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Post by mjohn143 on Jan 18, 2010 9:40:26 GMT -5
We have had satellite internet and its been off the past week bc we were getting DSL!!! You have no idea how much faster it is!  School started back unfortunately, so they ferrets and I have had to adjust to a new time schedule. Anyway I'm not really sure what the mg is... I think its 1000 mg of actual salmon oil per capsule?? The bottle isn't clear but I think that is it. They are both reverting  . Idk why but Beatrice is just being SOOO difficult now and will only eat stuff if it is an almost liquid form, which is giving her really soft poop. I'm on the fence about her. I mean she has insulinoma, she is 6 1/2, and she was fed a TERRIBLE diet of marshmallows, cereal, sweet tea, and Marshall ferret food the 5 years before I got her. I do not know how long she will live because she seems sooo frail and sleeps most of the time. I took her to this supposed "ferret-knowledgeable" vet about a month ago, but she was not very helpful and the visit alone cost $100. Do you think it is okay for her to have soup?? Or should she be eating something a little more substantial? It seems like she just doesn't want to chew anymore idk. Badger is still being picky. I think its really hard because I have to leave the kibble in the cage for Beatrice and Badger knows its there, so she isn't as willing because she doesn't have to be? If you have any suggestions let me know. |
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Post by cristina on Jan 18, 2010 19:07:00 GMT -5
I actually just had this issue with a past newbie, her ferret who had insulinoma wasnt switched completely....since these ferrets need to have at least some kibble out for them at all times, but theres hope for your little one, it just might take some extra time and attention....we will work slow dont worry...it took my like 6 months!!
I suggested the ground egg shells because I thought their poop would get runny....the calcium in the shells actually makes their poop alot more solid, so does pure (100%) pumpkin, but the egg shells I find is easier to feed all the time, since I just add it every soup feeding plus the calcium is beneficial for their bones (since they arent eating bones yet)
Just keep mixing in ground raw in with kibble (even if you have to take a step back and go back to less raw and more kibble, its ok, it will catch up again) mix more water in too, this will make it a little more soupier, this will help her too if she doesnt want to chew alot of hard kibble....if you have some extra kibble on the side for her (b/c of her condition) you can water that down too a bit) watch her teeth though, keep an eye out and make sure they dont start getting tatar build up, if you start to see this you can use a rag to kinda help scrape it away (I just say this b/c if she has all soft foods, this could happen...its not a big deal though)
about the oil, I would say no more than 1 tbsp per week each.....thats just my opinion though, did the thread help that I sent?
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Post by mjohn143 on Jan 18, 2010 21:48:06 GMT -5
Yes, it helped...apparently I have been giving her too much and will have to cut back (I'm sure she will be upset about this though). Badger doesn't like it, just Beatrice.
Her (Beatrice) teeth look pretty bad already. She is missing a few small ones and one it chipped (she was like this when I got her). I think that may be why the kibble is hard for her to eat.
It has been about 2 months since I switched them from Marshall's to ZuPreem, and I have really noticed a difference in the softness of their coats. Now if they could only get the meat down! Thanks for your input, I'll check back with you in a day or two.
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Post by cristina on Jan 21, 2010 13:47:01 GMT -5
Its normal for older ferrets teeth to not be in the best shape, so watering down her kibble would help her in that sense.
Marshalls food is bad, when I switched to innova evo ferret there was SUCH a drastic improvement it was crazy!
You can take a step back if necessary with the meat, the thing I kept doing was slowly add more ground raw to the kibble/water mix and when I had to go backwards I just cut back on the amount of ground...but Badger should be back on track soon hopefully!
With Beatrice, given her age and her condition it may not be possible to switch her completely, especially since she will always need access to kibble now forever but if she dabbles into raw then thats great....we should focus more attention on Badger.
Now I know it will be hard with the fact Badger knows theres always kibble around, but I have had issues like this with others where the others (without insulinoma) will start to veer away from the kibble thats left out for the others and kinda forget its there since they acquire a taste for raw, now this might take a while and it may make you crazy sometimes but it can be done haha
Just keep up with the mix of kibble/ground raw and we'll go on from there....if you want to add in some duk soup mix this can help too, its what I did for a while (when they would get finichy) if you want me to send you some mix I think I may have some to spare so just let me know and Ill see if I can mail some to u, if you want to try it out.
