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Post by nutbuni on Oct 14, 2008 15:52:03 GMT -5
1.How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names, ages, genders, and do they have any health problems (this is VERY important)?
Dom - Gib - Approx 3 - No known health issues
thingy - Gib - Approx 3 - No known health issues
Emma - Jill - Approx 3 - Currently in vet's
2. What are your ferrets currently eating? Include their main diet, plus any treats or supplements (such as duck soup).
Kibble – just started feeding duck soup daily
3. What kind of diet do you want to switch to?
Whole prey
4. Why do you want to switch to this more natural diet?
To reduce potential illness and have happier ferrets!
5. Where/what/who got you interested in natural diets?
Reading about them on-line
6. Please list the current weight for your ferret(s). Do they appear overweight? Underweight? How is there muscle tone?
Dom – slightly overweight possibly – 1.34kg
thingy – not much muscle tone – 1.05kg
Emma – underweight (ill) – 0.59kg
7. What is the condition of your ferret's teeth/gums? (can you get a picture?)
They all have pink gums and white teeth, I will try to get a picture tomorrow!
8. Describe the texture/colour of your ferrets coat.
Wirey texture on all three
Dom – sandy/grey coat
thingy – polecat colouring
Emma - albino
9. How often does your ferret go to the bathroom?
They all go a lot!
10. Does your ferret's faeces and/or urine smell?
Not particularly
11. Smell your ferret. How strong is their odour?
Fairly strong, clings to fabrics
12. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being completely lethargic and 10 being "through the roof!" what is your ferret's energy level?
thingy – 6
Dom – 4/5
Emma - 2/3
13. How excited is your ferret about meal time (when fed kibble)?
No particular excitement
14. Have you attempted to switch from kibble to a natural diet in the past? If so, what methods have you tried. Be specific.
No
15. What other information about your ferret(s) would you like to share?
I got all three from the RSPCA about a month and a half ago. The boys have always lived together but Emma was a stray and lived alone until I got her.
Emma is currently hospitalised, she is showing insulinoma type symptoms but her blood glucose level is normal. She has no signs in her bloods of a problem and they think it might be something neurological.
16. If you can, please post a clear photograph of EACH of your ferrets directly below:
I'll try and get these tomorrow
17.
a.) Do you understand that by starting this thread you commit to posting updates on the progress of your ferret(s) diet switch at least every other day?**
Yes.
b.) Do you understand that if you will be away from your computer for an extended period of time you will need to exchange phone numbers (or email addresses if you don't feel comfortable exchanging numbers)via private message with your assigned mentor, so that we can monitor your progress and ensure your ferret's safety during the switch?
Yes.
c.) Do you understand that any threads that have not been updated in for more then a week (with no explaination as to why you are absent) will result in the deletion of the thread?***
Yes.
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Post by Jaycee on Oct 14, 2008 19:15:24 GMT -5
I noticed you have one ferret that is ill...what is wrong? I wouldn't recommend him to switch yet if he is sick. It might be too stressful.
For the other two, have you tried any chicken yet? You could start with some small pieces of chicken coated in kibble dust to see if they will take to it. Good luck, and let us know how everything goes!
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Post by Forum Administrator on Oct 14, 2008 19:48:17 GMT -5
As Jaycee, brought up, if you could let us know what is going on with Emma, that would be great. She is correct in advising that you dont attempt to switch the diet of a sick ferret. Once we know what is going on with Emma (what is happening, and is it a serious condition) then we can further advise you on how to begin the switch.
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Post by nutbuni on Oct 15, 2008 3:52:54 GMT -5
To be completely honest, Emma has been in the vet's the past three days. they don't know what is wrong with her and have done several blood tests. They are currently waiting for further blood results to get back to them. She's been having fits and appears to be blind. I should hear more today about the further tests but as of yet they haven't found anything in her blood. I think that it maybe a tumor. When I had her at home though she was quite happy eating the duck soup. However, I'm trying to be realistic about her situation. When I get her back I won't be changing her diet straight away. I'm trying to get used to the fact that she won't be back so that I don't cry too much.
