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Re: Gerbil
I have had 5 ferrets during my life, in the last 15 years I had up to four all at once. Of these last four 2 were rescues that I got at about 4 years of age. The other 2 were babies. From the day I got them they were started on a high quality ferret diet. They were fed the same brand their entire life. The 2 resuces passed away at about 12 years of age and 1 baby just passed at 14 and the other is still going, None have had any health issues, parasites etc. They were given an occassional yogurt treat but that's it. All were neutered. I can't help but think the steady diet helped with their long life and good health. I don't plan on continuing with ferrets but wouldn't change a thing if I did.
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Re: Gerbil
Fair play Jay, the post in certain places came across as though you got a kick from watching the kill. There are a small minority of herp keepers that get a thrill from watching live prey getting nailed. Those people get into keeping snakes etc for that "watch Stuart Little get hammered here!" lets put it on youtube! (same ppl who buy a pit bull to use as an offensive weapon) . Sorry if it sounded like i put you in that catagory.
We have a long tradition of Ferret keeping up here in the North West of England. They have been used for pest control of rats for a long time (and ferret racing!!) along with jack russels.
Regards Scott
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Re: Gerbil
I have a hard time imagining ferret racing. Mind just like to get into everything. If they were racing I bet they'd stop to investigate something shiny. :D
I understand where you are coming from. There are a lot of stupid people out there these days who want a macho dog to prove how tough THEY are, or get a snake just to show their buddies. (I think only one of my friends has witnessed feeding day and that was because he wanted to learn more about snakes).
Debbienflorida, if you wish to feed kibble to ferrets, then that is your choice. Ferrets can live a long life on kibble, but that doesn't mean it is necessarily the best food to give them. My friend's ferret died at an old age but he had adrenal disease caused by a poor diet (she fed him high quality ferret kibble). When I go to feed my fur kids they are more excited about dinner time, they are more active, their teeth are cleaner, either gaining weight or losing weight to become the proper size, poop smells less and is smaller, ect. I even feed my cats raw on occasion (they will be switched to 100% raw in the next month or two) and I've noticed huge improvements with them. My overweight cat, Ramman, has slimmed down. He used to have gingivitis (he was only 7 months old when the vet said he had it) which is more common in adult cats and wanted me to brush his teeth from now on. Instead I started feeding them raw meaty bones and raw meat for a week. After a week of this, Ramman had slimmed down and his teeth were nice a white. It was wonderful. I can't wait to switch them to 100% raw. They are just so much more happy on it. (The dog will be switched over as well in the next month or two)
Look, you feed what you want to feed, and I'll feed what I want to feed. I just know that kibble has been causing issues with ALL of my fur kids and feeding them raw is the best option for my animals. If kibble works for you, then who am I to say you should switch. What a pet owner decides to feed their animal is their choice, but I hope that you feed the best possible kibble you can get. For ferrets, cats, and dogs, make sure no grains are in the first few ingredients (I have seen a dog food out there that has no grains, so that's even better). Grains cause a lot of issues with dogs, so the less, the better.
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Re: Gerbil
12 & 14 years thats a long time! I thought 4 or 5 years is old for one.
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Re: Gerbil
Actually, 12-14 years is a good old age for a ferret and not uncommon. Ferrets live 10-15 years.
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