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Post by katt on Jan 13, 2014 23:32:24 GMT -5
Hmmm hopefully they will start eating on their own soon. Are they eating pretty willingly when hand fed, or do you think they are resisting the switch a bit? There are potato Chunks in the canned food? Ugh. *grumbles obscenities about kibble companies* It's been 13 hours since you posted this so I'm guessing you may have already tried raw-only for them today. If so, how did it go? Did they eat it okay? Normally I would like to see them sit on this protein for a few days and get them eating on their own, but given the low taurine and low fat content of rabbit I think that as long as they are handling the meat well digestive-wise, it would be best to try out another meat for some organs. Do you have any taurine powder by chance? If so I would go ahead and supplement them in the meanwhile. Rabbit's taurine content is next to 0, and it's not a bad supplement to have on hand anyways. After they have been eating raw-only rabbit for about 2-3 days, we should try the next meat. SO it's up to you, but I would suggest pork since you can get pork organs, so that if they are allergic to beef and/or chicken you have an organ to fall back on (assuming they do well with the pork). You could also try chicken too if that is easier since your others won't eat pork. They very well could be just fine with it. I just tend to habitually save the "riskier" meats for later on because if they do have a flare up, it's easier to get back under control if you already have a few safe meats to fall back on.
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Post by Jeremy's Boggle on Jan 13, 2014 23:48:45 GMT -5
They have eaten raw rabbit today with no fight from George & some from Scarlett. I feel like most of the resistance is from being moved more than eating a new food or they would have happily eaten the canned on their own before I started switching. Our regular out time schedule has been disrupted by some home improvement, my daughter's birthday, friend & family drama. So I feel like the depression will improve with our regular out time schedule. If the cold being passed around the cage doesn't get them 1st.
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Post by katt on Jan 14, 2014 0:53:02 GMT -5
Okay, that is good. Not that they are stressed, but that they aren't resisting the food for its own sake at least. I hope they don't get sick. Let me know if you want to try pork or chicken next. How are their poops doing? Still a little seedy? With the stress of moving I would expect them to probably be a little off, but since we haven't changed proteins hopefully they won't be too disturbed GI-wise.
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Post by Jeremy's Boggle on Jan 15, 2014 0:24:53 GMT -5
There where some off poos in the cage today that might have been theirs so I have them separated for the night so I can be sure of what I'm seeing. Mostly it looks like they are still trying to move the potatoes out of their systems. I may need to do a bit of pumpkin to help move them out. Is that something that is ok for them? The only poo in the box so far is George's & it is small for him with some seediness but not as much as before. They both did better with their eating today.
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Post by katt on Jan 15, 2014 1:29:17 GMT -5
There where some off poos in the cage today that might have been theirs so I have them separated for the night so I can be sure of what I'm seeing. Mostly it looks like they are still trying to move the potatoes out of their systems. I may need to do a bit of pumpkin to help move them out. Is that something that is ok for them? The only poo in the box so far is George's & it is small for him with some seediness but not as much as before. They both did better with their eating today. Ugh poor things. Who would a dog or cat or ferret ever need potatoes? SMH Pumpkin should be fine. If that isn't helping, you can try a little Vaseline. Keep me posted. Hopefully they clear everything out faster now that they aren't getting any more of the canned.
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Post by katt on Jan 15, 2014 1:31:03 GMT -5
Are their poops hard at all? Are they straining?
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Post by katt on Jan 15, 2014 1:49:54 GMT -5
Okay so I was talking to the other admin bc I've never heard of a ferret being constipated from potato of all things before. lol Heather suggests treating it as if they have a blockage. Pumpkin+Vaseline alternating until they are pooping nice fat orange and vaseline poops.
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Post by Jeremy's Boggle on Jan 15, 2014 9:43:20 GMT -5
Okay so I was talking to the other admin bc I've never heard of a ferret being constipated from potato of all things before. lol Heather suggests treating it as if they have a blockage. Pumpkin+Vaseline alternating until they are pooping nice fat orange and vaseline poops. I'll get started on this & let you know how they are doing this evening.
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Post by katt on Jan 15, 2014 12:24:38 GMT -5
Okay,'I'll keep an eye out for updates.
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Post by Jeremy's Boggle on Jan 15, 2014 22:09:31 GMT -5
No good orange poos yet. Still working with them.
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Post by katt on Jan 15, 2014 22:34:36 GMT -5
How are their poops? They must be really backed up poor things. Are they straining at all? Meanwhile, how are they doing with eating the raw grind? You may try making a soupie out of it until they start passing the pumpkin. Extra hydration helps lube things up and push things through, and it will be that much easier to digest. Do you have any slippery elm on hand? You may want to get some if not just in case this causes a flare up. Being backed up like that can cause GI irritation. Carafate would work as well. Poor babies
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Post by Jeremy's Boggle on Jan 16, 2014 0:00:22 GMT -5
Small but firm. They are straining some but not awful. I'll make their raw into soup for them. The essiac tea I have has slippery elm in it & I also have carafate.
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Post by katt on Jan 16, 2014 0:54:59 GMT -5
Okay, hopefully you won't need them, but they are good to have on hand.
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Post by Jeremy's Boggle on Jan 16, 2014 18:35:01 GMT -5
Their poos are starting to look better & some of the pumpkin has started to come through. Both have enjoyed having rabbit soup. Scarlett actually ate most of her's from the bowl.
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Post by katt on Jan 16, 2014 20:05:07 GMT -5
Their poos are starting to look better & some of the pumpkin has started to come through. Both have enjoyed having rabbit soup. Scarlett actually ate most of her's from the bowl. Oh yay! And good girl Scarlett! (dance) That is great. As soon as their pooping issues stabilize, let's go ahead and try the next protein. Ether pork or chicken meat, and as long as they don't react to that, follow up in ~2 days with hearts and organs of that meat, if that works for you.
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