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Post by buzzonesbirdie on Jun 17, 2008 22:17:29 GMT -5
mine liked it warm to at first-- i would give it to them about the temp that you make a baby's bottle.
To me it seemed as though they were testing me at times too. Hang in there you are doing really well as are your little ones.
Also as far as worring about your little one i kept a close eye on Tootise too becuase she was and still is soo small.
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Post by Jaycee on Jun 18, 2008 5:59:04 GMT -5
Buzzonesbirdie, I guess since you told me a little about you, it would only be fair for me to do the same. I am a 30 year old mother of 4 (3 boys and one girl-finally!!!). I adopted my first two ferrets last september, and since then have brought 5 more into my household. I am still looking for my final ferret, with not too much luck! I have 5 cats, mostly strays, but I have owned in the past fish (who hasn't) parakeets, and dogs. Ferrets are by far my favorite now. My mom doesn't think so, though, but that is a story for another time. I have had one ferret with a bowel obstruction (Piper), and one with a broken tail (my 2 year old didn't know he was being followed...bad door!) but for the most part my guys have been healthy. I am an Occupational Therapist by day, and a crazy mom by night. But...crazy is the new normal, so I should be just fine!  |
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Post by Jaycee on Jun 18, 2008 17:57:22 GMT -5
This morning after I got up, cleaned the cage, and got food ready for my fuzzies, I went and made a simple chart for my husband to put check marks whenever he sees one eating during the day. This way, we can better track who has eaten, and who hasn't. So, now I have a problem. All of my guys have eaten today...but Piper. She won't eat anything! Not even kibble. Now, I am a worrier by nature, but after Chaos, I am getting concerned. She will take some vite (I know, I know...its BAD STUFF) but I figured it is calories, and if she isn't eating this may by me some time until I can figure out whats going on. I hope she is eating, and just hasn't been spotted eating. I don't know what to do!
On a better note, I did start adding small pieces of chicken to the soupie...and it has all been eaten up!!!! Yea!
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 18, 2008 21:36:55 GMT -5
Im glad to hear they are eating chunks! Its good you've been monitering them and caught that piper wasnt eating. De hasnt been eating much lately either, however she WILL eat from a spoon (i dunno why shes a weirdo) try the spoon feeding with Piper. How is her weight? check her gums. Are they pink and moist? If so thats good. That means she's hydrated. You wanna check her weight and her hydration levels to check for underlying problems. If she wont eat on her own, you WILL have to bust out the feeding syringe and get SOME food in her (sorry). Atleast you caught this when you did. Maybe she doesnt like how you've changed the soup? You could try making her the old version of the soup and see if she'll eat that.
Keep us posted!
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Post by Jaycee on Jun 18, 2008 21:45:57 GMT -5
I checked her weight earlier, and it is virtually the same as it was two weeks ago. So, I figured that much was good. She licked at a little of the food, but not too much. Her gums are pink and moist, and (warning, gross alert) a little while ago she had a nasty runny poo. At least, I think it was poo. There was some matter in the wetness, so I can only imagine it was poo. I followed her around the house until she did that. If anyone outside of my family could see me, they'd think I was nuts.
On a brighter note, she is playful tonight, rough housing with my husband, and stealing my kids shirts under the couch. I just don't know if this was a phase for today, or if she is sick. I figure it must not be a bowel obstruction because her poo was not thin, tarry or non existant. I am just a worried ferrent!
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 18, 2008 21:51:53 GMT -5
I worry too (especially about Sams and De, my finicky older eaters). Just be sure to get her a little pedialyte (unflavored) and moniter her. She sounds like she's okay, but keep an eye on her. She's obviously eating SOMEHTING if he weight hasnt dropped. Keep encouraging her to eat.
