glynus
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 143
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Post by glynus on Apr 30, 2010 23:04:39 GMT -5
well, the diet switch is temporarily on hold...Bastien and Melinda had major diarrhea and spent yesterday at the vet's. Now they are on Flagyl and Baytril twice a day They are both doing better now but I can only deal with so much funky poop at one time
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Post by Heather on Apr 30, 2010 23:33:35 GMT -5
Ohh, what happened? ciao
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glynus
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 143
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Post by glynus on May 1, 2010 9:07:16 GMT -5
We are thinking probably a virus picked up from Damia (like kids going back to school after vacation - less immunity to things they haven't been exposed to for a while). The good news is that Melinda seems to be almost fully recovered. She will stay on the antibiotics, of course, but her appetite is back and poops are almost normal. Bastien, on the other hand, is still fighting it. He seemed to be doing better yesterday but now his poops have turned green and slimy (ECE?). This morning I gave him turkey/duck soup and he took quite a bit of it - actually lapped it up by himself while I held him in my lap. I also gave him just plain water the same way. Going to the store this morning and will pick up some pedialite. Hopefully, with lots of TLC and the antibiotics he will get over this without any complications. A little more good news - Damia actually ate some of the turkey that I gave Melinda this morning! I have been putting her kibble in with a little ground meat a couple of times a day when I could tell she was hungry. At first she was just picking out the kibble and trying to avoid it getting "contaminated" by that nasty stuff but then she started eating it without fussing about what was stuck to it. This morning she actually bypassed some of the kibble and ate a little of the meat by itself. Maybe she won't be as much of a pain as I was beginning to think
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Post by Heather on May 2, 2010 1:54:43 GMT -5
The slimy green poops could just be the virus, could be the antibiotics too. I used to jump every time I saw a green poop....I'm a lot less nervous about it these days. I find that it seems to signify stress, usually to the immune system but even having a new ferret in the group can set them off. I don't pay it too much mind unless is florescent green or it happens a lot in a 24 hr period. Even then, I'm more apt to worry about dehydration than the actual virus. Just me though Hey, that's great. Damia's not that old, she should take to this very easily, once she figures out you're not trying to poison her ciao
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glynus
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 143
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Post by glynus on May 4, 2010 22:46:30 GMT -5
Yeah! 24 hours without neon green poop and Bastien has eaten twice as much today as normal so I think he is finally better The vet had to give him fluids twice and he's down to 1.9 lbs but things are definitely looking up. Now, question for the night - what is so great about the dog's kibble? I was really worried that Bastien would steal Damia's kibble if I left it in the cage but he hasn't shown any interest in it at all - he just goes for the dog's food. Now Damia has started stealing it when I don't pick it up (every now and then Melinda goes and sniffs the bowl trying to figure out what she's missing but she doesn't seem to be impressed ) Now that everyone seems to be healthy again, it's time to get back to work. Bastien and Melinda both pigged out on plain pork tonight (no duck) so I think we are good there. Not sure how soon I should try giving them bones - don't want to irritate tummies that are just recovering. I'm trying to get Damia to at least associate meat with food. I'm putting a little raw meat in her kibble periodically. With some coaxing she will eat the kibble even if it has a little meat on it. I've also put a little in her mouth and she doesn't spit it out but she won't take it on her own either. I tried giving her chicken baby food (the original stand by with the other two - they thought it was the best stuff ever invented the first time I gave it to them). Damia wouldn't go near it. I think she is going to have to get used to mushy stuff before really getting into the meats. Oh well, who said life was easy? teri
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Post by Heather on May 4, 2010 22:58:52 GMT -5
Great news. I'm glad that your little ones are starting to feel better. What is so great about dog kibble....it's really bad for them No, seriously.....carbs. Just like you craving muffins or donuts, cupcakes.....that's what the dog's food is to them. Just because it's bad for them doesn't mean they don't want it Stubborn little sod, I'm sorry that Damia is giving you grief....it's always the way though ciao
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glynus
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 143
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Post by glynus on May 14, 2010 22:27:32 GMT -5