I would like to get the boys changed over though. Should the chicken for the boys be cooked or raw?
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Post by Jaycee on Oct 15, 2008 5:29:22 GMT -5
The meats should be raw as cooking actually makes the meats less healthy for ferrets. I would start with small pieces of chicken and see how they take to that. You may have to coat it with kibble dust initially to persuade them into tasting.
Sorry to hear about Emma. I hope everything is ok! Let us know what the vet says. Keeping you in our thoughts!
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Post by nutbuni on Oct 15, 2008 7:46:29 GMT -5
I remember reading a bit about cooked meat being bad for them actually, is it because of the fat changing or something?
Anyway, if I got some chicken wings to give to them and stripped off some meat from that, would that be ok? Also, would a chicken wing between them 3 times a day be ok, or should I give more?
Thank you!
I still haven't heard about lil' Emma but have been told I will get a call back today.
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Post by nutbuni on Oct 15, 2008 9:19:43 GMT -5
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Post by charmantpapillon on Oct 15, 2008 12:28:20 GMT -5
very handsome little brood you have over there, i'm confused do you have 3 or four? because your photos are of four different ferrets emma dom thingy and thingy. Please keep us updated on emma keeping you and her in my thoughts sweety.
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Post by Forum Administrator on Oct 15, 2008 13:02:40 GMT -5
Can you perhaps describe Emma's symptoms a bit more? I am curious about her situation and I wonder why the vets are having trouble diagnosing.
Your babies a very cute. So is thingy a polecat or does he just look like a polecat?
As for your questions about the chicken wings,
Anyway, if I got some chicken wings to give to them and stripped off some meat from that, would that be ok? Also, would a chicken wing between them 3 times a day be ok, or should I give more?
What I would recommend doing is stripping the meat off the chicken wings (if you can get thighs that would be better, they are meatier and fattier----ie better for the ferrets) and putting tiny chunks of the meat into the duk soup. Let them have kibble during the day or night (pick one) and then give them the duk soup for dinner. Add the chunks to the duk soup. Gradually you can increase the size of the chunks (if they are taking the soup with the tiny chunks okay). When they are eating a chunky duk soup I would remove the kibble and give them access to *just* the chunky duck soup.
What is your current duk soup recipie?
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Post by nutbuni on Oct 15, 2008 17:09:08 GMT -5
thingy is just polecat colouring, sorry for being confusing! I guess if I give them kibble during the day and duck soup for dinner then they'll be more hungry by dinner time so more likely to eat the soup! I currently use this recipe but obviously open to ideas! www.ferret-universe.com/resources/ducksoup.aspI will try the duck soup with chunks at the weekend so I have time to prepare some more. So, if you have a better recipe I should use then please let me know. ok, Emma's condition... Wed 8th I noticed a slightly enlarged vulva Thurs 9th vulva enlarged more, as well as anus and right eye more watery than normal - booked appointment at vet's Fri 10th vulva excreeting pus - vet prescribed antibiotic and cream for her eye Sat 11th no further symptoms, she was taking food and medicine with no problem Sun 12th decreased vulva/anus size and less pus. Eye pretty much back to normal Mon 13th morning she was fine and lively and eating well Mon 13th afternoon, I came home from lunch and went to check on the ferrets, they were all sleeping huddled up together as normal. As Emma woke up she started screaming and backing up to the wall of the cage. She was clearly disorientated. She kept randomly screaming, not letting the boys near her. Every 5-10 mins she'd have a fit, her head tilted back and whole body shaking. She was also drooling the whole time. I took her to the vet within 30 mins of finding her like this. My local vet said that they didn't know enough about ferrets to be able to diagnose such a case and passed me over to a vet 40miles away. Got to the ferret specialist and they took her in overnight to do blood test with their on site machine. I got a call later that evening saying that they'd tried to take blood but they couldn't get enough for a full test, only enough for a glucose test, which was fine. Tues 14th got a call from the specialist who said that Emma had tried to eat but had brought everything up again (this