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Post by tsslilsis on Nov 7, 2009 20:14:27 GMT -5
I am really sorry for your loss. I have lost a ferret to insulinoma.. We didn't know he had it, it hit suddenly and took him quick.. It hit so suddenly and hard that we felt there was no turning around, and he passed away as we were heading out the door to have him put to sleep. I totally understand the situation, and how you feel. He was my first ferbaby.
Feeding the soupies for awhile would be fine, and as Giuli said, if she's not taking it you should offer kibble also.
There isn't much else to say.. Just be sure to keep a close eye on Muddy and give her lots of lovin's. Also, a kiss on her forehead from me if you wouldn't mind. <3
You'll be missed baby D'Artagnan.
-~Ketlin
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Post by tiggyeaj on Nov 9, 2009 12:40:53 GMT -5
I'm picking-up a glucose meter today so I can test Muddy. The poor baby has been eating and drinking, although not as much. She's eating the soup, although I did offer her some kibble, she didn't seem to want it. Her spirits are still low, although she showed more interest in playing yesterday and seemed a little more interested in what was going on around her. I'm playing with her and loving her as much and often as I can.
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Post by Heather on Nov 10, 2009 0:20:09 GMT -5
I'm glad to hear that Muddy is still eating and drinking. The biggest problem with loosing a furchild is your ferret baby will mourn just as you will. Each day will be progress. Keep loving her lots, even if it's just picking her up and snuggling. For the next little while I will be subbing for your mentor, she's run into problems and has asked for a sabbatical. Keep me posted and updated as you would Ketlin and I will help you out. Good luck, give little Muddy a hug and snuggle from me. ciao
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Post by tiggyeaj on Nov 10, 2009 20:09:44 GMT -5
Muddy was eating fine on Saturday and Sunday, but didn't seem to eat much yesterday, kibble or soup. I made a new batch of soup today. She seems to like beef, so I made it with 1/4 cup kibble, 1 1/2 cup water, and 8oz ground beef. She didn't show much interest, so I've been letting her eat the soup off of my finger. It's time consuming, but at least I know she's eating. I hope everything works out for Ketlin, and am glad for all the help and support you ladies have been giving me and Muddy.
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Post by Heather on Nov 11, 2009 0:09:48 GMT -5
What did you make your food out of on Sat and Sun? When you first start out, quick changes often result in silly little weasles digging their heals in hunger strikes. When you suddenly have refusals to eat, when they originally were eating, you either take a look at what was changed, or are they feeling a little off physically. When they first switch, primary stages...this is the time when they almost seem to get full faster. They're not used to the density of the food they're eating. Later, you won't be able to fill her and she will eat as much and more. You will begin to wonder if you're ever going to fill her. This will balance out in the long run, but it all takes time and every ferret is different. If she will eat the food off your finger, try and entice her to eat it off a spoon (faster and not so time consuming) You can also lead her to getting closer and closer to the bowl until you have her eating out of the bowl. Good luck and keep me posted, I will check in with you tomorrow. ciao
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Post by tiggyeaj on Nov 13, 2009 18:27:53 GMT -5
Whew. Muddy's all done with snubbing her food. I think she was a little put-off because I had doubled the meat from what I used the first batch. She's eating between 1/3 and 1/2 a cup per day. I give her about a quarter cup twice a day, but she doesn't always finish the full amount. I've been giving her a soup made of beef, water, and kibble. We originally tried starting with chicken, but that was a complete no-go. Spoiled carnivore. She's comfortable eating this meatier version of her soup, but I need to make more tomorrow night. I think this would be a good chance to change things up a bit. I have: - powdered eggshells
- ground beef
- chicken breast
- pork
- chicken livers
- kibble
I can also go shopping if needed. What do you suggest?
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Post by Heather on Nov 14, 2009 16:30:06 GMT -5
To be honest at this stage of the game....keep it simple. Use the soupy that she liked before with the protein she liked too. Just very slowly cut back on the amount of kibbles you have in your soupy until nothing is left and you're feeding nothing but meat. So in this new batch, what ever the amount of kibble you used before cut back by say.....1/3. Let her get comfortable with that and then cut it again. You need about 1/2 tsp of powdered egg shell for every 8 oz of meat that you feed. I would also try her with a tbsp of pumpkin or squash (your not feeding any fur so this will take it's place, it will also help settle her stomach if eating kibble and meat bothers her at all, some do some don't). Are you feeding some liver with your mix....I notice you don't have any heart...can you get some? I know some people have had difficulty getting heart depending on where you are. If you cannot get it I would suggest picking up some taurine capsules (you can get this at the health food store). If she likes the beef lets work with that....not exactly the most natural of proteins (can you see a whole business of crazy little ferts chasing down and taking out a steer ) but hey, she likes it....let her have it. Once she starts eating this on her own and getting comfortable then we will start getting her used to different proteins . Looks like you both are off to a great start. Good luck, keep me posted ciao
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Post by tiggyeaj on Nov 18, 2009 16:16:58 GMT -5
Sorry it's been a few days. Life is crazy--end of the semester + two jobs + holidays =insanity! I added the eggshell and pumpkin to this batch, and only used 3 tbs of kibble. My blender broke so it wasn't as 'soupy' as she was used to, but I figured I would try it anyway. The first day, she completely ignored it, so I spoon fed her a little bit. Letting her lick off of my fingers doesn't work, because she bites. She started eating it the next night, but not with as much gusto as before. She's getting used to it, I think she was mostly put off by the texture. I think I'm going to place an order with My Pet Carnivore and see how it goes. What sort of selection would you suggest I get--what organs and meat (quail, chicken, goat, beef . . .). Their ground doesn't contain fur, but it does contain bone.