well, the good news is that every body is healthy and back to normal. The bad news is that every body is back to normal Melinda is still eating everything in sight for a couple of days and then fasting for a day or so. Bastien eats on his own occasionally and refuses to eat unless I feed him by hand more often Damia hasn't figured out what she wants to do yet... she will eat chicken soupie only when she's about to collapse from starvation (no, I don't really starve her!). When she does start eating the soupie, she actually eats the pieces of meat that didn't get totally ground up. (Unlike the other two when they first started - they drank the soup and left any chunks) I'm still giving Damia some kibble (I really had forgotten how much they poop and bad it smells when they eat that stuff ) I was hoping to have gotten rid of it by now but since she won't even touch baby food, I can't fall back on that like I did with Bastien and Melinda. I am afraid that Bastien or Melinda might decide to see what they are missing and get hooked again - rotten little beasts! I do have to say though, that Damia has been good for us all. She keeps me laughing (when I'm not cleaning up after her latest "discovery"). She and the dog have become best friends and they chase each other around until they are both ready to drop The dog is 50 lbs so you can imagine how funny they look I am amazed that Damia hasn't been squashed yet! Melinda plays with Damia when she can get into the action without getting stepped on and even Bastien has deigned to chase her around some (although, in his case, I think it's more a case of self defense than actually playing ) teri
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Post by Heather on May 14, 2010 22:42:15 GMT -5
I'm sorry that your little furbabies have decided to slid a little. It's not uncommon though and they have been ill too, so a backslide wouldn't be unheard of. I"m happy for your little Damia. It reminds me of Mithrandir and Napoleon's friendship....odd but sweet ciao
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glynus
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 143
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Post by glynus on May 24, 2010 20:13:53 GMT -5
Ahh... they are sweet!!! SUCCESS!! Damia is no longer eating kibble She's now eating the same things as Melinda and Bastien. She's had chicken, turkey, duck, pork, and beef. Her least favorite? DUCK Now she actually eats more than Bastien. (I can already tell she will be bigger than both Bastien and Melinda). Back to working on getting any of them eat bones... teri
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Post by Heather on May 24, 2010 21:54:21 GMT -5
Great news. I'd not heard from you and your little ones in awhile. Great work Do they eat any bone? ciao
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glynus
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 143
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Post by glynus on Jun 1, 2010 19:32:52 GMT -5
They all eat a little bone. Just has to be very small pieces and none of them will eat it on a regular basis.
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Post by Heather on Jun 1, 2010 22:59:34 GMT -5
Hey hi So where are all your little ones at in their switch? ciao
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glynus
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 143
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Post by glynus on Jun 10, 2010 5:56:32 GMT -5
(computer fixed! yeah!!) The monsters are doing great! All are eating well (still have to hand feed Bastien about half the time but he does eat ) Their diet consists of commercial ground chicken, pork, duck, turkey and beef ("beef? well, if we really have to"). They are getting better about eating little pieces of chicken or cgh bone and small chunks of meat for teeth cleaning purposes. Damia's coat is now nice and white instead of that dull, kibble yellow. No more fights at meal times - hallelujah. I think we are finally actually "switched". teri
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Post by Heather on Jun 10, 2010 12:16:09 GMT -5
So everyone's eating well....that's fantastic. Congratulations. If you would like to create a menu.....you know Mond.....they will get this. Tues......they will get that and so on. I will take a look, and if everything works, we will graduate you and your furbabies Great work ciao
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glynus
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 143
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Post by glynus on Jun 17, 2010 6:01:15 GMT -5
OK. Generally, their menu is: Monday AM: beef Monday PM: duck Tuesday AM: turkey Tuesday PM: pork Wednesday AM: chicken or CGH Wednesday PM: beef Thursday AM: duck Thursday PM: turkey Friday AM: pork Friday PM: chicken or CGH Saturday AM: beef Saturday PM: duck Sunday AM: turkey Sunday PM: pork I try to alternate between their favorites and their not-so-favorites.. that way if they don't eat a lot at one meal, there's a better chance that they will make it up on the next. Of course, sometimes they surprise me and don't eat their favorites but pig out on the next meal no matter what it is. Just have to keep me guessing I do add some chicken or CGH bones ones or twice a week - since they don't really eat them regularly, I don't include them in their official meal plan. All are doing really well. I can't believe how they have turned around so quickly. Meal times are no longer a chore - usually, Melinda and Bastien eat when I give them their food and Damia eats later when she's hungry. (of course, we wouldn't want to all keep to the same schedule THANK YOU!!!! teri
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