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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2014 19:39:26 GMT -5
At the least I will have someone check on them twice daily, it's the raw feeding I'm worried about, especially if Sophie isn't eating better. She starts out fine, lapping up the duck, but when it gets to the bottom and its just the fibers of duck, she walks away. I've tried giving her a lot more, but then she leaves a lot more. A few times I have spoon fed her, but the stuff drops off the spoon. BTW, what should my next food be for her? Annie absolutely won't eat the rad cat lamb, neither will either of my cats. I could make some more lamb soupie using just 1 oz of liver? I actually saw duck breast in the grocery store today!(didn't buy it tho) Here's the run down on their diets this week: (most pieces of meat are between 1/4-1/3 inch in size) Sun 7/13 AM: 0.5 0z NV rabbit PM ~ 1 0z pork soupie, 10 pieces of assorted meats. Mon 7/14 AM: 0.5 oz NV rabbit and beef, mixed,10 pieces of chicken PM: 0.8 oz NV rabbit, 10 pieces of chicken ***** Tues 7/15******** AM: Annie 0.5 rad cat turkey, 10 pieces of chicken. PM: 0.6 oz rad cat turkey, no pieces (I didn't give her any) *Sophie* AM: ~0.3 oz NV duck. PM:0.4 duck TA DAH!! Wed: 7/16 Annie: AM: 0.5 NVrabbit, 12 lamb pieces. PM:1 oz Lamb soupie,(old stuff, made with 1 oz liver), 15 pieces of chicken Sophie: : 0.4 oz duck, PM: 0.5 oz duck Thurs 7/17, Sophie weighed 1 lb 15 oz today (holding her weight) Annie: AM: 0.5 oz NV duck, 5 pieces of beef PM: 1.0 oz NV duck, 8 pieces of pork Sophie: AM:0.3 oz duck PM: 0.4 oz duck Fri Annie AM: didn't eat anything that I could see PM: ~0.2 oz chicken soupie, 3 pieces of chicken Sophie AM: 0.7 oz duck, but I spooned it to her PM:1 oz (spoon fed most of it) Sat: Annie AM: 3/4 egg yolk, PM: ~ 0.2 oz NV rabbit, 2 pieces of chicken Sophie AM:Sophie got some of Annie's egg yolk when I wasn't paying attention. She's eaten egg before I switched her this last time without any ill effects, and she seemed fine yesterday. She also ate 0.2 oz duck Sun: Annie weighs 2lb 1 oz(gained an ounce maybe) Sophie 1 lb 14 oz ( lost an ounce) Annie AM: 0.3 oz rabbit PM: gave her an ounce of veal soup and 15 pieces of chicken but she hasn't eaten much yet. Sophie AM: 0.2 oz duck (on her own) PM: still eating Is it normal that Sophie's hair hasn't grown back from her surgery yet? Not quite sure what to make of Annie's hunger strike. She seems slightly less active at times, but not so much that I'm concerned. Thanks so much for your guidance!
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Post by mjbez on Jul 20, 2014 20:07:21 GMT -5
Aww seeing Sophie eating her duck makes me so happy! After surgery it can take until the next winter coat for the hair to grow back. So don't panic. Mika's grew back sooner than that but it still took quite a long time. Annie - she seems to be doing well with her pieces most meals! This is awesome! Keep pushing the pieces. She has the odd day where she doesn't eat as much, but overall is getting a good amount of food. Remember, some skipped or small meals are OK. She has no known health issues so she is just eating when her body tells her to. Sophie - I noticed on the meals that you fed Sophie with the spoon she ate a lot more. Is she resistant at all when spoon feeding her? I think it would be a good idea to spoon feed her to get her started on each meal. I would like to see her eat just a touch more. (Again, some days it might be normal for her to eat less, but generally I would guess her to eat a bit closer to an 1.5 oz. *I am guessing this based on what she ate with you and her weight, she isn't a teeny girl) Will the person coming in twice a day be up for a little spoon feeding? If you show them? If not, and she is refusing to eat then they need to give her her kibble. It would be a bit of a bummer but her eating is the most important thing. In terms of what to feed next - what has she eaten before that you don't think she has reacted to? We can try lamb (by adding small amounts to her duck, until she gets used to the taste/ texture) Or we can try something else. *Not pork - since this may be her trigger, we will leave it until the end before trying* Egg- I would whisk the yolk with the egg white - instead of just feeding yolk. The entire egg is the best
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Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2014 21:13:34 GMT -5
Sophie starts out eating by herself, but when the food becomes like a paste she can't get it. I watched her lick and lick for a while with very little food getting in her mouth. I don't think she can bite it. However, I got more duck today but got CAT duck. Didn't read all the ingredients in the dog (sample bags for ~$ 4.00 each) ( no taurine)- it's the last thing. But it really seems like the consistency is a bit different. She still didn't eat all of it tho.
