nutrition and HELP!!

[mushyweetbix]

hi my partner and i own 2 ferrets farrah and kimi we live in australia and we were wondering if any one knew where to buy some ferret food in australia as we are having difficulty they are currently living on chicken and egg as that is all they like (we have tried other reccomended things they turn their noses up).. the other issue i have is on saturday our kimi tried to get in the fridge and got her head stuck under the door she was screaming and when my partner got her free she looked very very bad she looked like she was going to pass out or pass away.. we were very scared as our vet is not open on a weekend we had to ring an emergency number he was very vague and said he didnt really no what to do i eventually talked him in to coming in to the surgery and he took a look at her and said he thinks she will be fine it is now tuesday she has lost use of her back legs and sleeps alot.. she is eating and drinking but cant move this means she is having to be washed lots as she is going to the toilet all over herself.. we are really unsure of what to do and how to treat her the vet is useless and does not really want to help us...

[katt]

Oh no! Poor baby! I am sorry I can't offer much in terms of advice other than to say that it sounds liek serious nerve or spinal cord, damage and good luck! Foxfire is a member here and lives in Australia, as is Lozmoz. Can you please tess us where in Australia you live specifically? Then hopefully one of them can recommend a better vet. You DEFINITELY need to start searching for a new vet ASAP!

As for the food, we can help you there! Ferrets impring on their food, so it can be very difficutl to get them to eat new foods. But it CAN be done! We have a great mentoring program here on the site to help people switch their ferrets to a raw diet. It is much healther for them - so them eating chicken and egg is a very good thing! We just need to get them eating a bit more variety, and a proper balance of muscle, organs, and bone. Please read around in the Nutrition part of the forum, and feel free to ask questions. If you don't want to sign up for the mentor program, or while you are waiting to recieve a mentor, feel free to start your own thread and the members here will all help to guide you into getting a better variety into their diet.

Please keep us posted on your little one! And while I am sad that it is under such circumstances, I am very happy to meet you and Welcome to the forum! I hope to see you around!

[foxfire]

Hi there, Welcome to the forum.
I am in Western Sydney, and own 4 ferrets.
Where are you located, I might be able to find you a good ferret vet. Kimi has done some serious damage and needs to see a vet ASAP.
I would like to suggest you ask for a mentor, they will help you get your little ones eating a better raw diet.
I am going to ask a member now to come on and help you make a soupy mix to feed Kimi now as she should be on a softer diet.

[katt]

Ok so to make soupies. It is REALLY easy. Just get some skinless, boneless chicken breast, canned pumpkin (JUST pumpkin - not the pie filling - make sure the only ingredients are pumpkin and water) or get your own pumpkin and cook it up and use that. Then in a blender, mix the chicken, about a teaspoon of pumpkin per ferret, and a little egg if you want. Also add water. BLEND it all up! You can change the thickness of the soup by adding more or less water. Adding in a teaspoon of Olive Oil, Fish Oil, or Salmon Oil is good for them as well - good for coats and fur balls. You can also use boiled chicke, but I would stick with raw since that is what they are already eating.
I would really recommend feeding her the soup as it will be nice and gentle on her belly while she is feeling uncomfortable. Also, look for meat babyfood, and Carnivore Care. These will be good to have on hand if she really starts to go downhill. Usually even the most reluctant-to-eat ferret will eat meat babyfood (meat, meat and squash, and meat and sweet potato are all acceptable, some also use meat and gravy baby foods, but I prefer not to due to the possible sodium in the gravy). The Carnivore Care will add needed protein and nutrients.

As for getting in mroe variety, this soup is the key! You can get them eating this soup and slowly add in other meats, use it as a gravy over other meats to entice them hide chunks of new meats in the soupies, etc. It takes time and patience, but it is very doable to get them eating more foods.

