Honest Sarcasm
I've actually been debating on starting my two weasel-bears on raw food or not for a over a year now, ever since one of them became very ill. Well, both became ill, actually. The first one seemed to get a horrible cough one month. I took her to the vet and within a day or two of antibiotics, she was fine.
From the time she came home from the vet I've had her on the highest grade ferret food I can find and what I always hear recommended, Marshall. However, I'm thinking if I can upgrade even further to a raw diet, she might improve further. It may not be possible since I really think it's a little bit of brain damage from having such a high fever for so long those first couple days, however, what could it hurt? I was initially afraid a raw diet would be too expensive and time consuming but as it is, a 7lb bag of Marshall food is $25 here, on sale. I don't see how raw chicken will be anymore expensive than that.
I'm definitely going to look into that site you posted. You've rekindled my interest and desire in the raw feeding. I'll probably even start the cats on it as well. Perhaps the dog as well but she's currently on a really high quality food (no fillers or additives, etc.), Blue Buffalo Co. and that already seems to be making a huge difference in her well-being. Thanks so much!
Wow, you little ferret is lucky to belong to someone who has put so much time and patience into her.
smile
You can definitely upgrade her diet. Even if she turns out to be unable to do full raw due to her brain damage there are some really decent kibbles that would be very good for her. Check out this kibble rating chart for ferrets:
http://everythingfert.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Soup&action=display&thread=24031
I would also think about doing a soup for her. Nearly all ferrets can be taught to like soup and it is very good for them, especially if they are sick and go off their food. Here's a few recipes. The only 'dud' is the second last...raisins aren't good for ferrets and neither is Ferretvite, so I wouldn't use that one.
http://www.wuzzles.com/ferrets/documents/whatisducksoup.htm
Soup can be as simple or as complicated as you like. I used to make the following for my old girl, who was raised on kibble and blank refused to eat anything raw.
-One can of Innova wet cat food
-three cups of cooked chicken
-One tablespoon of heavy cream
Grind it all together, thin it with water until of a soupy consistancy and freeze in ice-cube trays for storage. I would give her two cubes a day and it really helped her. It was a lifesaver after she had surgery and couldn't even raise her head for three days.
I give the same to any other ill ferrets, but their chicken is raw.
For your raw venture be sure to check out this forum- it's super helpful and contains all the info you will ever need.
smile
http://holisticferret.proboards.com/index.cgi
Good luck! Let us know how it goes. ^^