Hello..

[eddie106]

Hi, I am new here and looking for ways to improve my girls diet. Wednesday was adopted by me about a month ago. When I adopted her it was due to no one really showing a interest in her due to her age. Wednesday is about 6 years old. She had a amputated tail when at the shelter due to a cyst but she won my heart over. I never had a ferret but read up on them before doing the adoption and haven't stopped reading stuff since I got her. When I first adopted her she was thin, with hair loss. She has grown her hair back and seems to have gained weight but I think she maybe insulinomic. She goes in for blood work on Monday. I was looking for any advise anyone could give me.
thanks,
Lorie

[Forum Administrator]

Its great to see you made it over. I too have an older girl (and boy). I got them (Sams and De) when they were 5 and 7. The oldies are the best arent they? So sweet and so loving.

IF you are looking for ways to improve the diet of your girl, then you've come to the right place. I know you've been working with Wednesday to add babyfood to her diet. You might want to wait until AFTER the bloodwork comes back to begin the real switch to foods BEYOND babyfood.

Whether or not Wednesday is insulinomic will affect the type of diet she will need to eat. If I were you I'd take some time so read through the forum and soak in what there is to learn, that way, once you get the bloodwork back you'll have a better understanding of natural diets.

Even if Wednesday IS insulinomic, we can still help her with more natural foods (although the switch and the actual diet will be a little different).

So pull up a chair, get comfy, and get ready to learn!

[meli]

Hello! So happy to see you and wednesday here!

[eddie106]

Thanks for the welcome. I can't believe how much stuff you learn about ferrets in these forums I thought when I first got her, hey you just give her kibble and that was it. Gosh was I wrong! I started her on Marshalls (the Petco) said that was the best and then added Shepard/Greens and now see that isn't the best either. I just bought some ENVO and have given her some as a treat and she seems to really love that stuff. I will switch her over to that in time but add the baby food also. I don't give her to many "treats" as I dont really know if she has a problem due to her "trancing sometime" and sleeping alot. I will keep my fingers crossed.
I am thinking of adding a three year old boy from the shelter we work at. Gosh he seems to have so much more energy but seems very calm and sweet. He hasn't biten or anything.

[Jaycee]

I hope you get him...I've been holding my breath all week. I think you'll be happy with the decision. Ferret-hood is much better with two!

[eddie106]

Well as you can see we did get him! His name is Gomez and he seems to be settling in fine. Wednesday has seen him from a far but i will wait to introduce when she goes to the vets and he does too. Wednesday seems to be more perky. She is on the chicken stage 2 food and now Evo mixed with her old kibble and I can't believe how well she seems to be feeling. She seems more awake and more active than the last couple of days the only problem is she want to eat just the Evo and baby food and not her old mix and I know you are suppose to do a slow switch over so they don't get sick but she seems ok and I don't want to with hold food from her. I am going to start Gomez on the chicken baby food and see if I can get him to eat that...

[buzzonesbirdie]

Welcome to our group and feel free to ask as many questions as you can think off

[nwheather]

Welcome! It's great to see you, Wednesday & Gomez here too! =)

[Forum Administrator]

He's a cutie! How old is he?

[tako]

Hello, love the naming scheme you have going, too cute!

[eddie106]

Gomez is about 2 years old the vet says. He seems to be doing very good. He and Wednesday had a first play date today and did really well. They were don-king each other and running around. I still haven't housed together as with Wednesday I guess I am over protective since she is sick and want her to get her rest. I did make a duck soup today and guess what none of them wanted it? I don't' know they just don't seem interested in anything I make them even Gomez. I will keep on trying but again with Wednesday I need to make sure she is eating so her levels say up.

[Forum Administrator]

Yeah it can be rough having an insulinomic ferret. But several of our mentors have delt with insulinomic ferrets and they were able to help out the insulinoma with a slight change in diet. My understanding is that they cant go 100% raw but that they can go mostly raw with some kibble added. Still, its better then just kibble. I believe Heather has experience with insulinomic ferrets and natural diets Amyandfuzzies7 too. Feel free to PM either of them, they can offer tips and advice to make things easier on you

[Heather]

Hi and welcome on board.
Has Wednesday actually been diagnosed with insulinoma? I've dealt with my little Zena, who was insulinoma. She was entirely raw fed from the time she came into my rescue until the day she passed on with a brain tumour. By making sure that she remembered to eat and feeding her when she didn't we managed to keep her as strong as she was able. She had a beautiful coat and a fat little body, well muscled and probably lived longer and healthier than she would have been if she had been fed kibble. I like to think that after being bounced through over 4 or 5 homes that she had a good life here I've heard that others have been very successful feeding both raw and kibble to help maintain insulin levels in their fuzzies. With little Zena I never did, but her insulinoma never got to the problem where I couldn't control it with diet. If she hadn't died of a brain tumour, I may have also had to resort to feeding higher quality kibble and using pred to control her blood sugar.
Ciao

[jennifer5799]

Welcome to the forum!!

[weloveourweasels]

I love the names.