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Post by mjohn143 on Jan 21, 2010 14:55:21 GMT -5
Ok, wel I think the mistake I made was not using ground bc everyone stressed that they can't eat JUST meat. So I have been cutting meat and skin off chicken thighs, and did not want to buy ground until that was used up, but I will go and pick some up after work tonight and hope that makes it easier. I really appreciate your offer, but I'll pick up some duk soup at Petco. I have finally paid my bills off for the semester and actually have some money coming in that I can use lol.
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Post by cristina on Jan 21, 2010 19:35:32 GMT -5
ohh what you read is for people who have already switched!! dont worry that doesnt pertain to you just yet...we have to get them eating meat at all first!  my guys were on ground for 6 months!! and thats perfectly normal when your switching, Im sorry I should have clarified that for you....When you have switched is when you will make a feeding sched. and it will tell of the different meats/cuts you'll feed every week |
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Post by mjohn143 on Jan 27, 2010 8:23:23 GMT -5
Ok thanks, yea the ground is sooo much easier to work with too! I have some kinda good news... I have 3 ferrets now! Someone at the school that my mother teaches at was getting rid of the baby ferret they got for Christmas and she brought it home bc she was worried it wouldn't go to a good home. He is only 3 months old, but is a pet store ferret and has already been fixed. He began to eat the meat right away. I think he is good for them bc he keeps Badger busy so she isn't bothering poor old Beatrice all the time. Beatrice just likes to sleep a lot or be held, and Badger is still pretty wild. Anyway, I got the duk soup mix, but none of them seem to like it. I have only given it to them mixed with water, so idk if they may change their minds when it is mixed with meat? I just wasn't sure how much to do? |
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Post by cristina on Jan 27, 2010 18:40:02 GMT -5
Yeah!!! ferret math has hit u too!  Im glad you have a new little one bouncing around, plus it will help make the switch easier now for Badger I bet...thats what happened with I got my Mimi. The duk soup should be mixed with water until they take to it....sometimes it may take a couple tries but when they figure out its not poison they are addicted, usually....sometimes there are ferrets who just dont care for it, although I have never known one Plus the new baby will love it and its full of vitamins and minerals so thats always a plus! I want a new baby too!  |
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Post by mjohn143 on Jan 28, 2010 8:53:47 GMT -5
haha I know! I swear if I won the lottery I would get 50 new babies! And hired a live-in vet lol. Yea he likes it... he eats anything; good and bad. When I first gave him some of the meat, babyfood, kibble mix he went wild!
Beatrice is starting to be good about eating what I make her again, but Bager will only eat it off my finger still. She is a major priss.
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Post by cristina on Jan 28, 2010 11:44:00 GMT -5
Understandable, my Penny was like that too, big priss! she would only eat if I fed her directly, but hopefully the new baby will help this Just keep up the ground and kibble and we will work up from there |
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Post by cristina on Feb 1, 2010 16:12:04 GMT -5
so how are things going? any new progress?
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Post by mjohn143 on Feb 1, 2010 20:33:12 GMT -5
no Beatrice is eating pretty good and little baby Pudding, but not Badger!! Should I blend the ground chicken in the blender with the kibble or just mix it? Also I meant to tell you, I couldn't find ground chicken, only ground turkey...so I've been using that. Is that ok? |
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Post by cristina on Feb 1, 2010 21:21:16 GMT -5
Yea turkeys fine although its not as bland as chicken so I wonder if that may be y  Just add less turkey and see how it goes from there. You can blend some kibble up with the mix and see how they take to it, if this works better we can use this method instead...just let me know the reactions you get maybe they will take to this better if its all kinda liquidy....I mean I guess the only one we have to get on track is Badger right? the baby is eating no problem with the mix? Im not too worried about Beatrice since she will always need to eat kibble, so if she eats some of the raw mix then thats great...its actually a huge accomplishment! |
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Post by mjohn143 on Feb 4, 2010 20:08:05 GMT -5
Ok... when its liquid Badger eats it off my finger, if it is chicken. I just think she will not eat anything other than chicken. She won't eat the chicken baby food either or anything that is semi cooked... Is that weird?
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Post by cristina on Feb 7, 2010 16:03:31 GMT -5
No, thats not weird at all, actually my Penny is JUST like that! a little priss!  Then just continue using chicken right now only.....with the soup you make, just put a very small amount in with the daily kibble (I mean just a little, maybe with some extra water too) and see if Badger will eat it alone without you, maybe we just need to start off extra slow for her like I had to with mine |
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