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Post by Sherry on Aug 1, 2016 9:58:29 GMT -5
Even with a lymphoma ferret I use a pulse therapy as it looses it's efficacy if given constantly. It can help back up the pred.
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Post by Heather on Aug 1, 2016 15:47:40 GMT -5
I've never used it against lymphoma Sherry, has more knowledge about than I do. I've used it against MCT, my guys didn't like it very much in their soupy, it has not only a strong flavour but a strong musty odour ciao
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2016 16:34:22 GMT -5
Thank you both. What is pulse therapy? How much Reishi do you give? Any precautions/interactions/special instructions?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2016 16:38:56 GMT -5
1. Ferret's name: Suga 2. Ferret's weight: 2# 3.5oz. 3. Ferret has eaten "X" amount on average per meal. 1 tsp. chicken soupie substituted for turkey baby food in Carnivore Care. Accepting ok so far as long as the consistency no thicker than thin liquid. Concern for mechanical issue. She had started to refuse dry kibble a couple of months ago. She would drink lots of water and work her tongue then act as if she didn't think she could eat the kibble. That's when I switched her to CC. No objection to change in taste w/soupie vs. baby food. 4. Stools on various proteins. Formed/normal. 5. Activity levels: Sleeps when not eating/pottying. 6. Weekly menu: Carnivore Care with chicken soupie every 4 hours at night, every 6 hours during day.
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Post by katt on Aug 2, 2016 9:09:58 GMT -5
Try to increase the amount of raw soupies every couple of days. You can even do daily as long as she tolerates it.
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Post by Sherry on Aug 2, 2016 10:07:33 GMT -5
Pulse therapy for Reishi mushroom:
1/4 of a 400-500 mg capsule daily per ferret(all can have it, i mix it in their food) for 2 weeks, then nothing for one week. Repeat.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2016 11:28:00 GMT -5
Thank you, Sherry.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2016 11:29:56 GMT -5
I have been trying to increase the amount of raw. After the first couple of tastes, it's an all out, full fledged battle.
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Post by katt on Aug 2, 2016 20:28:29 GMT -5
I have been trying to increase the amount of raw. After the first couple of tastes, it's an all out, full fledged battle. Ok, hold it at the max amount of raw she will accept without a major fight. Give her a day or so to get used to that amount. Also, thaw out some of your raw soupies and sit with her during playtime. Dab a tiny bit of pure raw soupies on her nose so she has to lick it off. Do this every time she runs by, (and keep doing it as often as you can each day). Are you hand feeding her, lap feeding her, or how are you doing meals each time? Does she have food available between meals?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2016 12:04:47 GMT -5
I went back to the 1 tsp. that she had been accepting with no success so I went back to just CC with no additives. After major protest she would lick a little around the edges and then no more. I have tried putting her down in front of her food, lap feeding, holding her in my left arm and touching her nose with food on my right index finger. As soon as the bowl or my finger get near her face she starts her exit and works herself into a frenzy. She's had some pretty bad coughing jags as a result. If there is any on her nose, she shakes her head and slings it off. She has not been playing these last few days and when I go in her room she retreats.
The last couple of feeds I added the turkey baby food back to the CC. After initial resistance, she has accepted. Also, she has started playing with her tennis balls again.
She does not have food available between meals. Ants are a big problem.
