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Post by jewel30 on Feb 10, 2010 3:35:46 GMT -5
Hi, took her to the vet. She is still at .75 so she has not lost any weight - the vet said she is healthy but she is definately not eating any of the dry food. The only food in her system is what I have hand fed her. The hair loss is because she is not eating well. She is too skinny, but is not sick. I bought a bunch of baby food and the vet said if I can get a half a jar into her each day she will be okay - at least over vacation. Ironic that I am trying so hard to get her to eat dry food. But really any food. She will not eat anything, even chicken at this point unless I hand feed her.
Anyway, I can see the differences in the pics, but it would be hard if you didn't know here when she first came. I got a bunch of different dry food as well and will keep trying to get her to eat it.
But wanted you to know what the vet said. thanks!!!
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Post by jewel30 on Feb 10, 2010 3:37:58 GMT -5
Oh yes, go ahead and post. Sorry about the wrong pic. I thought I checked them. I did the ratio you said, 3 to 1. She does like it, but again won't eat it unless I hand feed it. If I leave it in a dish she won't touch it. She just doesn't seem interested in eating. Which is so strange. Since when I am in the kitchen she is always literally trying to crawl up my leg and she was so big when I got her.
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Post by luci on Feb 11, 2010 0:20:48 GMT -5
I'll post your pics once I get on the computer. Might not happen until tomorrow. I'm getting tired already.
What tests did the vet do? Any bloodwork? Fecal?
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Post by luci on Feb 11, 2010 10:12:10 GMT -5
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Post by jewel30 on Feb 11, 2010 13:20:46 GMT -5
He did fecal. He can do bloodwork and I will probably have that done when I get back from vacation but I didn't want to leave her at the vet or stress her out anymore right now.
I notice the difference most in her face, which you can't really see in the pics, well you see in the first how full her face is and now when I look at her it is so angular and very thin and rat like. She is really just skin and bones. Anyway, I will be off for vacation and will update when I get back.
Gus, loves the chicken BTY. I left Crystal out with it all night and she didn't touch it, or the two kinds of dry food, or the squash/chicken but Gus as soon as I let him out he scarfed the chicken right up.
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Post by jewel30 on Feb 22, 2010 3:57:46 GMT -5
Hi,
Well Crystal survived the vacation and actually ate pretty well I guess. But I can't keep her on baby food forever. Not sure how to get her to eat other stuff. She will also eat the squash chicken if I hand feed it.
Okay, so I at least have Gus eating the cooked chicken. I guess next I add pork? Do I get ground pork and cook it up and blend it with the chicken? What is the next step?
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Post by luci on Feb 22, 2010 13:54:09 GMT -5
Glad to see you back.
The mentors and I have been discussing Crystal. Here are some ideas.
* feed more often * add more fat to her diet using fattier meats, skin, or heavy cream (do this slowly to avoid tummy upset) * get bloodwork done to rule out a less obvious cause for her loss of appetite
As for how to get her to eat, I think you'll need to use the baby food and the squash/chicken as your vehicle for introducing other things. Sneak in a tiny, tiny piece of something new. Keep feeding by hand. I would suggest 3-4 times a day if you can manage it.
Keep the house as quiet and stress free as possible. Give her lots of dark places to hide and get away from everything. Does Gus dominate her? Are there a lot of loud noises in your place? Noisy neighbors? Barking dogs? Try to be aware of situations that may be causing her stress.
As for Gus... my recommendation would be to start sneaking bits of raw into what he's already eating. See if he'll go for it. If all you can get is ground pork that's okay, but if you can get bigger cuts and cut it up yourself that's a lot better.
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Post by jewel30 on Feb 23, 2010 9:02:36 GMT -5
She has her own room with lots of places to hide and that are dark. The apartment is quiet, not too loud and she has a pretty stress free existance. She actually dominates Gus, usually, even though he is now so much bigger then her. I have been feeding her at least three times a day. And i did use the baby food to get her to eat chicken yesterday and sometimes if I mix it with her dry food and add some hot water she will eat that.
I can get any cut of pork. So just buy it and cut it up really small and sneak it into Gus's cooked chicken?
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Post by luci on Feb 23, 2010 11:23:34 GMT -5
Yeah. Do you have some kitchen shears? That works the easiest. Take a little hunk, maybe the size of the tip of your finger and mince it as small as you can manage. Mix it into his chicken really well and let's see what happens. I'm at this stage with our new ferret Katrinka right now. She's actually chewing up bits bigger than a mince now and I have her eating raw pork, turkey and chicken heart in with her cooked chicken mush. She's up to about 1:3 raw to cooked.
What do you think about adding some fat to Crystal's diet?
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Post by luci on Mar 1, 2010 13:29:03 GMT -5
Haven't heard from you for a while. Is everything okay?
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Post by jewel30 on Mar 1, 2010 21:28:04 GMT -5
Yes. Sorry. My life is a little crazy right now. I am separating from my husband, so I have been a little distracted. Crystal is eating better, still doing baby food but she is eating some dry. Have not started adding uncooked yet. Will keep you updated as I try new stuff. Thanks!!!
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Post by luci on Mar 1, 2010 22:25:23 GMT -5
Sorry to hear that. I'll send some positive energy your way.
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