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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2015 16:28:38 GMT -5
I know that ferrets lose weight in the summer - so I expect that. Just, I have no clue what is too much, especially after dealing with porkers and seeing chubby ferrets all day. Gizmo used to way around 2,6kg in the winter. He's a bulldog style ferret, so he always looked more massive, but not fat, never. He now weighs 1,8 kg which is a big jump, and his hips seem like they are sinking. And since the summer started he's been continuously losing weight, even from last week until now... I am not sure up to what point is it normal, after seeing others fade before my eyes in 2 weeks time. He's 1year old. He is eating ok, pooping fine, but in the past few days or week or so, his energy levels haven't been as high. We have an air conditioning, the temperature never goes over 25C.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2015 16:30:00 GMT -5
He was organizing the dirty laundry....   |
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Post by raynebc on Jul 1, 2015 16:31:06 GMT -5
25C (77F) is still kind of warm. My ferrets are also more sluggish at that temperature.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2015 16:56:43 GMT -5
It's the same temperature as we had in the winter, 23-25 every day, so the inside temperature hasn't changed.If 25 is still to high I can keep it around 23, but these buildings are soooo well insulated that it's such a pain to cool them down in the summer (makes sense living in a place with min 6 months of winter though). I'm getting ice water ready to put where they sleep
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2015 17:17:06 GMT -5
Your little one looks like he still has a good coat of hair. My little girl has got a shorter coat.
Same diet as in winter(like duck)?
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Post by Heather on Jul 1, 2015 17:53:20 GMT -5
One thing to consider is that even though it's cooler inside it's an artificial atmosphere. For some reason it's not near as good as the real thing. I find my ferrets much more lethargic and eat less during a hot spell even though the temp in the house never gets above 75 F Think about your own reaction to this type of weather despite being in A/C most of the day. Is your boy altered?
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2015 18:09:15 GMT -5
Same diet, neutered. They are all fluffy, , not much summer shedding. Heather, I get your point, it's true, it doesn't feel the same... i put some frozen cartons of milk (sacrificing my milk for their comfort!) Since the water didn't freeze yet. What ab his weight, when would it be time to worry? |
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Post by unclejoe on Jul 1, 2015 19:58:04 GMT -5
Jaffa, our big boy, has lost up to 3/4 of a lb for summer seasons, about .4 kg. .8 is a LOT, in my opinion, around 1.5 lb. When was Gizmo's last vet check? Jaffa's average weight is around 2.2 kg. At 2,6, .8 kg is almost 1/3 of his weight. Scary to me.
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Post by Heather on Jul 1, 2015 20:49:58 GMT -5
This is his first year right? so he's going to dump a lot of weight. They dump all their usual winter weight plus what extra kit weight they were carrying too.
How much is he actually eating? As a gibb he should be eating about 3 oz of meats a day. I know my hobs dump big time weight but my gibbs don't dump the weight the same way. He was a big boy, 2.6 kg = 5.7 lbs...his summer weight is 1.8 = 3.9 That is a considerable weight loss but that being said, it's about the same as my hobs dump every season. The only thing I can say is if you're really concerned see your vet. I watched my jill kits (their first year) dump a full pound. I have to admit it was a bit scary but I'd been expecting it. Boudicca weighed 3 lbs she now weighs 2 lbs. Merida weighed 3 lbs 4 oz and now weighs 3 lbs...only a loss of 4 oz but it appears to be normal for her.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2015 2:50:48 GMT -5
He is neutered, eates around 3oz, sometimes a bit less, sometimes a bit more. It is indeed his first year, so I expected him to drop some - however what worried me is that he continued to drop . In the beginning of last week he weight 2kg, today 1.8. I'll try to discuss it with the vet as well
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Post by Heather on Jul 2, 2015 10:34:25 GMT -5
If he was going to put on weight he'd need to eat more than 3 oz. I use that for Tico (wee piggy and a fatty). That and sometimes a bit more is what he gets per day. Tico is cursed like me with a healthy appetite and a slow metabolism. Most hobs will eat 3 to 4 oz comfortably. That being said the B & E twins drop weight and look painfully thin during the summer months, especially when they drop their coat (in the next month of so).
I would be tempted to take him into the vet just to put your mind at ease if for nothing else
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2015 3:35:04 GMT -5
I'm having the same problem with Reshi! I got him in late September, so I always knew the baby winter weight. He was REALLY fluffy in winter and lost about half a pound of fur over the course of a week when spring hit and then some weight, he's looking a little on the skinny side. Every now and then he drops an ounce at night (which with Min was the tipping point so it freaks me out) and gains it back in the morning. He's eating fine, he always has the most energy, and everything else seems normal.
But they're both due for a vet visit, so I'm looking forward to getting the vet's opinion.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2015 4:11:20 GMT -5
The others are eating a lot better than him. with him I need to so some convincing to finish his plate. And that's for about 3oz. He spikes up in energy for a while and then gpes to sleep. I don't want him to gain weight if he doesn't need to, but i agree that a vet check wouldn't hurt, especially if he keeps dropping. On the other hand - I can't believe how much my little girm can eat and she's so tiny! She eats as much as the other boys, it's crazy
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Post by bitbyter on Jul 3, 2015 7:21:42 GMT -5
I HATE summer ferrets specifically because Socks drops so much weight and I worry about her all summer.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2015 12:00:07 GMT -5
Going to my switching thread and compare weights. Annabelle looks skinnier but bouncing around like a squirrel  |
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