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Post by katt on Feb 17, 2011 13:39:59 GMT -5
Awesome news! Keep giving them the soupie as it is for a day or two, then when we know they will keep eating it (they will ) we will start pushing their little picky envelopes. I am really glad that Mushu is eating it too. Congrats on making the first step of the journey!
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Post by zombieferrets on Feb 17, 2011 14:13:36 GMT -5
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Post by katt on Feb 17, 2011 14:22:37 GMT -5
Can you put the kibble in a closet? For her, perhaps give her a little bowl of kibble out of reach of the ferrets (not sure if you free roam or cage during the day?) and just pour some soupies over it...
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Post by zombieferrets on Feb 18, 2011 0:03:38 GMT -5
They're in a cage when I'm not here/sleeping. She didn't tear open the kibble which I'm really surprised (but happy!) about! I'll try doing the kibble/soup thing and see if she'll give it a shot...okay, just did it. I put a bit on top in the middle and it looks like she's avoiding the soup at all costs and getting the un-souped kibble. Yup, she's still picking through it. I'll let you know if she eats any of the soup!!
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Post by zombieferrets on Feb 18, 2011 3:44:06 GMT -5
Okay so I've been trying to get Farris to eat all night but every time I try and she takes a lick of it she makes a barf noise and refuses to eat anymore! she was the main ferret who loved raw and now she's retching at the taste of it?! What's up?!
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Post by katt on Feb 18, 2011 14:15:24 GMT -5
They're in a cage when I'm not here/sleeping. She didn't tear open the kibble which I'm really surprised (but happy!) about! I'll try doing the kibble/soup thing and see if she'll give it a shot...okay, just did it. I put a bit on top in the middle and it looks like she's avoiding the soup at all costs and getting the un-souped kibble. Yup, she's still picking through it. I'll let you know if she eats any of the soup!! Instead of pouring it over the middle. try pouring it over the whole dish, or even mixing it in like a salad dressing so that the kibble has a very light coating of soup. When she will eat that, then slowly increase the soup. She may still not go for it, I am under the impression that cats can be worse than ferrets for making any diet switch. ;D Do you have access to freeze dried raw? If not check out Stella and Chewey's at Casey's Hidden Pantry. Another way to switch is to go kibble->freeze dried->raw. The freeze dried can be mixed into the kibble as it is still a dry food and more similar in texture to kibble. Then they can be transitioned to all FD by slowly removing the kibble. This way they get used to the taste of raw first, then you can start in on the texture.
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Post by katt on Feb 18, 2011 14:23:35 GMT -5
Okay so I've been trying to get Farris to eat all night but every time I try and she takes a lick of it she makes a barf noise and refuses to eat anymore! she was the main ferret who loved raw and now she's retching at the taste of it?! What's up?! Hmm.... Sounds like a temper tantrum to me! ;D Try giving her a chunk of the raw and seeing if she will eat that. It is possible that she likes the raw but not the soupies, or that she is just throwing a tantrum and needs a little bit to get over herself. ;D Give some chunks a try and just stick to your guns. Like I said before, hunger is the best motivator. Keep me updated on her and let me know how she likes the chunks. If she takes them, just provide chunks and soupies for everyone. How are the others doing? What are your blending into the soup right now (with approximate ratios/amounts)?
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Post by zombieferrets on Feb 18, 2011 20:12:43 GMT -5
Okay I just mixed in some of the soup with Coco's kibbles and after some screaming she finally settled down and ate that. last night I even made the kibble wet and mixed in some raw and she ate that too eventually. Huzzah! Auuuugh Farris! I'm just worried because she was the main ferret that always ate the raw! I've never seen her retch at anything so it's really weird. I'm going to start charting down their weights today and maybe that'll help me not freak out. Everyone else seems to be doing well. Precious, Percy, and Myra have all gone and eaten it on their own. Mitch I haven't seen do it and Mushu I still have to remind but he'll eat it after. I'm pretty positive Mitch is eating it, though, 'cause I know he likes it. Approximate ratios....oy vey! I've been mixing in 2 medallions (which is about 2oz) with a tablespoon of wet and maybe 2 tablespoons of water. I'm mixing the lamb with the chicken and I think that might be part of why some of them are being a bit snotty about it.
