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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2016 15:05:19 GMT -5
:peek: Just checking in to see if you OH is onboard yet?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2016 18:19:57 GMT -5
good evening. Yes he is. I had intended to give them their first soupie last night. I noticed yesterday that Maverick was breathing funny, by last night he was having coughing fits. I spent all night very very stressed out...I took him to the vet and he has been put on antibiotics and were waiting to see if there is any improvement. Our next step will be blood test and then a cardiologist. I'm concerned this is not a bacterial thing, this is not the first time he's been to the vet for a cough but we were told possible hairball and treated for that. I'm worried our Mav may have some sort of heart problem. I'm not sure if a change in diet is a good idea for Maverick right now? Do you believe this may stress him out? I don't want to do anything to make him have any more issues than he currently has. What do you think I should do at this point?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2016 9:42:57 GMT -5
I'm sorry that Maverick is not well. Let's see what the results of the bloodwork say and what the cardiologist says. I'll post to the Mentor board and ask Sherry and Heather what they think? Is your Vet onboard with raw feeding? Alot of Vets who oppose this will use this as a reason to convince you to go back to kibble. I'd hate to see that since yours are all young and need a good healthy start in life. It's not that the vets mean to frighten you or sell you the brand of kibble found in their office though that is one way to make a little more profit, it's just that vets receive little in the way of classes in nutrition for ferrets and those studies are funded by kibble companies. They also see far too many pet owners who simply want to buy the least expensive food available and don't worry about nutrition. Since Dorena is a new Mentor in Training, please keep us informed. Especially if you decide to leave the program. If you change your mind then please post so we can let her move on to another Mentee. We have to wait 3 weeks for someone to be dropped from the program and it's a shame to tie up a new Mentee who could be helping someone else. I'll get back to you on what the Senior Mentors say and please give Maverick a big hug and tell him that Mommy will work on getting him all better.
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Post by dorena261-Natalia on Feb 12, 2016 9:46:22 GMT -5
i am so sorry, but maybe it is just some virus he may be stressed out with switching if he's having some health problems but you can't know until you try. offer him a soup by your finger, maybe he'll accept it without any stress. if you see that he IS stressed out, than just wait with him untill you get all the exams and know what you're dealing with. what did the vet said? did they made an ECG or heart ultrasound yet, or you are just waiting on antibiotics?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2016 10:01:11 GMT -5
I should also ask if you are still willing to go ahead with the others while we wait and see what the vet says and get some advice from other mentors.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2016 10:49:13 GMT -5
Thank you guys for your responses. We still want to switch everyone, we just don't want to do anything to complicate any issues further. Currently we are playing a waiting game to see if antibiotics seem to help the issue. I'm inclined to think something more is going on because maverick has had a cough on and off since we brought him home. If I had not taken him to the vet yesterday I would have thought there was nothing wrong with him. He was completely himself.
I wouldn't say my vet is not on board with raw, however she did tell us if we were going to feed raw we should sear the outside of meat before feeding. I have read this kills nutrients so...that's her stance on it anyway. I had meant to talk to her about it, but when she came back and said possible pneumonia my brain stopped working. We just loss Ellie less than a month ago due to pneumonia.
I don't want to hold anyone up, the vet said to give antibiotics a week and a half to see if any result. With him acting back to normal last night I believe I'll be pushing for her to re X-ray at that time.
Please let me know what senior mentors say. As for proceeding with everyone else, he is caged with everyone else. I am not opposed to offering but I can't remove kibble from the other five if Maverick is stil caged with everyone else.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2016 11:50:59 GMT -5
Sherry replied: I agree, keep moving forward with it. As long as she isn't super stressing him out he should be fine.
I'll post as I get other responses. I understand about your brain simply stopping when you get a frightening possible diagnosis. That's one reason that I suggest carrying a journal to write down things at the vet. Then you can go home and look over it and write down any questions for the next visit. You don't want to sear the meat as you know already. Ferrets are designed to eat raw. Their fast digestive track eliminates food before it has bacteria has a chance to incubate. You won't likely change a Vet's mind but the more you learn then you can have answers to her questions. Alot of us who have Vet's opposed to raw feeding simply avoid the conversation. Happily there are more Vet's and more research that supports this. You might mention Bob Church to her and see if she is willing to look up his published articles and information. Big hug to Maverick and everyone else. Also a big one for you. I know you are frightened and concerned but we are here for you.