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Post by katt on Aug 5, 2016 1:30:06 GMT -5
Are you on FB? There was a thread on FB about ants recently if I recall. Living up north I haven't had to deal much with bugs, but I know others do and there's various tricks people have tried to keep them to a minimum. The head shaking, spitting, gagging, and freaking out is pretty common when first introducing a new food. Ferrets are veeery dramatic - like human toddlers. haha A perfect example, this kid who hates fruit: And this baby leaning to eat veggies: :rofl: I assure you that the head shaking, flinging, gagging, etc is very, very common when first introducing a new food. As far as toddlers are concerned, broccoli is poison, and as far as kibble fed ferrets are concerned, meat is poison. It's our job to convince them otherwise because we know that raw is better for them. Sometimes that calls for a little tough love. If she shakes the soupie off of her nose, gently rub a little on her lips and/or gums. Sit with her while she plays. Hold her in your lap and gently dab a tiny bit under her lip so she has to taste it, and immediately set her down so it doesn't become a big/long fight. Let her shake her head and tantrum and get back to playing, and after a few minutes try it again. Do this as long as you can, daily. As she gets used to the flavor she will gradually become less and less dramatic about it. If it helps you feel a bit more confident about it, as a bit of testimonial: Heather switches all of her rescues this way - almost all (if not ALL), of her rescues get switched cold-turkey; she has been very successful with the grab and dab method and it is one of the most used methods to make the initial switch from kibble to raw soupie. Just remember Suga is the spoiled, dramatic toddler who doesn't want to eat her "veggies," and you are the adult parent who knows best. hehe Can you confirm for me what recipe you are using for making the raw soupies? Also, how thin is the carnivore care soup you are giving her? You mentioned it being watery, I'm concerned that if it is too thin she might not be getting enough of the nutrients she needs. Can you post a picture or a video clip showing the consistency?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2016 10:11:11 GMT -5
I have tried everything known to man for ants. These are fire ants, so especially problematic.
As a mother, grandmother and career pediatric nurse, I have had more than a few chance encounters with toddlers. I subscribe to the suck it up, buttercup philosophy. I believe that parents/pet parents should be just that and have never been afraid to be one. I have had to switch foods a couple of times before. It's never been like this. I don't see her as a spoiled, dramatic toddler. I see her as a sweet and precious member of the red hat society who has just lost her best friend and lifelong companion of almost 7 1/2 years, whose body is being overtaken by a devastating disease, who has nasty tasting medicines forced down her throat three times a day and who only had one constant/comfort - food. And now I've messed with that.
The only playing that she does is occasionally moving her tennis balls from place to place. She has not done that while I've been in the room recently.
I am using the same recipe posted in the beginning of this thread.
The soup is very thin. The consistency should not affect the amount of nutrients she gets. It's the same principle used with humans who cannot/will not accept/tolerate certain foods. If I keep it thick and she eats none of it, she gets no nutrients. Or if she aspirates, she gets sick.
I am doing the best I can. I feel that I cannot get so obsessed with switching her to raw that I overlook red flag that her health is changing. To me, that would be inhumane and irresponsible. My primary focus at the moment is just to get her to eat something - anything - on her own.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2016 18:23:06 GMT -5
Hi @jawjahpeach, I'm incredibly sorry for being away lately. I thought I would drop in and let you know that due to unforeseen circumstances, I will have to take a break from mentoring. That means that I will no longer be helping out with your transition, but don't worry because you have Katt who is incredibly awesome and very knowledgable. You're on the right track, and you're a fantastic ferrent for Suga. Keep doing your best! Take care, -Machan.