No, definitely not pork! I may try lamb next, make some soup with 1 oz of liver.
If I end up feeding them kibble while i'm gone, do you think it will be a big problem to switch them back? I haven't found anyone yet, but I pm'd someone tonite who has watched them before.
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Post by mjbez on Jul 22, 2014 18:08:32 GMT -5
It won't be a huge deal. Sophie is in beginning stages and did take to it pretty well since she just started back. I think Annie would be OK too, but will she eat kibble now? Make the lamb soup and then once Sophie is good with duck, you can start by adding just a little to it. Try adding a little more water to her duck and mixing it really well. Make it like a gravy, or thinner so that she can just lap it up.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2014 9:55:40 GMT -5
Just re-read your switching thread with Miya- sooooooooooooo jealous! Neither of mine seem to be making much progress. Annie vaccilates between eating small and a bit larger pieces of whatever meat I add or none. Her intake seems to be falling off, I will weigh her later. She does seem to prefer Rad Cat chicken over anything else, I thougt she would take to the RC turkey also but not so far. Last nite I put down a mix of turkey,chicken and 20 pieces of meat but forgot and I think the cat ate it. At least I think it was the cat. I let them out last nite and they made a bee line for the bedroom upstairs, completely bypassing the food. When I checked the food later most of Annies was gone, then I saw the cat. Looking full (because of course she had eaten her food before.) Sophie is just a disaster. Will only eat if I spoon it to her,on the BACK of the spoon. I really don't think she cares for the duck, and if I mix 0.1 oz lamb soupie into it it must become poison. I sprinkled a little Duck Soup (the powdered stuff) on top and she showed a little interest, but not for long. But she does like egg. YAY. Poops for both look good, pee is fine, energy is usual for the two. And I guess I should be grateful (and I am) that Sophie's health has stayed good. Any ideas how to get out of this slump???
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Post by mjbez on Jul 26, 2014 12:02:00 GMT -5
Miya was pretty young, and I had experience at that point and was very pushy with her. I scruff and stuffed, dabbed on nose consistently at the beginning etc. My actual switch with a mentor took much longer. It took me probably weeks to get Kyra to taste soupie without gagging and wretching and throwing a fit. So I do get it. Just remember, you have 2 ferrets eating raw right now, which in itself is a BIG deal. We will get them to where they need to be, but it takes time and lots and lots of persistence. Ferrets are stubborn (don't we all know it), and you just need to out stubborn them! Annie - Since Annie will eat pieces, although not always consistently I want you to try chopping up about an once of small pinky fingernail or so sized pieces. Add to her dish and then use her favorite Rad Cat chicken as a "gravy". It can be thinned if she likes it thinned out but only add enough to coat the pieces. I did this for what felt like a long time with mine until they ate more of their pieces. Sometimes if they have lots of com raw or soupie they will eat around pieces. Soupies are easier to eat and doesn't take work, so if the soupie is enough why not!? Sophie - It may seem like a step back but how does Sophie like being finger fed? How much are you thinning out the duck? Make it nice and thin and try finger feeding (I will admit, I never used a spoon as I found I had better control with my finger. I could dab on gums etc to get them to start (at beginning stages) and towards the later stages could start with my finger then lower it to the bowl so they thought they were still licking my finger but were actually licking their soup. Eventually needed no prompts. If she doesn't like the lamb go back to just the duck for a little bit, get her eating more. Its OK to have her on duck for a while until you feel she is eating more reliably. It's also OK to finger feed her until you feel she is ready to not be. Sophie is older and changes are harder for her. You are doing great. And I know the frustration and feeling like you hit sticking points but you do get past them. For some it just takes longer. Remember - what they are eating now is still better for them than kibble, so that itself is worth celebrating! And of course, Sophie's good health.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2014 22:09:19 GMT -5
Sorry I didn't give you the food update earlier, for a weekend with little to do I was pretty busy. Annie's weight is about the same, 2 lbs 1 oz. Sophie has lost a bit, today she weighed 1 lb 13.5 oz. (down from 1 lb 14 oz). Interesting feeding here, Annie is on another hunger strike, will not eat anything with pieces of meat in it. She doesn't even eat around the meat. But last nite I broke down and put some NV chicken in the cage for the nite, and it was gone this morning. Thought at first she just didn't like the beef that I used even tho she ate it in the past. But nooo, I tried chicken both this morning and tonite and she is ignoring it. So for this past week, Sun 7/20 (Most of these for Sophie are with me spooning it to her or holding her) Annie: AM:0.5 oz NV rabbit PM:0.7 oz chicken soupie, 15 smaller pieces of chicken (1/4 ") Sophie: AM:0.4 oz duck; PM: 0.4 oz duck
MON 7/21 Annie: AM ~0.3 oz chicken soupie; PM 0.5 oz lamb soupie (made with 1 oz liver), maybe 5 pieces of meat Sophie: AM:0.4 oz duck; PM: 0.5 oz
TUES 7/22 Annie: AM ~0.5 oz NV duck; PM More than 1 oz rad cat chicken, 10 pieces meat Sophie:AM ~ 0.3 duck ; PM mixed 0.6 oz duck with 0.1 oz lamb, she ate maybe half with a lot of encouragement
WED 7/23 Annie: AM 0.25 oz rad cat chicken, 5 pieces of meat (out of 10)PM: 0.5 oz rad cat chicken, 10 pieces of meat. Sophie had kibble all day; she got into the cat's in the morning and I caved. We were going to be gone until late in the evening, so I figured this might be better after all
THURS 7/24 Annie: AM 0.4 oz NV rabbit, 3 pieces of meat; PM ~0.5 oz lamb soupie, 5 pieces of chicken Sophie: AM 0.3 oz duck with some lamb soupie (started out as 0.6 oz duck with 0.2 oz lamb) PM 0.5 oz duck and lamb, with me spooning it to her
FRI 7/25 Annie: AM 2/3 egg white and yolk PM Not much. (the chef had prepared 0.9 oz Rad Cat chicken and turkey with 15 pieces of beef.) Sophie: AM the rest of the egg ; PM:0.4 oz duck and lamb
SAT 7/26 Annie: AM 0.6 oz Rad Cat chicken, 6 pieces chicken; PM 1 0z pork soupie Sophie: AM 0.6 oz duck and lamb(0.5 oz duck, 0.1 0z lamb); PM 0.3 oz duck Sat. afternoon I saw Annie with something in her mouth-it was a rather large piece of freeze-dried chicken breast. She was chomping away on it like I imagine real raw-eating ferrets would eat meat. I even tried soaking some in water and she liked that also. So I bought some more. Can I feed her this occasionally? And should I soak it first? I am still clueless about the freeze dried raw stuff. I picked up a sample packet of something for cats a while ago, but when I opened it it was greenish, (like lots of vegetables green) and when I added water to it it just got gooey and gross.
SUN 7/27 Annie: AM 0.3 oz beef pieces, 0.4 oz rad cat chicken of which she ate minimal amount PM 0.4 0z chicken pieces, 0.3 oz Rad Cat chicken- didn't eat any of it, I gave her some NV lamb later before I went to bed and she ate that. Tried scruff and stuffing, she ran over to the corner and spit it out three times. Sophie: AM 0.4 0z duck and lamb, mostly duck still, and still spooning it to her. At this point she will eat a little on her own but then stops. PM 0.4 oz duck,lamb (half and half)
MON 7/28 Annie: AM Nada (and this was NV chicken and chicken pieces). She is still active and looks good, just not eating this stuff. PM Made chicken soupie tonite, Annie is just eating it(11PM)- 0.4 oz chicken pieces with a little soupie for gravy. I watched her eat a few pieces of chicken. It had been down since around 8, but she ran off to play. She does eat often at this time of nite. Sophie: AM 0.5 oz duck, with about a 1/2 teaspoon of turkey baby food mixed in. She actually ate most of it on her own PM: 0.5 oz duck, 1/2 tsp baby food, ate most of it herself and I put another 0.1 oz in her bowl since she seemed to be looking for more. Which is still there. I added the baby food because she has eaten it as a treat from time to time, but I thought it would improve the consistency and palatability of the duck.
So that's it for now, I feel like I've taken a step back with Annie unless she starts eating more, but I am encouraged by Sophie's eating. She seems to be a little more active yesterday and today. Actually was running around with a toy in her mouth tonite. If you can give me some guidance on the freeze dried stuff I'd appreciate it!
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Post by mjbez on Jul 28, 2014 23:28:36 GMT -5
Just saw your update. I'm already in bed so I will look it over thoroughly tomorrow. So the freeze dried - is it powdery when crumbled? Or are you talking about something else? Typically freeze dried can be fed as is or reconstituted with water, which is of course better for hydration. What brand do you have? I'll look it up. I only have freeze dried treats so need to do a little looking. I also am curious how much veggie matter etc it has..
