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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2014 23:34:53 GMT -5
Now THAT's more like it! I just hand-fed them again and they all ate like champs. I brought up 4 ice cubes' worth and between the three of them they polished off 3/4 of it. They all ate good amounts of it too, including Draco. I fed Eris a bunch, put her in the cage and fed Discordia a bunch, and then fed Draco but he didn't want that much. I let him down on the floor to play and ended up feeding the girls a bit more by sticking my finger through the bars of the cage with food on it, and after they ate a bunch more I grabbed Draco again after he'd had a bit of playtime, and he ate a bunch more. I'm so pleased with how they're progressing.
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Post by Sherry on Sept 13, 2014 9:21:05 GMT -5
Definitely time to move them to eating on their own consistently Also time to start adding in some slivers to the soup! Since they are doing so well I'd start with about 10% slivers, 90% soup. To get them eating on their own start them in the cage using a spoon for them to eat from and just keep lowering it to the dish and moving it aside. You can do the same with finger feeding if you prefer.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2014 0:11:00 GMT -5
Well, I fed them more soup tonight (though the soup I've been giving them is way too thick to actually be soup), just because I had it made up in the fridge, but I have to thaw more tomorrow (and I have it packaged up as 5 chicken thaws, 2 hearts and a small piece of pork liver to one ziplock) so tomorrow I will save back some of it to leave as slivers. Tonights results were right on par with the past few days... though I did half feeding off of a spoon in my lap, and then half with the bowl in the cage.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2014 0:45:19 GMT -5
Despite Discordia being a bitey little brat today, I managed to weigh her without getting bitten again (after the 3 times earlier). So I have weights for the end of their first week... Eris - started at 905g, now 911g. +6, not surprising considering she's taken the easiest and best to it Discordia - started at 909g, now at 876g. -23g, but she's still super healthy and normal looking so unless she continues to lose like that, I won't worry too much. Draco - started at 949g, now 860g. OMG. He's lost .2 pounds. Obviously I need to make much more sure he takes in a good amount. Honestly I'm worried about him - his hair loss has increased, in some areas he's super boney, and he seems to do nothing but sleep. But he's so not interested in food when I try to feed him. Honestly, I'd hand feed him every day if I had to, but he gets so darn squirmy and loses interest pretty quickly. They all ate pretty well tonight, though they all balked when they got to the slivers I left in their food. I think I'm going to keep them on the goopy soup I've been feeding them, and work on getting them to eat on their own before I make any more changes. Also, with Draco's hair loss, I'm considering knitting him a sweater, especially since the cold season is about to start. Am I crazy?
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Post by Sherry on Sept 15, 2014 9:23:36 GMT -5
Is he currently being treated for adrenal disease? Because that sounds like the issue.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2014 10:49:35 GMT -5
No, and I should have mentioned he's BEEN to the vet recently. The vet was all "I'm not too worried, let's wait and see" and when I insisted they look into bringing in the implant for him, they wouldn't. The closest vet I can find that will do the implant is 5 hours away in Prince George - the rescue I got the girls from gave me the name of 2 there that will do it. I'm going to start calling around for cost and stuff.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2014 0:54:17 GMT -5
Well frak. I was corresponding with the rescue group that I got my girls with, since they are actually the go-to for the Des implant in this area, and she suggested checking his blood sugars too, for insulinoma. I just did (I have a one-touch glucomonitor for myself), and his levels were at 65. Not good for a fasting ferret. So he's probably got both adrenal AND insulinoma, which is what his brother had, and we lost him to. Discussing options with hubby right now, but considering his age (he's at least 5-6 already, and was raised on Friskies kitten food, so a lifetime of garbage), and his frailness already... it's likely going to mean just keeping him as comfy as possible. Anyways... they're all eating pretty well just like the last few days. Definitely going to stick with this stage for a while longer before I try slivers again.
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Post by Sherry on Sept 16, 2014 2:00:45 GMT -5
d*mn. Sounds like he is definitely both insu AND adrenal. Can you get lupron for him through the shelter? A three month trial with effect should convince any vet. As for his insu(and yes at 65 it is pretty definite), pred is usually first line and diazoxide second.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2014 11:24:58 GMT -5
I don't think the rescue deals with Lupron, only Des implants.
Now I have the problem that there are no vets in town that will deal with any of this. Argh. It makes me wonder what the other ferret owners here do.
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Post by Sherry on Sept 17, 2014 9:13:35 GMT -5
Ask the shelter who their vet is. Also they should be able to let you know where to get lupron. Des only came onto the market recently.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2014 10:28:28 GMT -5
The rescue is suggesting the course of "take ferret + copy of Ferrets for Dummies + blood glucose reading to vet and demand they start him on Prednisone for the insulinoma", and once blood glucose reading is back to normal, try a melatonin supplement for the Adrenal. I ordered a copy of Ferrets for Dummies yesterday, should be here by Friday, then I'll get him to the vet ASAP after that. Plus keeping going on the raw diet, of course. And I laid the smackdown on my husband last night for bitching about me wanting to take the ferret to the vet (he sees them as disposable pets like mice, which pisses me off to no end). We got some other financial stuff sorted yesterday too though, so there won't be any problems when I book Draco his vet appointment.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2014 10:37:44 GMT -5
Also, when I had to have Skadi put down, I booked in with the first vet who had an appointment, and it wasn't the vet who says she's interested in exotics, it was the clinic's youngest and newest vet... and I really liked her. So when Discordia needed the botfly removed, I specifically asked for the same vet so I could see her under better circumstances... and she was fascinated by the botfly AND by the ferret, and was gushing all over Discordia. I think I'm going to continue to ask for her so I can try and encourage an interest in ferrets... maybe I can get her to learn about them so we can have an experienced ferret vet in Fort St. John. I can hope, anyways.
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Post by Sherry on Sept 18, 2014 9:05:33 GMT -5
Continuing to see her is a good idea. I will find some links later for you to pass to her. While melatonin can help the very early stages it really does little to slow adrenal tumour growth. That needs des or lupron.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2014 13:44:13 GMT -5
This past weekend was horrible for me (my parents were visiting... my ferrets were called rats repeatedly, grrrrr) and while I got a couple of raw feedings in, I had to supplement with kibble so they wouldn't starve, and I had no time for posting.
My copy of Ferrets for Dummies arrived on Friday, and I have a vet appointment for him for Thursday afternoon. I'm going to go in there armed with the book and his blood sugar readings and get him on pred. Then we'll tackle the adrenal.
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Post by Sherry on Sept 23, 2014 8:37:35 GMT -5
Not a problem- and good for you! I find people have to speak for their ferrets far more than many other pets.
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