I work at a clinic that mostly sees dogs and cats. Every so often an exotic comes in, and though the doctor is generally learned in exotic species she isn't...well...the best. Anyway, we often have arguments (me of course backing down since she is my boss after all, and she is a vet...she should know better then me!) about raw feeding. One thing she brought up though, which I had never thought of before and figured I'd bring it up here is this: Couldn't a ferret spread bacteria from their coat? You can clean all of the bacteria from their cage where you feed the raw food, clean your utensils, etc, but if the pet ferret eats the food, then decides to groom themselves wouldn't that just recontaminate the surface areas in their cages? I often let mine free roam in a large room, would I need to start mopping after every time I let them out?

My only rebuttle to what she had said was that even prepackaged kibbles have warnings on them usually about how they have bacteria in the food and to wash your hands after/if you handle it. So really maybe I should have been that careful anyway if there are any weak-immune people in my house hold? I don't know, just food for thought I guess.

As a side note I have a question! I usually feed a mix of innova evo and welness core, but I am getting more and more into raw feeding for my guys since they are now kept in the garage (and not my bedroom!). I used to offer a mouse or two every other day to supplement their kibble and only one seemed interested. Since I have moved and they have moved into the garage they have been getting left over bits from the chicken we cook (raw fat, necks, heart, liver, gizzard, meat) Would it be better to go back to complete whole prey (such as mice) or would I be able to feed them off of a ratio of large prey bits? I know fat and meat are most important, as well as bone. Innards should not be the majority. What are the ratios? I should probably read more on this site and that question will be answered, so I might come back and edit this question out if I find it. heh. Anyway Thanks!

After the ferrets eat raw, and they groom themselves, then yes, I guess there is a chance that some of their saliva will carry the bacteria.  But don't you wash your hands after handling your ferrets, before going into the kitchen to cook yourself a meal or something?
 
I've never heard of anyone getting sick from handlign a raw fed ferret.  You do have to be cognizant of kissing recently raw fed ferrets on the mouth, though.
 
As for which is better:  raw pieces of meat and bone, versus whole prey - there are pros and cons to both.  If your'e going to go 100% raw, I'd research one one works best for you, and then you can supplement with the other method from time to time to add vareity.
 
The percentages you are looking for are:  80% (meat) 10% (bone) 10% (organs).  You can go so far as to go 75% (meat) 15% (bone) and 10% (organs)

I work at a clinic that mostly sees dogs and cats. Every so often an exotic comes in, and though the doctor is generally learned in exotic species she isn't...well...the best. Anyway, we often have arguments (me of course backing down since she is my boss after all, and she is a vet...she should know better then me!) about raw feeding. One thing she brought up though, which I had never thought of before and figured I'd bring it up here is this: Couldn't a ferret spread bacteria from their coat? You can clean all of the bacteria from their cage where you feed the raw food, clean your utensils, etc, but if the pet ferret eats the food, then decides to groom themselves wouldn't that just recontaminate the surface areas in their cages? I often let mine free roam in a large room, would I need to start mopping after every time I let them out?
 
Yes, a ferret (or any raw fed animal: dog, cat, ferret, even rabbits----because ANY raw food meat or veggies carries risk of contamination) does get bacteria on themselves after grooming. My answer here is exactly what Snapper13 said. WASH YOUR HANDS after handling your ferret, raw fed or not. Is a healthy person with a strong immune system likely to get ill from handling raw fed ferrets, or touching raw meats? Not really, though it is possible. The people who are most atrisk are immunosuppressed individuals: sick, aids/hiv, very young, very old, etc. Using sense and washing your hands after handing your pet will keep a healthy individual from getting ill. As I mentioned you should ALWAYS do this because ANY pet is going to carry bacteria on their coats from their saliva or from fecal matter, urine, etc. Do I think you should mop after letting them out? No, but I'm sure your house would look purdy if you did, so go for it! lol! :D
My only rebuttle to what she had said was that even prepackaged kibbles have warnings on them usually about how they have bacteria in the food and to wash your hands after/if you handle it. So really maybe I should have been that careful anyway if there are any weak-immune people in my house hold? I don't know, just food for thought I guess.
 
BINGO! In regards to the worries about prepackaged kibbles. THey aren't 100% safe either. There is a risk of bacterial contamination with every food you feed, so using common sense is a must. And if you have a fully functioning immune system you should be just fine.
As a side note I have a question! I usually feed a mix of innova evo and welness core, but I am getting more and more into raw feeding for my guys since they are now kept in the garage (and not my bedroom!). I used to offer a mouse or two every other day to supplement their kibble and only one seemed interested. Since I have moved and they have moved into the garage they have been getting left over bits from the chicken we cook (raw fat, necks, heart, liver, gizzard, meat) Would it be better to go back to complete whole prey (such as mice) or would I be able to feed them off of a ratio of large prey bits? I know fat and meat are most important, as well as bone. Innards should not be the majority. What are the ratios? I should probably read more on this site and that question will be answered, so I might come back and edit this question out if I find it. heh. Anyway Thanks!
IMO whole prey is the most "natural" diet, but raw diets are just fine too. For a raw diet you'll want to feed 75% Muscle Meat, 15% Bone, 10% Organ Meat. Another way to think of that is like this: Feed raw meaty bones like chicken wings, necks, back, thighs, etc 4 days per week. Feed boneless muscle meat 3 days per week (chunks of raw beef, pork, fish, etc) and feed organ meat 1 day per week (liver, gizzards, heart, kidney, spleen, lung, tripe, etc).
 
