INCREDIBLE STORY of LOVE, HEALING

Question
Hello, My name is Elliot. I have a few questions about my two little ferrets; Rosco and Indiana. (Rosco is a little girl, but the store told me was a boy, so
by the time I learned she was a she, it was too late, the name had stuck.) I
got my little Rosco about three months ago, and was VERY delighted in what
a good pet she made. The instant I got her home, it was like she was always
meant to be there. I had her for about three weeks before something
happened; she had opened her cage while I had some people over and she
got stepped on. It was very traumatic, and I took her to the vets the next day
because she had no energy and very very weak use of her hind legs. After
taking x-rays and giving pain meds and a 24-hour observation, the vet told
me we should put her down because it was most likely a spinal injury and she
would never get better. hundreds of dollars later, I took my little one and
kindly left the office vowing never to return. I read and researched while
rosco stayed the same, she clawed her way around the room with her front
legs and ate and defecated normally, but had low energy. I eventually came to
the conclusion that she needed more motivation and more stimulation. so I
went out and rescued a big white/orang colored boy and brought him home.
they were fast friends, and after just a few weeks of him trying to rough her
up, she was waddling around on her hind legs, almost getting that arch in
her back. then a few weeks ago I started feeding her live mice... WOW, what a
difference. I guess its the exercise and stimulation she gets, but one leg is
back 100% and I would say the other is at 75% she can even rise up on her
hind legs to grab the mouse from me. I have read that this is cruel, but she
never just plays with it, I would say that from the time she first touches it to
the time its dead is a maximum of 5 seconds (most of the time she just
chases it down and crushes it's scull with her jaws, more humane then I could
kill them) so my questions:

is there anything else I can do for her, I don't know if she is still in any pain,
but I want her to feel the best she can. She is so strong now she takes down,
scruffs and drags Indiana, who is easily twice her weight. How often should I
feed her mice? which kind of mouse is best? I have just been using the tiny
little white ones that are so quick and jumpy, that you get from the store for
about a dollar. Oh, and Indiana seems to have no interest in playing with,
killing, or eating mouse. but the raw meet seems to do so much for rosco, is
there something I could get him that would be just as good for him but he
may find more enticing?

Answer
Hi Elliot:

Gosh, I'm sitting here with tears rolling down my face! What a wonderful, beautiful relationship you and Roscoe have!  That is absolutely what healed her. Your willingness to go beyond where most owners would proved to be a great choice, for her and obviously for you too!  The two of you have one incredible story together and I hope you won't stop telling it!  Many many folks could learn from you what a huge difference a little love can make!

In regards to your questions about Indiana's diet, just about any of the premium ferret diets available (Totally Ferret, 8 in 1 Ultimate, Natural Gold, etc) are excellent for him and no vitamins are usually necessary - their dietary needs are met with the highest quality ferret foods. My person preferences are the ones listed in parentheses above, but there are others too.  Here's a great food chart where they list all kinds of foods and rate them. The higher the number, the better the food:

http://www.mdferretpaws.org/care/food_treats.html

Ferrets are "obligate carnivores", which means all they MUST eat meat to survive. Most ferret owners feed kibbled and processed meat (and fillers) with vitamins added to try to duplicate the diet the ferrets would get IF they were eating whole prey.  Here is a website about feeding whole prey to ferrets you might find interesting:

http://www.ferretclub.org.au/showcontent.toysenid=10302&contentnid=82136

Just know that what you are doing IS best for Rosco...obviously by the wonderful results you have gotten!  I'm not sure I would have even thought of the solutions you came up with for her - but look at what they have accomplished!! As close to a miracle as anything I've seen lately, that's for sure!!  

I would encourage you to join at least one of the many ferret groups online and share your story - it's too good to keep to yourself! I really do believe other ferret lovers will love to hear it just as I have.  I wish you and Rosco and Indiana love, happy and healthy lives! Thanks so much for letting me share in just a moment or two of it!

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers