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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2015 0:10:30 GMT -5
So last week we were taking Oscar (five months old) to the vet for a slightly prolapsed anus. The vet was pretty sure he was just having some hairball trouble and told us to give him laxatives while he's been shedding and all was going decently well. His butt is looking better, his energy and appetite was fine, but his poops still looked kind of funny.
On Monday we brought home a little girl (three months old). They've been fighting, which I read is pretty normal. Her poops look funny, but I was attributing that to the diet transition. She seems otherwise perfectly healthy. Oscar has not seemed too happy about her arrival.
This morning while they were fighting, she started fighting back more and holding her own. Oscar seemed pretty unhappy about this and has been moping pretty hard. This evening he seems extra unhappy and doesn't seem to have eaten much all day. He doesn't seem to want to play with either of us. He is fighting with her right now though. His poops still look a little strange.
So at this point I'm not sure if he's just depressed because he's not happy about her being here and is still having trouble with his hairballs or if he's gotten some other kind of sickness. Is there something specific I should watch for to tell either way?
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Post by Heather on Apr 23, 2015 0:39:56 GMT -5
One thing to remember is ferrets don't get hairballs, they get bezoars which they will have to pass or they cause blockages. If your vet thinks he's having hair issues, you could try using raw egg. This helps dissolve the hair. You can use up to 2 or 3 eggs per week. You mention he has funky stools, perhaps posting some pics might help. The lax would probably be one thing that is causing the weird stools. Remember most lax products use some sort of petroleum jelly which prevents the proper absorption of nutrients.
Introductions often make the existing ferret feel out of sorts, especially when the new ferret, a wee she-fert starts laying down the law and telling him just how things are going to be and he's not the king of the woods. If he's not curling up and just sleeping he's probably sulking....and you can put on some extra snuggles and hugs to try and draw him out of his sulk. You can try using RR (rescue remedy) to help calm both ferrets. You can give them a shot in their drinking water or you can rub it on their ears and foot pads.
Remember if you're concerned about issues that don't seem to have answers, ferrets are very good at hiding their illnesses, take him to the vet. It is much better to be an over-concerned ferrant than a very upset one by missing something.
Good luck
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2015 1:16:34 GMT -5
He's been getting 2-3 eggs a week for a little while now. I actually gave him one tonight and it was the only thing he would eat. They are his favorites.
I will take some pictures the next time he poops. The vet did a stool sample last Saturday and it came back clean so he at least doesn't have any parasites or anything. I had heard about the lax causing absorption troubles. I was going to stop giving it to him tomorrow since he seems to be doing better now and straining a little less.
He has been getting extra cuddles and he does seem at least slightly more lively when she's not nearby. We'll keep laying it on him thick. He's sleeping on my chest right this minute.
I will keep watching closely and give the vet a call if we don't see improvement soon. Thank you very much for you response.
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Post by Heather on Apr 23, 2015 10:57:06 GMT -5
The other option if you feel he does have a blockage is do a blockage protocol....1 tbsp of pumpkin and in the next hour to 1 tsp of vaseline, repeat until you have a good pumpkin stool. If he's only eating his egg then you're going to get really funky stools anyway. What amounts is he eating? and what?
ciao
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Post by ferretbrah on Apr 23, 2015 13:58:57 GMT -5
Do either of them have bright green poops with some mucous ?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2015 14:39:48 GMT -5
Up until yesterday he was eating like normal. We usually feed him once in the morning and once in the evening and we let him eat until he doesn't want any more. In the past few days he was getting some chicken wings, ground turkey, and some chicken hearts/gizzards/liver. He only started refusing the food yesterday. I gave him a wing this morning, which he promptly ignored. I'm hoping he will have had some of it by the time I stop by this afternoon.
He had a little bit of green in his stool a few days ago, but I haven't seen any since then. He's had a few pretty mucous-y ones as of late, but he was having them even before the little girl showed up. The vet said they were pretty typical of a ferret having some hair troubles. The little girl has had some dang weird ones, but none that have been particularly green. They're a lot like the weird ones Oscar was getting when we brought him home and started switching his diet over.
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Post by Heather on Apr 23, 2015 15:14:55 GMT -5
Her's are probably stress and a dietary switch and Oscar's of late might be related to stress too. If Oscar's not eaten anything by tonight perhaps an evening of coddling and a soupy mixture or some ground mush fed by you might be in the books.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2015 16:11:20 GMT -5
I will give that a shot and see how he does. Thanks so much!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2015 15:37:52 GMT -5
Update: We hand fed Oscar last night and let him sleep in our bed for maximum cuddles. He ate on his own this morning and seems to be getting along with the little girl much better now. He seems a little less mopey, so I think things are going well. He even showed her his favorite spot to break into to make us mad! Thanks so much for the advice  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2015 14:10:49 GMT -5
Congratulations on your little girl. Don't be surprised when she whips Oscar into shape. Girls rule!
Oscar needs just a little attention to ensure that he feels secure and has not lost your love.
My Roamy pouted when we brought home a baby. That's when he wasn't hunting her. I did with him what dog owners do. I gave him the first hug, the first treat, the first bite of food.
However, it was clear within two weeks that he didn't feel good. He was never in contact with the baby because of his aggression. Juliet did play with her.
At the same time, we were switching from kibble to FDR. When his poop turned green, I suspected ECE. Its a bug that a pet store baby can bring home. The baby has a natural immunity but is a carrier.
The vet and I were not sure if it was a bacterial overgrowth from a food change or ECE. I suspect ECE.
A vet visit and a course of antibiotics cleared that up.
Keep an eye out on Oscar. If he picked up ECE, it will take a week or so to show up.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2015 14:11:33 GMT -5
Congratulations on your little girl. Don't be surprised when she whips Oscar into shape. Girls rule! Oscar needs just a little extra attention to ensure that he feels secure and has not lost your love. My Roamy pouted when we brought home a baby. That's when he wasn't hunting her. I did with him what dog owners do. I gave him the first hug, the first treat, the first bite of food. However, it was clear within two weeks that he didn't feel good. He was never in contact with the baby because of his aggression. Juliet did play with her. At the same time, we were switching from kibble to FDR. When his poop turned green, I suspected ECE. Its a bug that a pet store baby can bring home. The baby has a natural immunity but is a carrier. The vet and I were not sure if it was a bacterial overgrowth from a food change or ECE. I suspect ECE. A vet visit and a course of antibiotics cleared that up. Keep an eye out on Oscar. If he picked up ECE, it will take a week or so to show up. I'm quoting myself. lol, time for a cookie break. (shy) |
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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2015 18:43:41 GMT -5
It's been long enough that I think we can safely say there's no ECE risk. They've both been having pretty normal stool and decent energy levels. Oscar is still a little mopey, but I think we're doing ok.
Thanks so much to everyone for the help!
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