If you need help getting your ferrets to try natural foods you should swing by Holistic Ferret. We are an entire forum dedicated to natural ferret diets and we can pair you one-on-one with a "mentor" who will help you switch your ferret's diet and provide them with complete and balanced nutrition.
 
Feel free to continue asking questions here in this thread as well though, as everyone who visits this thread hereafter will benefit from your questions and the subsequent answers that follow. :)
 
 

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I do wash my hands after handling them, but what my question was, unless you wash all of the surfaces they touch wouldn't you be exposed to the same bacteria? I am not worried about myself, but there is an older lady living with us who may not have the strongest immune system. If she ever goes into a room that they are allowed to play in I should probably sanitize all of the surfaces they come in contact with right? Or if when I have a child, The room the ferrets play in should never be exposed to a baby?

And thanks for all your help! I am currently giving raw beef steak for the majority of their feedings, with chicken necks every other day added, and then chicken innards and fat once a week mixed in. They are of course still getting their Innova Evo and Welness Core at night. They aren't really interested in bones just yet unless they are very tiny. I was thinking, could I find bone meal or something online? Would dusting meat in ground up bones be effecent in getting those nutrients until they get more into chewing on bones?

I know bones are really good for their dental health, neck/jaw muscle development, etc. I plan on getting them to eat those, but for now would other options be needed?

I do wash my hands after handling them, but what my question was, unless you wash all of the surfaces they touch wouldn't you be exposed to the same bacteria? I am not worried about myself, but there is an older lady living with us who may not have the strongest immune system. If she ever goes into a room that they are allowed to play in I should probably sanitize all of the surfaces they come in contact with right? Or if when I have a child, The room the ferrets play in should never be exposed to a baby?
 
If she had something serious like AIDS/HIV, then I'd say yes. But honestly I'd say that because ANY animal is going to harbor bacteria, not necessarily because they are raw fed. I think sanitizing everything they touch is a little extreme. A ferret is going to be a germ heaven whether its raw fed or not. Any animal is going to be. Its really not an issue if you use sense. Even for your older housemate.
 
As for when you have a child, its your call. I wouldn't let mine say, go near the litter box, or play with a ferret's chew toys. If they were a newborn then yes, I'd keep them away from the ferret area (only because their immune system is developing). A toddler I'd keep away becaue they want to put everything in their mouths, and I can just see a baby putting a ferret's chew toy, or heaven forbid even a litter box scoop in their mouth. *shudders*.
And thanks for all your help!
 
Oh no problem. This is my favorite topic (natural ferret diets) I could literally talk your ear off.
 
I am currently giving raw beef steak for the majority of their feedings, with chicken necks every other day added, and then chicken innards and fat once a week mixed in. They are of course still getting their Innova Evo and Welness Core at night.
 
Sounds like a sound plan so far. I'd recommend adding more bone-in chicken but I know you said they are still learning about the bones so I'll go into this more below.
 
They aren't really interested in bones just yet unless they are very tiny. I was thinking, could I find bone meal or something online? Would dusting meat in ground up bones be effecent in getting those nutrients until they get more into chewing on bones?
 
Have you tried cracking the bones in half (length-wise) to expose the marrow? This usually helps ALOT. If they realize "oh hey, this yummy marrow stuff is in here!" then they'll try to crack open larger bones. To get them eating bigger bones I would use a chicken wing. Cut the wing into three pieces (at the joints). Let them eat the meat off most of the bones (or if they won't touch it, cut off most of the meat and set it to the side). Give them only one segment of the wing at a time. Gradually working them up to a two segement wing and then finally the three segment wing with all the meat and skin on. You can also try cornish game hen bones, which are smaller and easier to eat. Cracking the bones to expose the marrow helps alot. Also giving them a bone without a ton of meat on it helps them too. They don't fill up on the meat and then pass on the bone ;)
 
You CAN purchase bonemeal online but you need to find a GOOD brand that free of lead and mercury. I prefer ground eggshells or ground bone, myself.
 
To make ground eggshell powder you rinse out the shells (after removing the yolk and the white). Then remove the film inside the eggs. Bake them in the oven until they are dried out (not on too high a temp or for too long). You arent wanting to cook the eggs, just dry out the eggshells and kill any bacteria that is present. Once your remove the eggs from the oven let them cool, then crush them with a morter and pestel until VERY FINE (if you do it too coarse the ferrets a.) wont eat it b.) will get serious tummy upset, trust me, i've beent here) You can even grind it in a coffee grinder. This is really the best way. When serving the eggshell its 1tsp per 8oz of meat. You can dust the meat with it or apply a layer of fish oil to the meat before dusting to help it stick better.
I know bones are really good for their dental health, neck/jaw muscle development, etc. I plan on getting them to eat those, but for now would other options be needed?
 
Use the eggshells for now, thats really the easiest way. Just work on crushing open the bones to expose the marrow and they should be eating those bones in no time. Also, if they are eating those chicken necks you only need the eggshell powder on the days they dont eat the necks.

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