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Post by mjbez on Jul 29, 2014 17:41:12 GMT -5
Annie's eating: Monday - .8oz Tuesday - 1.5+oz Wednesday - .75oz Thursday - .9oz Friday - minimal Saturday - 1.6oz Sunday - minimal Monday - a little
So most days this week she ate acceptable amounts, varying from day to day. However, 3 days she ate very little. That being said, she is maintaining her weight. I wouldn't say you are taking a step back with her at all. She is being a little challenging on the nerves when she isn't eating each meal. Are her energy levels OK? Keep at it with her. I'm curious, have you ever tried giving her a piece of meat? Like a smashed up wing? I was curious when you mentioned her munching away at a piece of freeze dried chicken.
**remind me- how old is Annie again?
Sophie- She is doing excellent! I'm happy that she is eating more, and is eating some on her own! If the baby food helps, by all means use it! You can cut back/cut it out later when confident she is eating well for a good period of time on her own. Her bowel movements have stayed consistent with both lamb and duck? Continue to mix the two, slowly adding more lamb until you can get her eating lamb on its own. (or add a little baby food to it). What would you like to try with her next? You could probably add a different protein to her duck in a few days or so.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2014 20:53:15 GMT -5
Annie is close to 3 now; she has continued with the hunger strike. I tried smaller pieces tonite but with no luck. Altho it is only 10 PM here. I do see poops in the boxes, so I am just a little concerned, but her energy level is pretty much normal. I always think obstruction when I see her not eating. But she does still weigh pretty much the same altho I can't figure out why. Early on I tried a cornish game hen wing once or twice with her but not recently. Why will she eat the freeze dried meat but not the raw?
As far as Sophie, I think I would like to try her on chicken again, or maybe turkey? I could make some turkey soup using turkey thighs and chicken organs. Oh, Duhhh, kept thinking I was forgetting something last nite, and today I realized I forgot to add the crushed egg shell to the chicken soup I made. Can I sprinkle some on top of the soup when I thaw it out?
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Post by mjbez on Jul 30, 2014 20:38:28 GMT -5
Yes you can just add the egg shell after it thaws. I imagine freeze dried has a different taste, and texture. Try crushing (assuming it is powdery? - what brand?) and sprinkle some on top of Annie's food. If you really wanted to get creative you could sprinkle some on a chicken wing (smash it up really well to expose the yummy marrow) and see what she does. Of course this is a bit of a stretch, since she is being a picky girl but you never know. My Kyra fought soup long and hard.. I offered a chicken foot and bam, she was chewing on it like a champ... before she even fully took to soup. So if you have one handy, it wont hurt! Turkey is a good idea with Sophie. You can try feeding it as a stand alone meal. If she doesn't like it, add some to her duck or try adding some of her baby food.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2014 18:42:50 GMT -5
The chicken is an actual hunk of chicken breast. Looks like when you slice a breast to serve it. It isn't crumbly, but will separate into thin strips. I tossed the freeze dried sample I had a while ago. If I want to get some more to try, what would you recommend? Llast nite Annie would not eat her food again, but I had made a ton of lamb/duck which both ate. This morning Sophie ate over 1/2 oz on her own--YAY? Annie ate OK also, but it was duck. I will try with the pieces again tonite.
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Post by mjbez on Jul 31, 2014 18:51:38 GMT -5
I buy orijen dog treats for mine. It is just freeze dried treats. I have crumbled some on top of their not so favorite meal to encourage them to eat. Is anything added to the chicken that you have? It is more like jerky than freeze dried crumbles by the sounds of it. If Annie likes duck or the duck and lamb mix thats fine. Just add some pieces to that. Try to get in the habit of adding it to any meal she eats. I'm glad Sophie is being a little more independent! Keep it up with her.
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Post by mjbez on Aug 2, 2014 22:13:19 GMT -5
Just checking in
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2014 18:49:32 GMT -5
Well, Miss Sophie has become an eating machine! Last nite she ate 0.6 oz of duck/lamb to which I had added 0. oz of baby food. She ate all of that and then ate another oz of duck. This morning I gave her 0.7 oz and she cleaned that up also. Annie just doesn't want to eat any pieces of meat bigger than a large fingernail crescent these days. She will eat a bunch of these, but nothing larger. I got a chicken tonite for dinner and have smashed up a wing. How much should I smash it? I am worried about her eating bone splinters tho. I also bought turkey thigh and have the bone from that. I bashed it with a hammer until I could see marrow, which I took out and can give to her later. Again, some pretty big bone splinters. Will send amounts maybe tomorrow
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