Update on Sams and De

[Forum Administrator]

I am happy to say that Sams and De are adjusting well and have settled into our household. I am sure they miss their daddy very much, but they seem happy enough here. They get alot more "free roam" time and they went from living in a smaller superpet to living in a ferret nation.

They went outside for the second time in their lives (that I am aware of) yesterday. They both had a blast and were climbing all over the place. I think this will be good for them since they both are low on muscle mass. I am hoping that their daily outdoor adventures will help to "bulk" them up lol.

They start on a raw blend of foods tommorow:

Raw, ground, organic, grass fed beef
Raw, organic grass fed beef heart (cut into slices)
Some raw egg yolks and egg shells
A few raw chicken livers
A couple handfuls of their kibble (Natural Gold)

My plan is to blend it in a blender because I dont think they'll eat it and they are too low on mass to "hunger-motivate". I plan on syringe feeding it to them several times a day. Once they willingly accept it I will stop blending it and I'll just mix it together. Then when they are regularly eating it I will order some ground raw from hare-today.

I called the vet and he and I will be discussing lupron for De. When sam and I were together she got 1 or 2 shots, but I found out he (Sam, my ex) had not continued her lupron OR melatonin when she was in his care after we broke up (which has been the last year). She had grown her hair back, her vulva shrunk, and she seemed to 'perk up' so I think this is why Sam didnt continue her meds. She was off them for the 1 year she was with Sam without showing sypmtoms of her adrenal. (I was not aware that she was not on her meds because Sam and I didnt talk for a long time after we broke up). She started to show symptoms again in Feb and Sam got her a melatonin implant, but its obviously not working (her vulva is swollen again and her hair is falling out). Hopefully the lupron will work for her. When we started her lupron therapy a little over a year ago we were concearned it wasnt working, but it did in fact wind up working, and her hair grew back and her vulva shrunk.

All the ferts (Mizu, Fugue, Sams, and De) are getting along, but Zephyr (cat) really does not like them. I wonder why, because she loves Mizu and Fugue.

Anyway, thats their update for now

[meli]

Zephyr needs to adjust to them and sometimes they don't. My cat was the first pet in our household..when we brought in luke she HATED him and never got along with him. Luke on the other hand was an abused puppy and became very dependent on me as his mom so we had to find pearl (my cat) a new home because she was just not happy here with luke. I hated to do this, but it was either put look in a shelter which I didn't want since he was already an abused pup or find pearl a loving home. We found her a home with two younger kids and an experienced family who loves cats. She and another cat were adopted by this family. Okay so back on topic sorry...

So in zephyr's defense..give her some time to adjust..she still thinks shes the queen of the castle and probably thinks the little ones are trying to take over lol after all theres 4 of them now.

Hearing de's story makes me so sad. Poor little thing is going through a lot. Tell her auntie melissa loves her!!

Are they in pain when they have adrenal?

[Forum Administrator]

Are they in pain when they are adrenal?---I honestly dont know. She doesnt SEEM to be in pain, but it seems that animals hide their pain more then people do (perhaps a survival response?) That's an interesting question, Melissa. Anyone on here know?

[jojodancer]

My understanding is that they are not in pain when they have adrenal. The swollen vulva and prostrate issues could cause discomfort, but it's not pain.

I'm so happy Samson and De are having fun at your new place. I was concerned when I saw the thread disappear.... I bet they LOVED the outside. Seems like my older ones enjoy it more than my younger ones. The younger ones, I think, are freaked out by the "high sky."

Keep us updated on them - and their conversion to raw foods. The gruelie-gruel I think, is the way to go. All my guys like the gruel, but chunky "stews" are a different story.

[Forum Administrator]

I cant wait to start them on the raw gruel today. I hope it goes well. I will be brushing their teeth daily, because they wont be eating whole raw. I think the raw will be alot easier on their teeth and tummies then the NG kibble. They LOVE it outside, and Samson is having a blast with Mizu. I am glad they are settling in well. I just want to provide them with tons of love and enrichment until one of them passes on. I am happy Sam called me and asked me to take them. Its overwhelming caring for four ferts but its nice to know I am giving some oldies a better life

[Forum Administrator]

They had their raw soupie tonight.....and they ate it all by themselves!!!

I am so happy!

I wound up blending 1 lb of organic ground beef, 1 whole egg (shell and all), 2 egg shells, 2,400mg of organic fish body oil, 2 chicken livers, 3/4 cup of their kibble (NG), and a few cups of water together. All I had to do was put a little in their mouths and then they ate it off a spoon from there. No struggling at all! They are 6 and 8 years old! It was SO easy!

Once they eat this "soup" I'll order some products from "hare today". I am also going to see if I can put a mouse in a food processer, chop it up, then blend it and pour it over their ground food. mmmmm!!!! I'm gunna barf just thinking about it!

[jojodancer]

I was surprised at how quickly my crew ate raw soupies, too. I'm so happy Sams and De like it so much.

And aren't older ferrets da bomb? You just look over at them and say, "ooh, you're so cute! I want to hug and smooch you soo much!" and they let you do it!

[Forum Administrator]

Hahaha, not De! She's got so much to explore, she's like "get off me!" Samson's kinda like that too lol, Mizu is the snuggliest one and he's 6 months old. He's a big ol' chunk of love! But I think once Sams and De settle in they will be more willing to sit and be snuggled, haha!

[Darlene]

Hi, are Sams and De two of your original crew??? Sorry to read that the meds weren't kept up to date. At least now they'll be looked after much better with you. Hope everyone will get on ok.


Darlene,Koby&Dontae
Remembering Abby&Nike

[Forum Administrator]

Yes, Sams and De were part of my original crew. Its good to have them back again. I have missed them for the last year that they have been with their "daddy". He cared about them alot, but I dont think he understood that De needed to be kept up on her meds. He thought that because she looked fine (ie, no hair loss or swollen vulva) that he didnt need to keep up the lupron/melatonin.