said. But it was a nice change from the feeling rushed I am sure many of us had when we were at the hotel.

     For me the after party was an amazing event because of the opportunity to met one person I had no clue was even attending the conference. More on that as the details get worked out. Lets just say being the only Ferret person there had its advantages, that and the lime green tee shirt.

     We mustn’t forget the photographer. He was seen taking pictures at every opportunity and you could tell he was having a blast. I hope this opens up a new avenue for him. Thank you Brad Smith of Brad Smith Photography in Columbus, Ohio.

Technorati Tags: Blogpaws 2010

     Be sure to visit all of these fine folks and leave them thank you notes/comments because without them we would have never had this wonderful conference.

Jo

Blogpaws: The Nommys

     Nice spread put out by the hotel.

 

*Chitters* Got a pic of the photographer.

 

Our table

 

Jo

Feeding the Ferret: The Ugly

     Humans are able to eat almost all foods without giving it much though but we must be aware of what we can give our pets without dire consequences.

      We know better than to give our pets even a tiny taste of some foods but we may not know the dangers of other foods until it is too late.

     Pet owners should know that chocolate is toxic to animals. The compound responsible for the toxicity is Theobromine. According to Vet Medicine, the toxic dosage for a dog is between 100-200 mg. It would take less to kill a ferret.

     Everyday in America new sugarless products emerge. These products contain the ingredient Xylitol. The most used item containing Xylitol is chewing gum. Chewing gum is a problem for ferrets in that they don’t know not to eat it. It can cause obstructions that can be fatal to a ferret. The Xylitol in sugarless gum has been linked to hypoglycemia better known as low blood sugar in animals. Ferrets with insulinoma are at higher risk.

     While not a lot is known about ferrets and how they do react to certain foods there have been incidents where a ferret has had a food allergy and like humans, it can be fatal.

     Peanuts may seem harmless but in reality, the hardness and small size can cause a host of problems including but not limited to intestinal blockage, choking, and seizures from allergic reaction.

     Popcorn may not seem like it could cause a problem but kernels that haven’t popped can choke a ferret. The soft part of the kernel once ingested can swell and cause blockages. Most popcorn is salted and buttered and this can lead to unhealthy weight gain.

     Seeds aren’t digestible and could cause blockages along with the possibility of choking.

     Avocados are poisonous to cats and with ferrets being even smaller; I would personally avoid giving any to a ferret.

     Onions contain disulphide that could lead to anemia.

     Corn is a plant material that isn’t digestible and passes though the intestinal system whole and can cause the soft lining to protrude though the anus. Known as a prolapsed rectum.

     Vegan pet food is on this list because of the controversy about how beneficial it is to animals such as cats, dogs, and ferrets. Which are carnivores and need meat in their diet to have proper nutrition.

     Sugar laden things such as candy, soda pop, energy drinks, and alcohol can cause blood sugar related problems along with tooth decay.

     Black licorice interferes with blood sugar levels. Which could be problematic to a ferret with insulinoma.

     Candy is known as lick and sticks in our house because my fur children don’t eat it. They will lick a pilfered piece until it is sticky and then leave it where I will usually step on it in my bare feet.

      Energy drinks have been linked to impaired adrenal responses in humans. Along with the adrenal interference, the sugar content would cause problems with a ferret that also has insulinoma.

     Alcoholic drinks convert into sugars and should never be given to animals.

     Dog food should never be given to a ferret as source of food because it lacks an amino acid called Taurine. An absence of taurine can result in eye problems that could eventually lead to blindness, hair loss, and tooth decay. It could also cause an enlargement of the heart in cats and possibly in ferrets.

     The ASPCA now has an Animal Poison Control Center that is open 24/7 year round. You can find some information on their site at http://aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control or if it is an emergency you can call (888) 426-4435. There could be a charge of $65 to your credit card for the use of the service. I didn’t find any information about ferrets so I am doubtful of how much knowledge they have about them.

     I hope you have found this series informational and given you some new information about giving our furry friends foods.

     Any remarks, thoughts, ideas, links to other blogs or websites are welcomed and appreciated.

Jo

     Please visit these places as they are great sources of information.

Veterinary Medicine http://vetmedicine.about.com

http://aspca.org

Feeding the Ferret: The Bad

     These foods are considered bad foods because they aren’t part of a ferret’s natural diet. Given in moderation they won’t kill a ferret.