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Post by Heather on Nov 19, 2009 1:07:56 GMT -5
I know that when I first start out my guys I try to stick to something that they would hunt themselves. Quail, rabbit, mouse, rat, chicken...but that doesn't necessarily always work. I"ve got a couple that enjoy bison and beef. Pork is enjoyed by the little bums too. So, I would suggest the milder meats to begin with....chicken, quail, rabbit and pork are all milder meats and are also easier to digest. Mouse and rat are very strong tasting meats and usually require some enticing for them to eat them. What organ meats that you choose is again entirely up to you. You can choose the organ meats of the meats you're going to choose but you dont have to. You're probably right, give her a little time to get used to her new soupy. Texture does indeed play a huge part in whether these little ones eat their dinner or not. You've made a rather huge jump so give her a little time to get used to this new switch. Let me know how it goes and what you decided to order for her. Good luck and stay in touch ciao
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Post by tiggyeaj on Nov 19, 2009 13:08:57 GMT -5
You're right, it was a big jump. I swear, I do know better. I found some chicken hearts and gizzards at the grocery, so I bought a pack for when we're ready to try some organ meats on her. I fed her a little less than a 1/4 cup this morning, around 8 and I just popped back in for a few moments (it's 1:00) and she'd devoured the whole bit, so I gave her a little more. Already she looks so much better than she did--she's filled-out and her coat is shinier.
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Post by Heather on Nov 19, 2009 16:27:43 GMT -5
Sounds great....good work Don't beat yourself up about making a gamble with changing her food too fast, sometimes it works and she just needs a little time (like now ) I would wait a couple of days before trying the next leap When ferts dig in their heels, they often backslide so I would hold her for a couple of days with her soupy being just how you've made it. You can offer her some organ meat to see how she will take to it. Make sure you have some pumpkin on hand just in case that she has some difficulty digesting it. She's not eating bone yet and that's what often is used to solid up the poops. Good luck, keep me posted ciao
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Post by tiggyeaj on Nov 22, 2009 0:29:05 GMT -5
Okay, since this next week is going to be crazy for me (I work in retail, so Thanksgiving time is nuts), I've made two choices:
1) I'm going to let Muddy have free range of my room during the day. I won't be home nearly enough for her to get out and play otherwise. I can secure the room and make it as ferret-proofed as possible. I can come home exhausted and love on a (hopefully) exhausted furball.
2) I'm not going to change her soup anymore until next Sunday. I think this will give her plenty of time to get used to the thicker texture and pumpkin. Also, I can't deny that this will make things easier on me. I won't have to worry that she's not eating enough and I can make one batch and freeze individual portions.
When I do make the next change, what should it be? Should I introduce new meats (chicken, pork, turkey) or should I try to indtroduce some organ meats (I have chicken hearts, livers, gizzards).
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Post by Heather on Nov 22, 2009 1:12:47 GMT -5
Have you any boned meats? Necks? Wings (not the tips)? I would attempt to offer her one of these. Play a game of tug with her, with it and then leave her with it. As far as other meats I would be tempted to try the organ meats myself. Don't over do it though, you will get some really sloppy poops if you do, so don't be surprised. My guys are particularly fond of the gizzards, usually results in squeeking and petty bickering. I don't know why everyone insists on eating the same poor gizzard when they have a dozen other ones to choose from Good luck and let me know how things go. I"m going to guess that you won't be able to post to regularly for the next week?? right?? ciao
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Post by tiggyeaj on Nov 30, 2009 12:43:28 GMT -5
Whew! I survived Black Friday and the weekend. Ugh--I hate retail work at this time of year! I have a turkey neck from Thanksgiving that I will try to see if I can get her to play tug-of-war with. I think she will like that game, she plays it with my slippers. How would you recommend I go about introducing organ meats? Do I mix a small amount in with her regular meal? She is now eating ground meat, pumpkin, and eggshell. It's not much of a soup anymore because their is no water. She makes the cutest face when she is eating--tosses her head in the air as she chews.
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Post by tiggyeaj on Dec 1, 2009 23:19:40 GMT -5
Happy dance! Minor victory in the war to get Muddy to eat meat other than beef. I minced some raw chicken very fine and mixed it with her ground beef. It didn't phase her. I'm going to keep adding a little more chicken each day to slowly see if I can get her fully adjusted.
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