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Post by Jaycee on Jun 18, 2008 22:08:19 GMT -5
Thanks! I will let you know how things are tomorrow. I guess she must be eating something. My question is, if she isn't eating properly, how long would it take to show up? Will the weight loss be sudden, or just a slow down hill trend. And if it is slow, how will I know that it is due to decreased eating and not seasonal changes? I am sorry for all the questions about this, but it feels good to get it out there. And hopefully, if something is wrong, it can be caught sooner! I hope Sam and De come around. I love De....I was thinking you might have one too many ferrets on your hands.....  |
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 18, 2008 22:19:27 GMT -5
Well, I first started trying to get De to eat chunks mixed with babyfood. I THOUGHT she was eating them, but she wasnt. I realized this when about 1 week later I could start to feel her ribs (granted, she wasnt that fat to begin with). It doesnt take long for a ferret to show weight loss. I'd say less then a week? Just moniter her. I think she'll be okay. You can tell if its not a seasonal change in eating if it happened all of a sudden. Sams and De are frustrating, but they ARE old ( 6yrs and 8 yrs). Sams is making good progress, he just doesnt like trying the new meats. He'll eat beef, is hesitant about chicken, but still hasnt touched pork. Hopefully that will change. De just eats a raw soup of beef/pork/chicken, with 1 eggshell per palm sized piece of meat. She also eats a little chicken liver mixed in. Pureed mice are also on the menu. I want to get her onto whole raw foods, but she might not be alive long enough to get there. Oh well, pureed raw is CERTAINLY better then kibble. And no. You cant have her  shes mine! All mine! Bwahahaha! Ferret-napper! |
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Post by Jaycee on Jun 19, 2008 5:55:39 GMT -5
Me...a ferret napper? Naw. I'm innocent! I would just borrow her for a long, long time.....without intent of return! No luck with Piper yet. We had to try the kibble again...and she a few pieces, but not too much. I tried to give her some lax (just in case she does have something blocking her intestine), (and, I know this isn't good for them either), I put a dab on her nose, and she flipped out. Normally, she would have been more than eager to eat the whole tube. Now, she spazes out, runs around the room, and that is it. Suggestions?  |
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 19, 2008 6:13:01 GMT -5
Im in the same boat as you! Sams and De both suddenly stopped wanting to eat! Grrrr! I stopped offering the raw and gave them babyfood, just to get them to eat SOMETHING. De was doing this weird thing where she was eagrly eating, but at the same time she was trying to run away with her back legs (I was holding her). strange. I got her some babyfood, mixed in a LITTLE raw soup, and mixed in some extra crushed kibble and she started eating again. Give piper the soup, but mix in more kibble (crushed). If you can get her to eat the vite, give her the vite. Just get her to eat SOMETHING. Try spoon feeding again. I KNOW you hate it, but if she doesnt eat by tonight you need to squirt a little food in her mouth via syringe. Lets see what Jasmine says! Im in ths with you. I just want my two buttheads to eat! Grrr!!! |
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Post by Jaycee on Jun 19, 2008 6:17:15 GMT -5
Ok, that makes me feel a little bit better. Piper is back kicking with her legs, and twisting in all ways to avoid the food. I have become the big meenie...she see's me coming, and takes off running. I just gave her some vite...which had to be forced. She normally would have no problem with the vite. She really has me worriedl
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 19, 2008 6:21:28 GMT -5
De and Sams have me frustrated too. I kept fighting with them, but they are eating again. I dont know why they suddenly stopped eating. Try changing the texture, consitancy, etc of Pipers soup. When I made De's soup more soupy, she WOULD eat it again. It sounds like she is okay, she's probalby just being a butthead. There WILL be a problem if she keeps not eating, but once you get some food in her it will be okay. I promise. Just keep trying and let me know when she starts eating again. I was about ready to pull my hair out with Sams and De, but they are FIANLLY eating again (as of about 3 hours ago). There was that period of like 2 days where they wouldnt touch the food though (for no good reason). They can really try your patience lol. I think they were going on a "hunger strike" but mommy wont allow that, because that makes ferrets get sick.  |
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Post by Jaycee on Jun 19, 2008 6:25:21 GMT -5
That's what I just said to my husband. Hunger strike...and I gave in  . She is eating kibble as I write this....she is such a butt head! Worse than my kids!  I tried soupier, thicker, vite, tone...no luck with any changes. It looks like I have to start over from square one with Piper. Last night, she wouldn't even eat kibble moistened with broth....something they had been eating for quite a while. I am confused....well....more confused than normal, anyway! |
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 19, 2008 6:28:36 GMT -5
Atleast she is eating SOMETHING. Dont let the others get near the kibble Just let HER have it. Once she's eaten some we can work from there. Sound good? But like I said, DONT let the others get near that kibble or you might have 7 ferrest go on a hunger strike lol |
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Post by Jaycee on Jun 19, 2008 6:33:48 GMT -5
Oh, I'm not letting the others get even a whiff of the kibble. Trust me! I haven't gotten too far in the diet switch, but in no way am I starting back from square one with all of them. You would probably have to commit me if that happened!  |
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