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Post by katt on Aug 8, 2016 1:06:46 GMT -5
I have tried everything known to man for ants. These are fire ants, so especially problematic.I'm not worried about her access to food or anything as you have a very solid feeding schedule and obviously watch her eat to boot. I just happened to have seen the thread the other day and thought there might be something useful on it, that's all. That sucks though, fire ants are the WORST. Probably the only other insect I hate as much as roaches. I fell into a massive anthill as a kid - talk about traumatic. As a mother, grandmother and career pediatric nurse, I have had more than a few chance encounters with toddlers. I subscribe to the suck it up, buttercup philosophy. I believe that parents/pet parents should be just that and have never been afraid to be one. I have had to switch foods a couple of times before. It's never been like this. I don't see her as a spoiled, dramatic toddler. I see her as a sweet and precious member of the red hat society who has just lost her best friend and lifelong companion of almost 7 1/2 years, whose body is being overtaken by a devastating disease, who has nasty tasting medicines forced down her throat three times a day and who only had one constant/comfort - food. And now I've messed with that. Deep breaths, I was by no means trying to attack you. If my post came across that way I deeply apologize - that was not at all my intent. I simply meant to reassure you that the head shaking yuck response is pretty common in the beginning. Yes. she is old, sick, and grieving. For those reasons I would never suggest pushing her as hard as I might a young, healthy kit, or moving ANY faster than she will tolerate and continue eating. Her eating SOMETHING - anything - is the number one priority at this stage in the game. Period, end of story. With the oldies and sickies it is all about moving at whatever pace they will tolerate. I was not at all trying to say she should be switched cold-turkey, or that you should replace her current meals with raw soupie grab-n-dab. I was merely saying that it is a commonly used method that has been very successful for most who use it, and it is something you would be able to do in BETWEEN meals to get her used to the flavor, rather than making immediate changes to her current comforting meals. The head shaking yuck is a normal reaction at first, but it stops as they get used to the flavor. However, it is by NO means supposed to turn into a fight or something stressful - that is the exact opposite of what we want. We don't want her associating raw food with stress and trauma - that's why with the grab-n-dab method you dab a little on and immediately set them back down so it isn't a fight of holding them there, trying to force it in their mouths, etc etc. The goal is NON stressful, NON traumatic, but to get them slowly used to tasting the raw soup. The only playing that she does is occasionally moving her tennis balls from place to place. She has not done that while I've been in the room recently.By while she is playing I just mean while she is out and about out of her cage. It can be done any time at all, people just usually find it easier to sit on the floor with the ferrets and give them little tastes. The dab method is just ONE thing to try. There are plenty of other approaches. I just suggested the dab because she wasn't liking the change to her regular meals. It is simply another tactic, and one that has worked well for many ferrets. But not every ferret is the same - that's why each switch is so different. If you don't like that method you can say you prefer not to do that, and we will try other things. I am here to offer suggestions and answer questions. Suga is the number one most important thing in this equation, and my goal is simply to be here to help you help her in any way that I can. I am using the same recipe posted in the beginning of this thread.Perfect. I figured you were, but I like to have confirmation and not assume anything as I can't count how many times I have seen people using various other forms of soup. The soup is very thin. The consistency should not affect the amount of nutrients she gets. It's the same principle used with humans who cannot/will not accept/tolerate certain foods. If I keep it thick and she eats none of it, she gets no nutrients. Or if she aspirates, she gets sick.If food or formula is too watered down it can actually affect their electrolyte balance which can cause problems. I know you are working closely with your vet with Suga, and I know that Suga has some unique health problems to work around and there is only so much you can do. Like I said earlier, and like you have said - what matters most is that she EATS something. But it is something to keep in mind, and to keep in communication with your vet about. I don't know how watered down Carnivore Care can be and still be in the okay range, but if it needs to be water-thin it might be worth asking your vet about broth or something along those lines to add to help keep it at the consistency she needs without having to worry about hyponatremia. I am not trying to say it IS too watered down, I was just wondering how thin it is because it is something to keep in mind and IF it is particularly thin, to ask your vet about. I know that you know a lot, and I am NOT in ANY way trying to be condescending or come across lecturing, but when MY babies, my own precious fur-babies, are sick all of my knowledge goes out the window (and what doesn't go out the window gets second and third guessed) and I panic. I wanted to ensure this was on the radar so you could discuss options with your vet if needed. I am doing the best I can. I feel that I cannot get so obsessed with switching her to raw that I overlook red flag that her health is changing. To me, that would be inhumane and irresponsible. My primary focus at the moment is just to get her to eat something - anything - on her own.I know you are doing the best that you can, and you are doing a great job with a very sick little baby. Suga is SO lucky to have you fighting for her. Truly. Remember, I am on your side here - we are on the same team. Suga's health is THE NUMBER ONE priority. Period.
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Post by katt on Aug 9, 2016 18:25:19 GMT -5
How is Suga doing today?
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