Ferret stopped eating his dry kibble

[Andrea]

I have a ferret that I have had for two months who is about six months old. I had been feeding him Marshall Premium a ferret Diet which he was eating just fine since I got him. Last week he started eating less and now pretty much none at all. He also won't touch the new Evo food I got him. All he will eat is duk soup, his kibble crushed in baby food or duk soup, and he still eats both his Bandits and zupreem dental stick treats. He will lick ferretone off his kibble but not eat it . He is still drinking the same amount of water, and still going to the bathroom, but less than usual with his number two. He also had not seemed that interested in playing with me and my son with our usual play, however he played for hours the day before yesterday with my nanny and younger son and some new toys in his new play pen. He has been alert and sleeping the same so I'm not sure if he is being picky with food, bored and mopey, or sick. Please help. Thanks . 

[Deleted]

Hi and Welcome to the HFF. (wave)

Your little guy sounds like he doesn't feel well. He is drinking water, that's good. At his age, not eating and sleeping more, are signs that he might need a vet visit. We do have a vet list, if you need help finding it, just ask.

Look at his nose and paws. Are they a healthy pink?
Is he straining, when he tries to go poop?
Has he been around any other ferrets?
When you look at his poop, do you see any signs of foreign objects? Could he have swallowed a piece of rubber or blanket?
What color is his poop?
Check his mouth for signs of an ulcer or dental problem. It sounds like he is fine with liquids, but hesitating at the solid foods.

If you can answer any of those questions, it will give us more info to help. If you can post pictures,especially of the inside of his mouth and his poop, that will also help. Just ask if you need help posting pictures.

I hope that we will be able to help, and I hope that you will keep us Updated.

[Andrea]

I'm sorry...his sleeping has been unchanged. His paws are pink and soft, and his nose is pink with brown on it like it always has been. His poop has been varying in color depending on what he has eaten. It has mostly been brown and this evening has had an orange tint, though I gave him a tablespoon of plain pumpkin about four hours ago and he ate a little wet kibble. A mixture of Evo, and Kitten Chow, which he now seems more willing to have a few bites of dry. How should I go about safely checking his mouth? Thanks. 

[Andrea]

Also ! How do I post photos?

[Andrea]

He has also been around no other animals at all. He is our only pet. I'm pretty sure he hasn't eaten anything he should not have. He does not have free roam of my home, and has been given ferret appropriate toys, though he could have eaten newspaper, as it is in the bottom of his cage, and he tears it up usually. He either sleeps in his pet bed or his hammock, and neither of those are chewed.

[Deleted]

Well, he won't like your checking his mouth.
You might try having someone hold him gently, and they you can open his mouth and peek in. Another way to try is to put some olive oil on the palm of your hand and let him lick it. When he is licking the oil, carefully put your finger in the side of his mouth and lift up his chin.

How much playtime does he get? Is he in a cage or free roam? Usually if someone is caged too much, they will be anxious to play and run about. You did mention some new toys, have you checked those for missing pieces?

We use pumpkin as a blockage protocol. Is that why you gave him pumpkin or are you giving pumpkin regularly?

[Deleted]

To post photos, most of us use a photo sharing site like Photobucket. Locate your photo and copy it, using the direct link. Then come back to Quick Reply under this post. Click on the icon that says Insert Image and a window will pop up, that says Insert Image. Erase the blue highlighted http:// that is on the first line. Paste your photo there and click on the bottom Insert Image. Your photo will load, when you hit Post Reply.

I'm not familiar with loading pictures from a phone, but if you need help with that, I will ask around.

[Sherry]

I would definitely have him looked at. And to be honest- if you have to feed a kibble work at getting him on a better one if possible. There is a chart in here, more dooks: holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/125/kibble-fed
Would you consider switching him to a species appropriate diet? At his age it shouldn't be too difficult!

[Andrea]

He is not free roam, he stays in a cage. It's a two story ferret nation cage, though he has been confined to one level the last two weeks for littler training, which he has been doing well with. His time out varies from day to day, and he is always supervised. Typically 2-3 hours a day play, and he also spends time out sleeping in my lap or my sons. He has been out longer the last few days since we got him a large play pen. He spent most all day in there yesterday, and napped in there as well. His toys don't have any pieces missing. He has stuffed squeak toys, cat teasers, a rice dig box, the super thru way tunnel, a crinkle tunnel, bell balls, and we started letting him play in a container of water where he has been snorkeling. He also plays with boxes. I gave him pumpkin today because I was worried that he may have a blockage because that was what I had read about them not eating much, but I'm really not sure. How do I post pics?

[Deleted]

You're in great hands with Sherry. She is our most experienced ferret guru. I posted some instructions on posting pics. Hit home and refresh your page and you should see my instructions.

All my best wishes,
Stef

[Andrea]

Yes, I would be willing to switch him to whatever diet is best for him.

[Andrea]

So, is the Evo Ferret kibble not good as far as kibble goes? That is what I was trying to switch him to the last few days. I would like to feed raw, and have been reading up, but not sure where to start.

[Andrea]

Oh and his mouth appears normal. No strange color or any sores or anything. His teeth look normal also .

[Andrea]

Chester....

[Sherry]

He is adorable! And yes- raw meat bone and organ is what they were designed to eat Please apply for membership and include a note(so I don't reject the app), and then apply for a mentor!