     Ferrets are like small children in that everything goes into their mouths and need to be monitored about what goes into their little mouths.

     Ferrets are determined little animals and will demand what you are eating just because they see it going into your mouth.

Dairy Products:

     Ferrets are lactose intolerant meaning that any milk-based product is going to give them diarrhea. Although you can give them a baby spoon taste of what you are eating.

     By using a baby spoon accomplishes two things. It allows you to control how much a ferret is getting and it teaches them that if it is on the spoon they are allowed a taste.

     It should be noted here and will be again in the next post. Chocolate should never be given to a ferret or any other animal, as it is toxic to ALL animals.

Fruit and Vegetables:

     Ferrets lack a cecum (1) to process fruits and vegetables. They gain no nutritional value out of these items and are hard to digest. Knowing this you can allow a ferret a taste occasionally but no more than once or twice a month. There are exceptions of course.

     Raisins can be given but no more than ten a day and be sure they are being eaten and not stashed away for later.

     Baby carrots cut lengthwise and into thin strips. My boys like to chew on them until they are mushy then they are done with them.

     Celery cut into the size of baby carrots and cut the same way. Removing as much of the stringy part as you can.

     Strawberries only a small bite.

Nuts and Grains:

     Cheerios out of the box and only 10 a day. You can alternate this with raisins. Again, be sure they are actually eating them.

     Bread either can be out of the wrapper or toasted. Only a nibble now and then otherwise a ferret will try to eat your sandwich out of your hand.

     Peanut Butter no more than once a month and use the baby spoon leveled off. Peanut Butter is a good emergency laxative if you are out ferret lax.

Optional:

     These treats are made for animals but not for ferrets.

     Treats for cats: These include Pounce®, Greenies for Cats® pretty much any of the hard cat treats. If the serving says, five pieces a day only give one or two to a ferret.

     There are treats on the market for ferrets and are reasonable in price but I have found that not all ferrets share the same tastes and will turn their noses up at treats designed for them.

     Have lived with eight ferrets at one time you find that they can be demanding and will keep after something until either it is out of their sight or you let them have some.

     Galahad was a prime example of this. He loved coffee and would hunt down my coffee cup so he could have a drink. After losing three keyboards to ferret spilled coffee, I bought a doll’s tea set and gave him one of the cups.

     I would fill his cup with a small amount of my coffee. This did two things it kept him off my desk an away from my coffee and it allowed him to have some. He also knew that he only got one cup a day and would bring me his cup when he was ready for it.

     I don’t recommend giving ferrets coffee but I wanted to illustrate just how persistent they can be and one of the solutions I came up with.

     The last post in this series will cover the foods you should never give a ferret and the reasons why.

     I hope you have found these first two posts informational. Any feedback, comment, links to other blogs is encouraged and welcomed.

Jo

     1. Cecum or caecum comes from the Latin caecus meaning blind. It is a pouch that connects the ileum with the ascending colon of the large intestines. Herbivores have a relatively large cecum that host bacteria that helps to break down plant materials. 

     Obligatory carnivores whose diet contains little or no plant material have a reduced cecum that is either partially or completely replaced by the vermiform appendix(2) http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecum

     2.Vermiform appendix is a blind-ended tube connected to the cecum. Vermiform comes from Latin and means worm-shaped. http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veriform_appendix

Feeding the Ferret: The Good

     Trying to find the right food to feed your ferret can be overwhelming. Knowing what they need to have nutritionally helps in the decision making process.

Fact: It takes about three hours for food to travel through a ferret’s digestive tract.

     This short time span for digestion means that a ferret needs to have a protein source that breaks down quickly along with a high fat content to meet their body’s needs.

     Ferrets are carnivores meaning that they are meat eaters and should be fed foods that are high in animal proteins and fats. Reading labels will help you to decide what food is best for your ferret.

     While a ferret can eat cat food this isn’t a good choice as most cat/kitten chow is formulated from corn meal or some other corn by product.

     The first ingredient of specially formulated ferret food should be some kind of animal protein such as chicken or turkey. To help less the musky odor of a ferret foods that have fish or herring meal should be avoided.

     One the package should be a mandated chart by the American Animal Feed Control Office (AAFCO) that has the percentages of crude protein, fat, fiber, and moisture.

     Crude Protein estimates the total protein content in foods designed for animals. This includes true proteins and other nitrogen containing substances such as amino acids and nitrates.

