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Post by Sherry on Jan 19, 2017 11:09:42 GMT -5
That is good to hear. She is definitely on the road to recovery then I would wait another day, then start slipping in a wee bit of raw puree or mince to her present soup. Not enough to make her go "yuck", but just enough to make her think "is this different? NAH!" and continue eating. Maybe a half tsp to start, and increase from there. She will be tricked into the raw before she knows it
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2017 14:00:05 GMT -5
Monster did not eat his dinner last night. He ate just a very small portion, not even a quarter of what was in his dish. I am hoping it is just because he was not hungry and not because it's thicker than it had been. He has not yet touched his breakfast, but has been up and played quite hard for about an hour and a half before heading for his favorite spot under my chair. Brandi is a bit better, but still not quite herself. She took a few bites of kibble on waking this morning, but not much. Had a bowl of soup, which is 3 tablespoons, and ate most of it, leaving only a very small amount in the bottom of the bowl. Her poos are still a bit funky, but no blood which is what I was told to watch for. They have been very loose, but not runny, and seem to be firming just a bit. Will make her a mid-day soup when she wakes. She is sleeping well now, not awake every hour. I am thankful. She sure did have a rough Tuesday & Wednesday. My husband, Phil, came in very late on Monday so we didn't get photos and weights done as I'd hoped. He was exhausted. This morning I took one of Brandi, but haven't gotten Monster yet. So, I'm attaching Brandi's and a picture of the dish/bowl I am using for feeding. Brandi's isn't the best (I hate holding them hanging like that!) so I'll try again for better before being assigned a mentor.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2017 18:30:51 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2017 9:31:33 GMT -5
Thrilled beyond words - Brandi woke, I headed for the kitchen to make her some soup, and found her eating the Raw Soup Monster didn't finish through the night (his dinner)!!!! She didn't eat a whole lot of it (I stood and watched her), but enough to make me happy!!! Monster then came and finished it off, plus ate some more that I set down because he didn't seem to have his fill. They both went back to bed!
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Post by Aftershock on Jan 20, 2017 11:26:22 GMT -5
There is nothing wrong with watching her like a hawk after what just happened. How is she feeling today? How is Monster doing?
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Post by Sherry on Jan 20, 2017 11:37:06 GMT -5
That is wonderful news!!! Touch wood she will be none the worse for wear after what happened to her. And that is AMAZING that she decided the raw soup was better
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2017 13:51:24 GMT -5
Aftershock , Brandi does seem to be a little better each day. Yesterday she slept more than normal, but I'm imagining she was plain exhausted after her ordeal. I had to wake her to make sure she drank and ate, but right back to bed afterward. Her poos are becoming more normal looking; brown & firmer. I am so very thrilled she chose the raw over the kibble! I praised and praised her when she was done! both Phil and I have been taking turns checking on her throughout the nights. We make sure she's still breathing! And that she is warm enough. Many times we will find Monster curled up with her. This is wonderful as she really has shown no interest in him from day 1. Maybe her ordeal will bond them. Monster is doing well. He sniffs at kibble, when it's down, but I have not seen him pick a piece up in several days. I'm thinking the raw is filling him enough. I am loving that his poos are so much smaller, but am concerned that they're not "funky" like I've been reading about - detox poos. They look normal to me! Brown in color. A bit more loose than when he was eating kibble, but never any other color, never seedy... The only time I see them look funky is when he's had egg, but even that is normal! He has hovered over Brandi more than usual. Showing concern? Knowing something is wrong? He was super active yesterday. Loves playing chase and playing on our bed, but spent a lot of his time in the shower stall in the master bath! Too funny to watch! Today both have slept the morning away, only coming out of bed to hit the litter boxes. I have recently found another ferrent close to me that is involved with Dookerz, I believe mainly the emergency group. I've reached out to see which vert she uses and am hoping it's not the one I've been using. I'd like to schedule blood work and x-rays to be sure Brandi is okay. Probably wouldn't hurt to get the same for Monster. Is that too stressful? I understand this woman is out of town at the moment, but if I don't hear soon I'll reach out again. I'd hate to have to travel to El Paso, but will if I need to.
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Post by Sherry on Jan 21, 2017 12:30:14 GMT -5
A base level reading on a healthy ferret is never a bad thing to have. And so glad he is concerned about his cagemate. Yes, they are becoming bonded
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Post by Aftershock on Jan 21, 2017 13:41:22 GMT -5
Sorry, I've been a bit all over the place the past few days! Whooooooo! Go Brandi! I love seeing them turn into little carnivores! I would not worry that they don't look off. That just means his intestines are taking to the new foods well. You could still see funky poops in the future (It still happens here occasionally, but it ends up as only a one time thing) Even small stresses can cause odd poops. That is so good they are becoming bonded! I second Sherry, a base reading is a great thing to have!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2017 11:00:49 GMT -5
Well, I still have no received a reply from my inquiry on another vet in my area, but do see she has read my message. It may be that I call the vet we've been going to for blood work & x-rays. Monster is continuing to do quite well with the raw soup. Today I am placing an order for some grinds (so I get balanced-muscle, organ, bone-from Hare Today, Gone Tomorrow as My Pet Carnivore's shipping cost is just awful! I'm hoping he does well with the grinds and can eat them through my travels next month as Phil will have no problem putting them out for him/them. Any thoughts on Darwin's Natural Pet Food? I've been seeing a few posts on Facebook regarding their introductory offer... Brandi is still sleeping more than I would like. More often than not I am waking her for a meal. She isn't staying up long afterward either. Winter? Stress? I am beginning to become very worried. Being such a new ferrent I am unsure what is normal, and also if the stress from her encounter last Tuesday could have lingering effects. She is taking the raw soup at her meals, but I did wake to her crunching on kibble last night. The amount of soup she is taking has gone back to that small teaspoon serving as well as taking it from my fingertip instead of from the bowl itself. I'm glad she is taking it at all! I only wish she would take more of it.