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Post by zombieferrets on Feb 19, 2011 5:24:24 GMT -5
Just looked over and Myra's eating some soups. yay! Okay, but the real reason I'm posting is because someone has had some green, gross poops the past few days and I'm pretty sure it's Farris. Since her poops are nasty and she's refusing to eat the soups should I give her kibble/soup like I'm giving Coco? Also everyone (except for the adrenal boy) is losing weight. Mitch and Farris are the only big ones and everyone else seems to be in great shape. Only Mitch, Farris, and Myra put on winter coats but I really don't think her, Mushu, or Percy put any winter weight on so I'm kinda worried that they're losing too. Is this normal when you first switch them over from kibble? Do you think they always put on winter weight even if you can't tell and their coats dont' change? From 10 days ago Farris has lost .25lbs (which is great! She's now at 3lbs and her belly is still huge so weight loss is good), Mushu is the same, Mitch lost .02lbs, Percy lost .14lbs and Myra lost about .25lbs. I'm probably just being melodramatic but figure it can't hurt to ask.
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Post by katt on Feb 19, 2011 12:47:18 GMT -5
I just typed a big long reply and it got lost. Like 3 times. Yaay to her eating the soupie covered kibble. I would take the lamb out for multiple reasons. First of all, it is best to start the initial switch with mild flavored meats as they get used to the taste/texture of raw, and add other stronger flavored meats later. Secondly, while I strongly believe that lamb should be familiar to your ferts in case you ever have to feed a gentle-for-the-stomach diet, a LOT of ferrets simply do not like it. Despite the fact that it is one of the few foods that Koda can have, neither of my boys will touch it. This could very well explain why Farris is gagging. Having strange poops is normal for switching and you will probably see them for a little while. Their digestive systems have to adapt to a completely new diet, and this takes time and can cause some off poops. Also, right now they are not getting bones, so their poops will probably be soft to runny until they get bones. Adding pumpkin to the soup ought to help with that some. Also, it is very possible that she has a sensitivity to chicken as well. Just keep a close eye on it, and watch for other signs she is not feeling well like sleeping too much. Again, totally normal for the switch. Kibble fed ferrets have to eat more and are usually slightly overweight. Think of herbivores. Plants are very low in protein, but they still need a LOT of protein to build and maintain muscle and other body functions, so to get the protein they need they have to eat a LOT of plant matter. It is the same concept with kibble - this results in extra calorie intake that goes to weight gain. You should notice many changes as we go along. their fur will change to become sleeker, softer, and shinier, and it might change color, they will lose weight and then begin to put on muscle mass and gain more muscle tone giving a sleek, toned look instead of that soft pudgy look. Their teeth will be cleaner, they will have more energy and be able to sustain it longer as well.
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Post by katt on Feb 19, 2011 12:47:46 GMT -5
I have more to add but work is about to get busy and I didn't want to lose my post again! I will post again a little later.
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Post by zombieferrets on Feb 21, 2011 2:52:16 GMT -5
So I still haven't seen Farris eat any soup. I tried giving her Coco's mix of soup with kibble but she won't even touch the kibble if it has any soup on it. otherwise everyone else is doing fine and happy to eat the soup on their own. I've been putting less water in too. It's funny watching Mitch run back and forth with chunks of raw to eat it elsewhere. weirdo!
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Post by katt on Feb 21, 2011 3:20:26 GMT -5
Did you take the lamb out? Sherry said that thegreen poops could be from stress and suggested making a cooked soup. So get some chicken breast and boil it, then blend that some kibble, and some water - you can also add meat baby food and a little pumpkin - into a soup. Try that and see if she will take it. Keep going with everyone else. If you can giver her a separate feeding time so that the others don't regress that would be good... If they are running around with the chunks, see if they will eat them. If they will then start giving them small chunks with just a little soup over them like gravy.
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Post by zombieferrets on Feb 21, 2011 3:26:54 GMT -5
I offered her just chicken and just wet and she snubs it all. The only thing she'll eat is kibble and I only gave her a little bit last night. Not sure what to do... Everyone else is fine. Mitch is eating the chunks, he just prefers to do it elsewhere. Same with Myra.
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Post by katt on Feb 21, 2011 3:50:54 GMT -5
Try the cooked soup. Be sure to mix some kibble into the soup as one of the soup ingredients.
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