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Post by jacksmomma on Sept 21, 2010 10:47:55 GMT -5
My 2 year old boy has just had surgery to remove several (xray showed 15-20) bladder stones. It has been just over a week and he is still not himself. How long should i expect his recovery period to be? I'm so paranoid about another blockage, I'm waking him up every few hours to feel his bladder. We're still waiting on the composite of the stones. I adopted him from an animal shelter last summer (he has just been dumped, cage and all, while the shelter was closed) and he was imprinted on cat food. My two cats eat Halo and he easily switched from the junk the shelter was feeding to Halo. Although the protein and fat levels are comparable to many of the commercial ferret foods, I'm still working on switching him to Wysong/ Evo ferret. But during his recovery process I just want him eating so the switch is on hold. I've read that soy protein is BAD for ferrets, yet the first ingredient in Ferretone is Soybean oil; has anyone had similar issues (ie blockages) while using Ferretone? I'm wondering if i should cut the ferretone out (he does love it though, and I only offer it as rewards after medicine and nail trimming and bath time, etc.) Although, I'd love to switch him to a raw diet. my vet is on the fence about it and doesn't think its a safe switch. I may need to shop for a new vet... Advice? Attachments:
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Post by sherrylynne on Sept 21, 2010 11:38:25 GMT -5
First, let me say welcome And thank you for giving this little boy a loving home. I've no personal experience with ferrets and bladder stones or crystals. Main reason is they've been raw fed for a long time, now. I'd be highly surprised if the tone caused the problem, though. To be honest, I'm more concerned about the BHT's and the BHA's than the soy. Though that's not great for them, either. For the interim, why not give him lots of soups, just to get more fluid into him? Problem with the kibble is it keeps them borderline dehydrated all the time. No way they can drink enough to make it up! As for the vet and raw? Let's just say I've had a few "discussions" already with one of mine Though they do always comment on how good my ferrets look, even my adrenals!
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Post by mustelidmusk on Sept 21, 2010 12:22:03 GMT -5
Oil is a fat - not a protein. excessive amounts of plant-based protien can potentially cause bladder stones in cats/ferrets. wheat gluten, corn gluten and soy are commonly found in kibbles. Dairy (milk, cheese, yougurt, etc.) can also be problematic. Protein sources for ferrets should be animal-based. Obviously, some degrees of plant-based protein is tolerated, but if you do feed kibble, I would provide a mix of kibbles and make sure the meat protein is high and any plant-based proteins are low on the ingredients list.
Also, excessive amounts of supplments with high magnesium and and phospahte and calcium may cause problems. If you use supplements, I recommend using less that what's recommended.
-jennifer
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Post by jacksmomma on Sept 25, 2010 13:41:43 GMT -5
Thanks ladies. We just got back the composition of Jack's stones and they are cystein based He had a check-up with the vet and he is out of the healing phase (and exactly the same weight before he got sick) and i got the go-ahead to start changing his diet. I think at this point the best thing for Jack is to start the transition to a whole prey/ raw diet. right now i'm working on getting the soupy in him. He'll eat it off my fingers and off a spoon, so we're making progress. I bought him a frozen mouse to see if he would know what to do with it. He didn't. He seriously smelled it and then lost interest. Should i be starting with pinkies? ground raw chicken? I want him on a healthy diet as soon as possible and i know ya'll know what you're doing. please help? Attachments:
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Post by sherrylynne on Sept 25, 2010 16:15:39 GMT -5
Certainly Why not either start a thread in the newbie section of nutrtion, or even apply for a mentor! Either or will be good, and will be more widely seen there. He(and you!) have made a really good start with the soups, and we will certainly get you further along, hopefully without TOO much trouble
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Post by jacksmomma on Sept 25, 2010 16:36:29 GMT -5
We've just applied for a mentor. Hopefully we can get this fuzzbut on the right track
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Post by sherrylynne on Sept 27, 2010 9:35:37 GMT -5
Good! We should have one with you before too long
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Post by mustelidmusk on Sept 27, 2010 11:19:46 GMT -5
I just had a thought about something I had forgotten... what kind of cage do you have? Does it have exposed metallic wire (like a galvanized metal that could have been coated with a zinc alloy?).
I know ferrets can get issues from such cages if they chen on thet wires/bars. I want to think this may cause kidney and/or baldder stones. But I'm not sure if I'm remembering correctly. -jennifer
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Post by jacksmomma on Sept 27, 2010 12:22:38 GMT -5
Jack's in a ferret nation model 142
we're trying raw chicken soup tonight. wish me luck
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Post by sherrylynne on Sept 28, 2010 0:04:04 GMT -5
Good luck
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Post by Heather on Sept 28, 2010 12:43:48 GMT -5
I just popped in to say we're working on your mentor and getting some information in regards to your little ones problems. We've not forgotten you ciao
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Post by jacksmomma on Sept 28, 2010 13:50:40 GMT -5
Thanks Heather. I (we) really appreciate that. Jack had his first tastes of raw soup last night (chicken thigh, chicken giblets, chicken baby food, some beef heart and an egg) and this morning via syringe. He got a good mouthful and although he definitely wasn't looking for more, he didn't spit it out or throw it up. Sooo baby steps. Tonight I'll try just the chicken thigh and baby food, maybe the heart and giblets have too strong of a taste to start him off with. Attachments:
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Post by Heather on Sept 28, 2010 15:44:33 GMT -5
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Post by mustelidmusk on Sept 29, 2010 11:02:02 GMT -5
Hi! It's Jennifer here. Apologies for this abrupt intrusion with little explanation- I'm at work and will explain what I've learned and provide some references later. I've started looking into For now, for now, please do NOT feed any: * egg or * dairy * whey * corn (wysong KIBBLE contains corn) * yam (may be in evo -I cannot remember) These foods may aggrevate Jack's tendency to delevop cystine stones. I also recommend dropping the ferretone in favor of other healthier oils that Jack will learn to love. A little lick here and there probablly won't hurt here and there. But long term, we can get him on healthier Do you know which food Jack had been eating before you got him? I gotta run, but you can expect more info within the next day or two. Thanks for your patience -jennifer
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Post by jacksmomma on Sept 29, 2010 11:18:10 GMT -5
Thanks Jennifer I don't know what he was eating before i adopted him. I do know that one of the main ingredients of what he has been eating is egg I have the Wysong architypal type I (the freeze dried raw). Ill make a soup of that and chicken thigh and completely remove the option of kibble. No more ferretone. I'll buy some salmon oil tonight Attachments:
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