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Post by dorena261-Natalia on Feb 12, 2016 12:25:14 GMT -5
just to calm you down a bit... my Nyx had a heart problems when i decided to switch my ferrets to raw, she was just diagnosed with cardiomiopathy after we started. it took several months untill she ate a piece of meat without expression of disgust. but i was stubborn along with frightened, and i was doing the switch very slow with her, trying not to stress her to much or push her over her limits (my others expirienced some tough love, but not her). and it worked for us. i am just saying that everything is possible, even if Maverick gets a diagnose you can switch him to raw. he will just need some more love and attention from you
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2016 9:38:52 GMT -5
Hurricanekatt responded to our question. Katt runs the Mentoring program and is in her residency program as a medical student. I would most definitely not put off the switch. If anything I would be more inclined to say get them switched as soon as possible. Better diet = healthier for the heart. I would consider having her supplement with extra tuarine though. I would give her the recipe for the heart supplement (I will post below). If there is no heart disease it will not hurt (think of it like yourself taking a multivitamin or fish oil pill), and if there is it may help a LOT.
1000mg L-Carnitine, 1000mg Taurine, 1000 IU VitE, 800mg CoQ10, 500mg Hawthorne mixed into an oil base of 1oz of omega 3-6-9 (OptoMega). Dose is 0.5mL per ferret per day.
The supplement was created by Dr. Cathy Johnson-Delaney in Seattle and was then passed on to Dr. Holly Carter who took over her practice and continues to use the supplement. Dr. Carter uses Optomega for the oil base, as she gives the supplement to rabbits and other pets. I mix it myself using salmon oil that has Omega 3 and 6 (just missing the 9), so it's an animal-based oil. It definitely seems to help some, Koda's cough and energy level both slightly improved on it.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2016 9:43:56 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2016 8:41:39 GMT -5
Okay. Sounds good! I'm willing to give it a go! I'll try some soupie on everyone this evening. If it stresses maverick out, we may have to think some something else. Honestly he's not the one I'm worried will hold out, I believe Hoss will be the hardest to switch. He's a picky boy.
So sorry I didn't respond yesterday, I woke up to about a million ants taking over the ferrets room? And spent all day combating ants naturally (not an easy task) got my fingers crossed that I've got it under control. Also, had to run to the vet, they changed Mavs meds.
So we will try soupie tonight. How long is it good for once I've frozen it? It's in ice trays but not covered.
Also, I've been meaning to ask, I'd like to find some salmon oil, is there a brand you prefer or recommend?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2016 9:32:50 GMT -5
An Ant Attack...sounds like a horror movie. Make the attempt with Maverick as pleasant and fun as you can. Perhaps you could play with everyone first for a bit and then go for the soupie. We always get one stubborn one in a business. Let Hoss move along at his own pace and we will talk about some tips to help Hoss if he shows reluctance. When I made soupie, I put it into ice cube trays and just slide them into a large freezer bag. I don't think most people bother with that but I didn't like seeing ice crystals on them. Soupie in the freezer is good for months but unless you make giant batches you won't have it in the freezer for months.Hopefully they will eat it quickly. I like the Grizzly Salmon oil. It's from wild salmon and has no added ingredients. www.amazon.com/Grizzly-All-Natural-Supplement-Pump-Bottle-Dispenser/dp/B0002ABR6EYou can price shop it. I believe ebay has it for less. I'm looking forward to hearing about their first soupie. (dance)
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2016 9:56:01 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2016 12:16:34 GMT -5
Thanks so much! You guys are incredible! One more question, when making soupie, I used a blender. It didn't turn out as "soupie" as I'd like. What do you/everyone use to make their meat down to soupie consistency?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2016 12:42:40 GMT -5
I used an inexpensive food processor from Walmart. It might help to cut the chicken thigh into smaller pieces. If your blender has a pulse button or an ice cracking button that should help also.
Since you're using a blender then I would go ahead and add some water to it. You want the first soupie to be thin anyway and adding water will help your blender along.
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