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Post by sherrylynne on Dec 3, 2010 17:30:43 GMT -5
Instead of "blenderizing" it, try cutting it into small strips, sort of like a meat spaghetti! That way, he gets the feel of smaller in his mouth, but still has to chew some off. Let's face it, your guys are doing wonderfully well, but they still need to learn "how" to eat raw meat. They don't yet realize they can tear and chew, nor that they are supposed to If they'll do it, you can also try cutting the pieces to large to swallow whole, so they do have to tear bits off. As for the beef, don't give up on it just yet. Put it in the freezer for now, and go for a milder tasting meat, like turkey or pork.
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Post by jesslough on Dec 4, 2010 15:39:39 GMT -5
I tried the spaghetti thing, again, he just swallowed it whole and puke. Tried the too big to fit in mouth, he just takes off a piece too big, and then swallows it whole.
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Post by sherrylynne on Dec 4, 2010 17:58:06 GMT -5
What a little brat!!! Ok, first- how much is he throwing up? Lots? Small amounts? Frequently? Once, and he's done? Is it only with the one type of meat? If I remember correctly, it's the chicken he's been doing this with? He is most likely eating too much too fast, but we need to be certain. If so, try a different type of meat instead, see if the same thing happens. It's possible he could have developed a bit of a sensitivity to the chicken. My Boris can have one, maybe two, chicken meals in a week, and that's it. He'll start retching, yellow seedy stool, mucousy stool, etc.
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Post by sherrylynne on Dec 4, 2010 18:05:59 GMT -5
Just had an idea, and could be WAY off base here. How much are they eating right now? Are you still giving kibble at any time? Are they finishing everything you give them? What I'm thinking is it's possible he simply needs more, and is really hungry when the next feeding time rolls around, so he eats too fast, and too big, and throws it back up again.
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Post by jesslough on Dec 4, 2010 18:56:21 GMT -5
It has been both the chicken, and the beef. He is not puking tons, and is eating kibble fine and drinking tons of water, but throwing up enough that he is in the litterbox for a good 10 minutes trying to puke it up. (At least he goes to the box!) I am sure he is eating too much too fast, because he is all proud that he is eating. I do not even thing he LIKES the meat, but since Harley eats it, he has to eat it. Not sure how much I give (rather, it is 1/2 a chicken thigh plus a cube of stewing beef at a time, cut up slightly 2-3 times a day), and Harley is usually pretty good about finishing it off. They do have kibble, because, well, I fail at remembering to feed them all the time
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Post by sherrylynne on Dec 4, 2010 22:21:56 GMT -5
I hate to tell you this, but for some ferrets, combining kibble with raw can cause some real tummy upsets. It's quite possible THAT could well be his problem Alternatively, he could be filling up on kibble, but then because Harley is eating the raw, he has to as well. Result? Overfull tummy that has to be emptied out. Try making sure the kibble is out of his reach for at least four hours before giving them the raw and see how it goes. You can leave it out all day, and then put it back in at night. Just leave the raw in during the daytime.
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Post by jesslough on Dec 4, 2010 22:25:01 GMT -5
The thing with that, is it is not entirely possible to just keep him away from the raw. Rascal has decided that raw chunks are meant to be eaten around, or put in the litter box, and just eats the soup. Also, the other 2 eat it all before he really gets any, and he has to have food around, so the kibble, unfortunately, has to stay in the cage. I tried taking it out -- his glucose levels went down and I could tell he was not feeling too well.
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Post by jesslough on Dec 6, 2010 0:59:17 GMT -5
ok, so I have gone to blending the chicken and beef together, freezing it, then defrosting it, and it leaves chunks of the meat in there. If that made sense? He had some today, and did not puke, so it seems to be working! (It is not blending into a soup as much as the 2 meats blended together and then in chunks of this "new" meat)
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Post by sherrylynne on Dec 6, 2010 9:50:34 GMT -5
Sorry- totally forgot Rascal has insulinoma!!! I'm glad he is taking the chunky mush well again. If that's working for him, just leave him on it for now, and slowly add in slivers of meat to his in about a week or so. He may also simply need smaller, more frequent meals to offset the insulinoma.
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Post by jesslough on Dec 9, 2010 17:28:02 GMT -5
Just wanted to poke in, to say I am still alive, and nothing new, really. Just took in another 2 for a bit, so life is a little crazy right now.
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Post by sherrylynne on Dec 9, 2010 17:34:44 GMT -5
Fosters? Or ferret sitting?
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Post by jesslough on Dec 10, 2010 0:36:36 GMT -5
Short-term fosters They will be leaving in the new year, to the main rescue.
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Post by jesslough on Dec 11, 2010 16:33:41 GMT -5
ok, so they are eating chicken and beef with no issues All 3 of them.
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Post by sherrylynne on Dec 11, 2010 16:46:08 GMT -5
That's excellent! Keep them eating that for a couple of days, then start trying some slivers of "real" meat in the mix.
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Post by jesslough on Dec 14, 2010 13:07:33 GMT -5
Ok, so they WILL eat: chicken beef turkey duck veal goose cornish hen
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