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Post by katt on Jun 15, 2013 23:19:35 GMT -5
Let me know how they like the bigger pieces. Keep working on getting them to eat organs plain too.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2013 23:32:02 GMT -5
Okay! Will do! My computer hasn't worked well the last few days....so I haven't been on much. I have an appt with the genius bar at the apple store tomorrow morning. Hopefully I can get that darned thing up and running better. I took Mickey for his 2nd lupron shot today.... he cried and I lost it!! Sat their balling my eyes out at the vet. Omg hehehe then took him to a park up there and let him run around before we drove home. Tonight took the babies for a bike ride to the park and let them play in the big field in the back. What a fun day! Now back to chopping and bagging!
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Post by katt on Jun 15, 2013 23:53:04 GMT -5
Aw little baby! He will be fine. Haha Have you considered Des instead of Lupron? It's a lot cheaper in the long run and far fewer jabs.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2013 1:40:33 GMT -5
I know! Poor little guy! My vet usually does two lupron shots first to see if there is any improvement before going to the expense of the implant. He's getting his implant two week from today. So glad because I'm tired of driving that far all the time! Hehehe
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Post by katt on Jun 16, 2013 13:42:52 GMT -5
Oh that's right, I remember now. Sorry.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2013 20:39:04 GMT -5
That's okay! Hehehe you talk to a lot of people! Lol
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2013 0:30:14 GMT -5
Checking in! Computer is in the shop now and its harder than heck to type on this nook! Ugh..... Anyway....bigger chunks are def slower. They turn their noses up and walk away. This mornings breakfast was half chicken hearts and half turkey breast. Bigger chunks this time and most were gone when I got home. Also this time the hearts were cut in half....much larger portions than they have had previously. Only about 6 heart halves were left and maybe 2 turkey pieces. I asked on the forum, not thinking that this might be food related, but Yogi's whiskers are really short. The concensus was not enough fats and oils in the diet. Tonight I tried giving them straight salmon oil on a plate....this time they loved it! Funny how it takes a few times and they change their minds. At least on a plate I know how much each one gets...and Daisy doesn't hog it all.
So we are working on bigger chunks, a better balance of bones and meat and now getting enough fat in the diet. I'll be incorporating more fatty beef into their diet as you suggested, and maybe bring in more chicken with skin and fat on it. They also don't seem to have a problem with the pork button bone, might be a good time to introduce some other fatty pork meats? Now that I think about it the meat they have been getting is mostly pretty lean. I did hesitate on the oil because it gave them runny poos....but this was the first few times they had the salmon oil.
Hope things are good with you!!!
--C
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2013 21:57:24 GMT -5
I just caught mickey hiding the hearts. I guess its going to have to be smaller chunks of those for a little while. Time to rethink dinner for them again. Is it always hard to get them to eat hearts? They really do seem to hate them.
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Post by katt on Jun 19, 2013 0:32:26 GMT -5
I keep trying to reply on my phone but work has been busy and the new forum site I can't see previous posts while typing a reply so I keep losing track of what I needed to say when I get interrupted. Fat. Yes, ferrets' primary metabolic energy source is fat so it is an important part of their diet. I don't know that their whiskers would be affected just yet, but raw fed ferrets often tend to have longer whiskers... Pork is a great fat source, as is duck. Heart and organs are much stronger flavored than other meats. It can take them a lot longer to accept. How are they doing on organs? Better than hearts? (Usually it is the other way around haha). Try making a heart-only purée. No other ingredients, just heart and some water. Start with a super small batch; if they are still unsure, add a little chicken breast to the purée until it is diluted enough to be "acceptable." Then work on decreasing the muscle and increasing the heart to get them used to the Flavor of the heart. They are eating chunks, so texture obviously isn't the issue.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2013 1:35:17 GMT -5
I can't see previous posts on this Nook either. Its hard to remember what I was going to ask or say!
Heart soup is a great idea! I knew you would know what to do! still no problems with liver or brains, although the bigger liver chunks were not eaten. They seem to be a little off their food the last few days...but it has been rather warm of late. No one seems to want to eat on their own. And they all have lost a little weight. Mickey only a few grams from last months vet visit, Daisy has lost about 15 grams since 6/2. Yogi has too but I haven't had a chance to weigh him....going to do that tomorrow.