[mushyweetbix]

Thank you very much for your support we live in sa and we are in a smaller country town we have 2 vets neither are very good ferret vets the only ones are in adelaide how does this. Mentor program work? I'm not really sure I understand it again thank you

[mushyweetbix]

Also what about vitamins like ferratone and are they available any where

[foxfire]

What town in SA are you in?
Australia does not have a Carnivore Care as such.
What I use is called Di-Vetalact. It is a puppy/kitten replacement low lactose milk powder full of vitamins & minerals. I always have it on hand for the sick ones.
www.petalia.com.au/templates/prodsublist.cfm?group_no=2117
Please don't use ferratone, it has a very high sugar content, and Di-vetalact will be so much better for Kimi now. You should be able to buy it at most pet shops or try the vets.

[mushyweetbix]

Whyalla we have 2 pet shops and 2 vets will try find some tomorrow Australia is not very ferret friendly... Well not here any in sa any way you would think that if they are going to sell the animal they would supply the correct things for them and vets would know what they are doing..

[katt]

I posted links below. Our Mentoring program pairs you with a signle mentor. You work one on one on developing a diet plan and switching your ferrets to a balanced raw diet. Menots help switch ferrets from kibble to raw, to freeze dried, whole prey, whatever diet you choose. Your mentor will help you figure out what diet you want, and will help you get your ferrets on that diet. They are there to guide you through every step, and answer al of your questions. They will help you get mroe variety in their diet and guide you through adding each new food, as well as getting them started on bones, and ograns. At the end, you submit a week's menu demonstrating that you can provide your ferrets with a balanced diet that has the proper amounts of bone, muscle, and organ with a variety of protein sources. You and your mento make any adjustments needed, and then you officially graduate when your menu is approved. but your mentor is with you every step of the way, and will make sure you are fully prepared and help you with your menu. This can take weeks, or several months, just depending on the ferrets. But it is very worth it. There is no other place where you will find a program like this. Oh and it is of course, totally free. lol All we require is your commitment.

Ok so here is the diet section of the forum:
www.holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=food

Here is the Mentoring Program - fee lfree to read through some of the threads as it will give you an idea of how the program works, and ideas on how you might want to go about working on your ferrets' diet.
www.holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=switch

And here is where you sign up...
www.holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=switch&action=display&thread=61

[foxfire]

You might have to check out the vets in Port Augusta

[mushyweetbix]

Did not even think of that yes will do mind you they are an even smaller town lol

[Deleted]

While spinal injuries are very serious in any animal, some ferrets have been known to regain an amazing amount of mobility with physical therapy and time. Yow need to determine the nature and extent og the injury, which minimally means x-ray - and perhaps some other diagnostics.

Pinching toes and tail tip can sometimes be used to determine whether or not a ferret has nerve transmission to the extremities. But remember any pinched nerve may cause pain in the spine with numbness at the extremities. Soft tissue damage can result in swelling and ultimately a pinched nerve (sciatic pain). Such issues can result when swelling resides.

It's essential that yo u have this injury analyzed with diagnostics since any manipulation/ therapy could result in further injury. Depending upon the nature of the injury, the course of treatment will vary.

Sending ferret prayers and good thoughts of healing your way.
-jennifer

[katt]

Here is a thread on the old forum about a woman who had pretty significant success with her baby. She found a ferret wandering the streets with her back limbs totally paralyzed. While she did not regain full function of her hind legs, she made an amazing recovery and was able to use her legs to walk very well. It is a really inspiring story and a good read. Plus it will give you a lot of info and ideas on physical therapy that you can use on your poor Kimi.

www.holisticferret.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=medicine&action=display&thread=5217

[Heather]

I'm so sorry for your wee one. You've got some really good advice, read through that thread that Katt found you. There is a lot of things that were suggested and worked upon over a period of about 6 months. Hopefully, something in there will help your little one. Keep looking for a vet who might be able to help you too. I've seen a lot of good things with hydrotherapy and that's something you can do in your own bathtub. Good luck
ciao

[katt]

I wanted to add these links...

Info on Spinal Injuries
holisticferret.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=medicine&action=display&thread=6506

Here is someone on the forum having similar problems.
www.holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=vetting&thread=1107&page=1