didn't happen when she was at home), they gave her some fluids to keep her hydrated and gave her an injection of diazepam (for epilepsy) and her fits stopped. They managed to take blood and tested it, I'm not sure what they tested it for but it was a general test. Everything on their test came back normal, I know that her electrolytes were normal. She slept most of the day and was still unable to keep food down but was kept hydrated. They said they could send her blood's to an external lab where they could do further tests, including on her liver and the inflammation of the blood cells. Wed 15th got a call in the afternoon saying that the blood results came back and that it shows increased white blood cells and inflammation that shows an infection that has likely been there since before I got her (she was a stray before I got her). They are trying a different antibiotic and an anti inflammatory injection. If she responds well to these by tomorrow then there's hope. The vet did say that she had a bad night on Tuesday night, with fits but they gave her another injection of diazepam. Writing this all out makes me wonder how they let me put her through so much. I love her a lot but obviously don't want her to suffer for no reason. I asked the vet to let me know when it was beyond helping Emma and she said she would. I really, really, sincerely hope that she responds well to the antibiotics. |
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Post by Forum Administrator on Oct 15, 2008 17:55:41 GMT -5
Don't beat yourself up. You obviously love her very much, you are doing the best you can. I sincerely hope she feels better soon. When she comes home you can supplement her regular kibble with the new duk soup I am going to give you. Its okay to give them one big bowl of soup with chunks in it. If she doesnt want the chunks, she'll eat around them. I wouldnt push her into more of a diet switch (as we previously discussed) until after she's feeling better, but adding a new duk soup is a-okay. Her is the new duk soup recipie for your kids, you can multiply the recipie below to make bigger batches, but do keep the ratios. 8oz Raw Chicken Thigh Meat (no bone, but include, skin, meat, and fat) 1 tsp of finely ground eggshell powder (take eggshells, rinse them, dry them, crush them into dust) 1 raw chicken heart 1/2 raw chicken liver 2-3 drops of Omega-3 fish BODY oil (not cod liver oil) Water sufficient for processing Blend all this up in a blender or food processor. The put into an ice cube or cupcake tray(s). Freeze. This way you can pop out a cube of soup (or more) as needed.  When its time to serve the soup you *can* warm up the soup, but don't cook it. Put the soup into a plastic baggy, seal tightly (so water can't get it) and run it under warm/hot water until its at the desired temperature. You can add some crushed kibble on top of the soup. Once they are taking to this new soup without any issues, THEN I would recommend adding in tiny chunks of raw chicken (about the size of HALF your pinky nail). Then if they seem to be eating that sized chunk with no issues, gradually increase the size of the chunk.  I hope this helps. If you have any questions, just let us know. |
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Post by nutbuni on Oct 16, 2008 3:23:14 GMT -5
Ok, thanks for that. I have a couple of questions...
1) Would the duck soup I was giving them have caused anything bad for Emma?
2) If I can't get chicken hearts then can I add extra liver or something else?
3) Would this be ok for the fish oil - "Omega 3 Pure Fish Oil"
Thanks for your help!
(I'm yet to hear about Emma but it's only 9:30am here so I'm not surprised really.)
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Post by nutbuni on Oct 16, 2008 6:29:50 GMT -5
There's nothing more that they can do for Emma. She is getting worse, more fits and sleeping the rest of the time and can't eat.
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Post by Forum Administrator on Oct 16, 2008 15:24:19 GMT -5
1) Would the duck soup I was giving them have caused anything bad for Emma?Nothing that I could see. 2) If I can't get chicken hearts then can I add extra liver or something else?The chicken hearts are rich in taurine. If you can't find chicken hearts, try adding half a "thumb-sized" piece of beef or pork (which are both good sources of taurine).
3) Would this be ok for the fish oil - "Omega 3 Pure Fish Oil"Perfect Thanks for your help!No problem! I am honored to assist you in switching your babies to a more natural diet.
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Post by Forum Administrator on Oct 16, 2008 15:25:22 GMT -5
Oh no! Oh poor baby! I am so very sorry!
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