Urine odor smells like bad B.O.?

[Fathym]

Merry Meet, Ferret-folk! I've been silently stalking your forums for a few months now. I haven't joined simply because I'm not that good at keeping up my activity level on forums! but now I have a burning concern and don't know who else could possibly help me, so I turn to you~

We added two furbabies to our home back in September (Dexter and Tesla - both males around 9-10 weeks old at the time, so now between 7-8 months old). They've been on raw since then thanks to the mass amount of knowledge accumulated here. I think I waited no more than 3 days after bringing them home to discontinue their Marshall's-puke by switching them almost cold turkey to a new soup of Stella & Chewy's freeze dried (for cats; less veg!) They took to it like fish to water~

Over the last few months they've mostly been getting fresh, raw, hormone-free chicken meat from a local processor with a mix of Vital Essential's brand frozen raw chicken and turkey patties and Stella & Chewy's freeze dried (chicken, duck, turkey.... they'll eat almost anything). I also put a small squirt of Grizzly brand salmon oil in their dish every meal. Occasionally some pumpkin. We haven't been able to get them to eat whole organs yet, unfortunately. Still working on it, though one of the two LOVES chicken necks!

Anyway- my concern is this:
I've been noticing a very strong odor from their cage more recently, I'd say in the last 3-4 weeks. It's been getting stronger and it took me some time to pinpoint it as their urine.

This past week, the smell has been significantly stronger and one of my boys - Dexter, a standard sable - had a very red weewee tonight and it smells like strong body odor. Exactly what I've been smelling in their box. His white brother, Tesla, doesn't seem to share these symptoms. Redness or smell, so I'm convinced it's just Dex.

Now I read on a thread in here about the urine smell of raw-fed ferrets being compared to battery acid, but I must admit I don't know what battery acid smells like so couldn't compare it. It very well could be that and completely normal....

I'm asking you folk before rushing my guy to the vet because I've also read about all the different smells and textures and inconsistencies that feeding raw causes in ferrets (like tarry poops and such) and I'm hoping (before I rush to the vet) that someone on here will say, "Yup! Completely normal!"

I'm also concerned that my vet who is not enthusiastic about me feeding any of my pets raw isn't going to be of any help due to her lack of knowledge. Unless, of course, it's an infection. In which case he may need an anti-biotic?

So what do you think? Could it be an infection? Or a side-effect of the salmon oil or possibly something else in their diet....?

Thanks for your time! You guys are great and I love this forum~!

[Sherry]

First, some more info. How is the behaviour otherwise? Appetite, energy levels, pooping, peeing, drinking, etc? Is there any sort of straining in the litter box?

[Fathym]

Completely normal on all accounts. Both boys using the litter box accident free except for when they are protesting its cleanliness. A full change of the litter puts them back on track. Lots of pee in the box and as long as a pale yellow is a normal color(?), then it's normal.

Activity level is definitely not lacking. Nothing out of the ordinary there ;D

They both are scratching quite a bit, but I've been attributing that to the exceptionally dry winter we're having here. And the one I'm concerned about hasn't been caught licking/biting or scratching as his personal area.... so I can't say it's bothering him (just me?)

One of the times I picked him up, he had obviously just peed somewhere (hopefully back in his cage....!) and the skin in that little bare spot just above the boy's privates (ya know?) was also a little red. That seems to have faded since then to normal flesh color but his little dingdong is still as red.

[Heather]

You mention a diet of mostly chicken (raw) and chicken and turkey patties and a mixture of freeze dried proteins. How much chicken are they eating in a week? The reason why I'm asking is that there has been complaints that "some" ferrets with a high chicken or poultry diet have rather strong smelling litter boxes. It's not that they're allergic per say, just that they're sensitive and it comes out with a stronger odor. I have a wee girlie who's urine smells quite strong when she has consumed a few chicken meals in a row. She doesn't have a strong smell if I remember to switch up the meals and not give her back to back chicken.
This doesn't occur with rabbit or beef....it's just the chicken. It's just a thought.
ciao

[Fathym]

I appreciate the thought! It's exactly why I came here.

I will certainly consider it as right now they are getting quite a lot of chicken... They did just have 4 days of turkey but before that, at least two weeks of chicken and today, back on the chicken. I've mostly been sticking to poultry proteins as they're easiest for me to acquire.

I'll definitely make a point to pick up something new while I'm out tomorrow!



Still not sure what to make of the redness... He's not swollen but I make a regular habit out of nuzzling their bellies and this is new tonight.

[Deleted]

What kind of litter box are you using? Do they walk in and out of the cage on their own? I'm wondering if he could be rubbing it on something as he crawls over and irritating it?

[miamiferret2]

Heather is right. Try to rotate with different proteins. i think raw fed ferrets seem to have more stinky urine because it is more acidic from the higher protein? someone else jump in here.

[Sherry]

I'd throw some pork and beef muscle meats into the mix a couple of times a week just to switch it up and give them a wider base of proteins as well.

[Deleted]

I'd be very concerned about the red urine...
has this happened more than once?
Even if it happened only one time, your ferret could have an urinary tract infection....redness around the penis could be from licking or dragging due to discomfort. If you go to the vet, they can check urine for bacteria.

-jennifer

[Fathym]

Feb 6, 2013 8:36:46 GMT -5 @yureiavalon said:

What kind of litter box are you using? Do they walk in and out of the cage on their own? I'm wondering if he could be rubbing it on something as he crawls over and irritating it?

Oh! you're absolutely right We did make them a new litter box out of a rubbermaid bin which my hub cut a side out to make it low enough for them to get in/out but they DO drag their bellies, the edge may be too rough... I can't believe I didn't think of it. Thankyou!!

Between the litter box and switching up his proteins, I'll just keep an eye on him and hopefully that's all it is! I'm planning on picking up some beef this afternoon...

Any objections to venison or lamb?

Thank you all so much for your input!!

[Heather]

Both are excellent protein sources....introduce both (not necessarily at the same time ;D) The more proteins you feed the more likely you will cover all their dietary needs
ciao

[Deleted]

You may have to mix new proteins in with old ones they know for a while to get them to accept the new ones.

Maybe try sanding the litter box edge down?

[Fathym]

Update~!

We sanded down the edge of the of the litter box and tried to make it as smooth as possible.... Dexter must certainly have been dragging belly, because the redness has subsided! (woo!) I can't believe something so simple eluded me

He's still a smelly pee-er but I did pick up some lamb, beef and venison the other day per your recommendations and have been mixing them in with the chicken to ween him over to the taste of the new proteins (trying lamb first).

I'm so grateful for everyone's input - you guys definitely helped me help Dex! Thank you all

[Sherry]

Isn't it great when the solution is so simple And it's easy to overlook.
So what does he think of his new proteins?

[Fathym]

It certainly is a relief!

They've been getting a finely ground lamb/bone/organ blend the last five meals. I was mixing chicken breast in to get them used to the taste plus their usual smidgen of salmon oil. First meal, they snubbed the whole dish. Second meal, I plopped a good piece of chicken in the middle so they had to at least taste some of the lamb while they fished out the chicken. Third meal I mixed the chicken and lamb a bit more. Fourth meal more lamb, less chicken. Tonight??? Just lamb and they both ate it all!!

I'm going to do lamb for a few more days before trying the next new protein (beef).

Dexter's pretty good about new stuff. If he doesn't go for it immediately, it doesn't take long before he'll give it an honest try. So I'm pretty happy right now n_n