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Post by Sherry on Jan 22, 2017 12:52:32 GMT -5
With Monster it sounds like he will be at least on the grinds by the time you leave. Darwin's appears to be a decent variety. With Brandi I think I would likely move her back to the point of only having kibble in at night, and hand feed the raw puree day time. Her extra sleeping is likely going to be a combo of winter, stress, and extra sickness. But let me call in the "big guns" who are more familiar with bad reactions. Heather @vickiann ? Little one was unintentially given double rabies shots 2 weeks apart, January 18. She was taken back in for treatment for a reaction. Pertinent post as to what happened is page 3, midway down, by hugs. This is 4 days later and still only wanting to sleep, not wanting to eat, etc. Fairly normal ATM I am thinking?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2017 16:03:02 GMT -5
So sorry to hear what poor Brandi has been through, that does sound like a very severe reaction Winter, stress and illness all cause ferrets to sleep more so all of those things could be contributing factors. I would monitor her very closely though, and keep a track of her weight and try and keep a track of how much she is eating. I have had some ferrets come down with helicobacter after a bout of stress or other illness ... and the frustrating thing I have found is that it can be there rumbling in the background without causing funky poops or any hugely blatant signs apart from a slightly sleepier ferret that is not retaining weight very well. Over here, I tend to err on the side of caution and if I see suggestive signs and have no evidence of other illness or disease that could cause the signs, I will trial ranitidine or pepto-bismol to see if there's any improvement and if so I switch to a triple therapy regime for at least 3-4 weeks. Bloods and x-rays would be a good idea in light of the fact she could be showing signs of illness, but if nothing much abnormal comes back (or a slight anaemia) then it might be worth discussing trialling treatment to see if it improves. I think key will be how she goes in the next week and what her weight is doing.
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Post by Heather on Jan 23, 2017 0:24:40 GMT -5
I would be tempted to go to a homepathic or holistic vet to try and get some remedies to help deal with the double vaccine. As Vicki-Ann mentioned I would be very cautious about possible ulcer as a reaction to stress. Dehydration is another issue that seems to occur when a vaccine reaction is noted. The rabies vaccine reaction is nasty often causing them to exhibit a lot of the symptoms of the disease. Remember that rabies in ferrets is the dumb variety, so lethargy, refusal of food and water, trouble swallowing is part of the reaction ciao
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2017 11:18:49 GMT -5
Sherry Thank You for bringing Vicki-Ann & Heather in for advice. @vickiann & Heather Thank you both for your advice! Brandi is seeming to get back to normal. She stayed awake much longer last night and this morning too! About 26 grams of soup for dinner and then again for breakfast AND she went over to Monster's dish while he was enjoying breakfast and helped herself to some more! YAY, YAY!!!!! Of course I quickly pulled more out of the refrigerator for them both to enjoy. You may have seen on Facebook that I placed an order with Hare Today, Gone Tomorrow for quite a variety of grinds. I hope for delivery by the end of the week. I am quite positive Monster will do well with it, as will Brandi in time; her eating away from my lap this morning has given me great hope. Brandi was just weighed - 1.719 lbs. Monster is sleeping, but will get weighed when he wakes.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2017 10:25:45 GMT -5
Monster's weight 1/23 - 2.559 lbs. Kibbles are officially picked up throughout the day; put down about 8:30pm & picked back up no later than 5:30am. Monster is now eating approximately 78 grams at breakfast, 52 grams at dinner. Brandi is approximately 26 grams at both meals. I say approximate as both might leave a few licks in the dish, and yesterday Brandi went to Monster's breakfast for a few extra licks. Order for grinds is to arrive late day Thursday, so Friday I will be putting up into 1 & 2 ounce parcels. I'll start feedings with the chicken, since neither seem to have any reaction to it, to get them used to the new texture. I'll slowly introduce the other "flavors" and watch them for any reaction. I ordered a total of 11 pounds, so this should last for a nice long while. The majority is fowl, with only one pound each of beef, pork, and mutton. These are balanced grinds, from what I understand from description on website. Will I need to add anything else? Brandi continues to improve; she was awake for a total of about 4 hours yesterday and played for the majority of the time-more than I have seen her play in the almost 2 months she's been here! Monster is Monster! He has days when he's more active than others, but he plays well and is allowing me to handle him more than he did when first coming here. All in all I think we're doing pretty good. I am pleased!
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