     These act as both an energy source and tissue builder. Crude Protein should not be less that 40% the higher the percentage the better.

     Crude Fat includes all the fat in the diet from plant to animal sources. While the plant source may be good for cats and dogs. Ferrets need mainly animal fat sources. Crude Fat should not be less than 20%.

     Crude Fiber is a rough indicator of energy level and crude fiber for ferrets should not exceed 2%.

     Moisture is how much water or liquid is in the food. In ferret food it should not be greater than 10%.

     These numbers are based on commercially produced foods that can come in canned or dry forms. There is a growing trend of feeding a ferret a more natural or raw diet.

     While the Guaranteed Analysis in many cases is higher one must realize that a raw diet can be open to problems that most commercially produced foods aren’t affected by. These can include the food spoiling quickly to harmful bacterial growth.

     Ferret food can be expensive. A 4 pound bag can cost anywhere from 9 to 22 dollars. This varies from brand to brand and store to store.

     Some brands are made in a single shape or pellet and others have several shapes to challenge a ferret’s inquisitive nature. Some ferrets will eat the same brand all the time and others will eat several because of their finicky nature.

     James and Lance like Zupreem® the best of all the brands I have offered them but it has to be mixed with 9lives Growing Years ® Kitten food for 0-3 years. It gives them several shapes to pick up and eat. Lance eats his food in a very distinct pattern of shapes.

     The second part of this series will be the bad foods. This covers what treats are considered bad for a ferret and the reasons why. Along with what human foods can be given but are not necessarily a good thing to allow.

     What do you consider a treat for your pet? What human foods would you allow your pet to eat and why?

     All comments, answers, and links to other blogs are welcomed and encouraged.

Jo

Preview of the coming Posts

     Can a ferret eat cat food? Are raisins and peanuts good for treats? Is gum dangerous for my ferret?

                           

     Our pets depend on us to feed them appropriate foods depending on their species and other requirements. We also like to give them bits of our own foods when we think no one else is looking. We are bombard with ads from a number of sources on what to feed our pets. Each product trying to get our money by telling us how great their food is for our pets.

     Dog and cat food commercials flood the television and other media platforms along with advice on what to not to let them eat and the reasons whys.

     Ferret owners have to look for advice on what foods are good and which can be detrimental to a ferret’s health.

                        

     In the coming three part series I will answer the three questions at the beginning of this post along with talking about the foods that a ferret should eat, that they really shouldn’t have but in extreme moderation isn’t bad, and the foods you should never let a ferret. Much like the Clint Eastwood movie titled The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

     What foods do you consider good, bad, or ugly for pets in general? All remarks, topic ideas, answers, and links to other blogs are appreciated.

Jo

First Wednesday Poll

Now I would like you to answer some question related to the poll. Please leave your answers in the comment section of the blog and not on the poll.

1. What type of pet do you have?

2. Do you know what types of foods aren't safe for your pet?

3. What kind of treats do you give your pet?

4. How often do you give your pet treats? If you don't give treats why not?

5. Do you find these polls interesting?

thanks,

Jo

Little Debbie Cupcake Review

     Little Debbie® snacks have been part of our household for a while now. Our favorites include fudge rounds, oatmeal cookies, nutty butters, muffins, and honey buns. The prices are less than Hostess ® and offer a variety of options.

     Last month I won a coupon for a free box of Little Debbie® cupcakes. I used that coupon last week. The box contains eight individually wrapped cupcakes that are smaller than Hostess’s cupcakes but have the same loopy white icing on the top.

     The cake is moist enough to stick to your fingers. The top icing is thin and has a bitter after taste. I am one that likes to lift the icing off and eat it first I can't do that with this icing. The dollop of cream that is inside the cupcake tastes chemically and it isn’t very sweet at all.

     My roommate, Judy says the cake is dry and tastes of chemicals. There is not enough cream in the center. To her the icing is the best part.

     I will continue to buy the snacks listed above but the cupcakes will remain on the store shelf. These were a disappointment in a line of good tasting snacks.

Rating:   

 

Rating Scale:

No ferret would touch.

Ferret might move it around.

  Ferret might nibble at it.

  Ferret might take it to hidey-hole.

    A ferret's treasure!

 

     Disclaimer: This review was not rewarded in any way by Little Debbie® snacks or Hostess®. The opinion is mine solely and may differ from other individuals. I was awarded a coupon for a free box of cupcakes from a contest that I entered.

Jo