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Post by Sherry on Sept 2, 2012 15:46:32 GMT -5
Hope Archer is okay! Could he have eaten the raw and kibble too close together? Some really have a problem with that. Great news on the negative for the ADV!!! That's got to be a relief Keep working at getting them to lick from the spoon in the bowl, and finally moving the spoon away. Once they'll eat from the dish reliably on their own, as well as eating enough, then you can try removing the kibble
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Post by bluephoenix416 on Sept 2, 2012 16:18:49 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm keeping an eye on Archer. He had a clearish poo this afternoon, & after giving him soup, pedialyte & carafate his poo is at least brown, not solid, but it's better than clear IMO.
I'll continue to work with the others with the BARF mixture. In regards to BARF, I know it doesn't have all the necessary nutrients for ferrets (I thought I read more taurine is needed). Is this correct & are there any other additives I might want to look at? I have no problem feeding them BARF for now (once we're done with kibble) & then when the dust settles here in regards to school I will go towards making my own. I do have some chicken hearts, giblets & livers in my freezer too.
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Post by Sherry on Sept 2, 2012 16:23:12 GMT -5
Since you can't overdo taurine, adding some extra heart certainly won't hurt. As for the commercial raw not having everything, it depends on what kind you get. Check for the words"whole animal", or even listing everything separately. You want to see heart, liver, kidney, meat, bone. And by getting them eating a bit of meat separately(I think this is what you are referring to?) now, when it comes time to feed RMB's you'll be that much further ahead Just out of curiosity- just checked back on your application. You don't say what type of diet you are ultimately aiming at? Will it be all commercial raw, frankenprey(whole meat bone organ in a ratio to mimic whole prey), or a mix of the two?
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Post by bluephoenix416 on Sept 2, 2012 16:32:26 GMT -5
I don't think I saw that question! Oops! I want to start with commercial raw & then do a mix of the two once they are comfortable with the diet change.
What do you do in regards to ferrets that have insulinoma? I have the one boy Stewie on a low dose of pred, but I wasn't sure how this would affect his BG. Do they need access to food more often then those who don't have insulinoma?
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Post by Sherry on Sept 2, 2012 18:13:56 GMT -5
Yes, they do. Sometimes you can never get them completely off kibble, or in a better scenario freeze dried. However- raw will help stabilize him a lot more. For the interim, never leave him without SOMETHING for longer than two hours max. It's harder, but not impossible. What we'll do is do the switch with him the same as the others, but let him go more at his own pace rather than push him too much. Can you access either freeze dried raw, or even something like ziwipeak for him?
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Post by bluephoenix416 on Sept 2, 2012 18:43:59 GMT -5
Yes! I have a sample pack from CHP! So I will try to get him to get into it. He definitely loves his soupy so if I switch him to a raw soupy then that should also help, yes?
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Post by Sherry on Sept 2, 2012 18:50:07 GMT -5
MOST DEFINITELY, YES, ;D Okay, that out of the way! There is no reason at all that he can't be switched to RMB's and/or commercial raw depending on what you want to do. The codicil is he'll have to have access to food at all times. Generally if insulinoma develops AFTER a raw switch, just keeping raw in the cage at all times seems to work well. Once they are on pred, it seems the freeze dried or ziwipeak(or kibble if they won't take the FD) seems to be needed, since most don't completely switch. Your guy is simply diagnosed with an "at risk" BG. So. For now, we'll switch him as though he were fine. BUT at the same time, keep food available for the most part. When he is out running around and playing- does he have constant access to the kibble? Or does he go an hour or two without eating? A lot of detailed questions, I know. But it will give me a better idea of where he is at right now with his diagnosis.
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Post by Sherry on Sept 2, 2012 18:51:39 GMT -5
I never asked- what exactly WAS his BG reading?
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Post by bluephoenix416 on Sept 2, 2012 19:08:56 GMT -5
Soooo....don't be mad & think I'm a bad ferret mom, but he was tested back in January with a BG meter & he was at 56. I know I should get him tested again & will probably do so tomorrow to see where we stand because I know I have to suck it up & just do it. It's the whole fear of making my babies bleed on purpose. Still trying to get over that hurdle.
He does have access to food at all times. I leave a little bit of kibble in the bowls & he can go in & out of the cage as he pleases.
Please don't disown me. I know it's bad that I don't test him monthly, I'm relatively new to insulinoma (only had two ferrets that were officially diagnosed with it & had very little guidance).
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Post by Sherry on Sept 2, 2012 19:12:12 GMT -5
I'm not going to "disown" you ;D But yes- you really do need to get him retested. Usually a reading of 70 is enough to diagnose and treat with pred.
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Post by Sherry on Sept 2, 2012 19:13:58 GMT -5
So, that being said- we are going to treat him as full blown, treated insulinoma. To do anything else would be dangerous. If you remove his kibble before hand, don't remove it for more than an hour max. And give it back within 30 minutes of going back in the cage. To get him over to freeze dried, start by crumbling the dry FD on the kibble, and mix in well. Over time, increase the FD and decrease the kibble.
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Post by bluephoenix416 on Sept 2, 2012 19:40:59 GMT -5
Oh you're clever...& sneaky....I love it! I'll garnish up the courage & try to do the test myself...
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Post by Sherry on Sept 2, 2012 20:47:17 GMT -5
Unless you meter is coordinated with the vet's you reading could be off by a lot. Best bet is to take your meter in, and both of you read the same sample.
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Post by Sherry on Sept 2, 2012 20:47:44 GMT -5
That way you know how much to add or subtract from your meter.
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Post by bluephoenix416 on Sept 3, 2012 15:22:20 GMT -5
Okay. I think I'll bring Stewie & Archer in on Wednesday then instead of Archer & Stig. I'll let you know Wednesday night what the readings are then.
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