Taking another trip to the asian market on Saturday. I'm going to get some duck to add some fat to their routine. Yogi hashad shorter whiskers most of the time he has been with us....but he is so plush and soft that I wondered if he just naturally had shorter whiskers. But then I saw the picture from the shelter when he came in and they were pretty long. Might he still be having transitional issues, I wonder? He was surrendered in mid to late september, we got him first week of oct (just after the quaranteen period). He was with us 5 months before we started the raw switch. I don't know....but I'm going to try increasing the fat to see if that helps him.
Thanks again for all of your advice!!!! Not sure what the heck I would do without you!
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Post by katt on Jun 19, 2013 3:31:31 GMT -5
Hmm can you please post some profile pictures of them so I can see how they look with the weight loss just to be safe? One from directly above would be most helpful as you can see the side lines and hips. How are they all doing energy wise other than the heat? It has been super hot here too, we aren't used to these temps! I feel like loose, light clothing is borderline unbearable - I can only imagine having FUR! haha That's great they will take the organs. Usually they like the heart ok but not organs, your guys are backwards on these two! LOO Also, I forgot to ask - what type of heart are you feeding again? Chicken heart is much more mild than say beef heart (pork is somewhere in the middle), they may take to the chicken easier. It's one of Koda's favorites. Side note - do you guys have New Sagaya down there for Asian markets? I forget where in WA you live, is it close to Seattle? We will be moving there in a year so I'm already brain storming in vets and ferret friendly housing and such. And parasites since we don't have any to speak of up here...
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2013 9:45:32 GMT -5
I'll try to post picts but with my computer out of commission, I'm not sure how to get them off my camera. I'll check out my husbands computer tonight to see if he has the right connection.
I haven't heard of that asian market....I go to the great wall mall in Kent. I'm in Auburn, about 25 miles south and east of Seattle.
So far I've only tried chicken hearts lol...oh lucky me...they hate them!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2013 9:50:11 GMT -5
Energy wise, the mickey gets too hot and will only play for a little while...hes in his winter fur, poor thing. Yogi takes time to get going but that's pretty normal for him...but he doesn't seem to have the desire to play as much, although he does stay up exploring...just not really running. And daisy runs everywhere. She seems the same.
Gotta run to work, I forgot the employee who is supposed to open the office is out. And now I'm late hehehe
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2013 18:57:57 GMT -5
We have some decent vets in our area. I go to one down south by me for check ups and the regular shots.....rabies and distemper: www.vcahospitals.com/covington They have two ferret specialists but they don't treat the adrenal disease. There is a great vet/ surgeon up north that handles those things: www.eaeamc.com/staff.asp I found both of these because the shelter that I got all my babies from also goes to them. I'm still at work right now and it's so nice being able to type on a keyboard rather than that darned Nook! Typing on that thing is so hard! My husband can get picts off my camera on his computer so I'm going to take pictures tonight and upload them. How do I stop getting the error that I hit my limit for photos? I got that last time after like 3 pictures. Thanks!!!! -C
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Post by katt on Jun 19, 2013 20:44:02 GMT -5
You can't load images as attachments, you need to do it via another site. Load them onto FB or Photobucket, imgur, Flickr, something like that and cross link it via the image location link. Unfortunately with the new pro boards we have a limited attachment space for the entire forum and the only way to increase it is to make it a paid forum. Try the heart soup. Let me know what % heart they accept for the soup, and I can tell you how often to give the soup to start. You might try a different type of heart too, perhaps they would like beef heart better. You just never know with these guys. Haha As for their energy level, are you Certain they are all eating? How hot is their room? Is there any way to cool it down? I would suggest freezing water bottles and putting them in old socks. Put 1-2 of those in their cage in the morning, it will give them something to cool down on. You can also offer their food frozen or partially frozen. My boys love frozen meat. Koda is a huge fan of mousicles in particular. Haha It's good to offer food in different ways anyways for mental stimulation.
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