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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2014 17:46:38 GMT -5
Everyone was fed 2oz tonight. Ty was the only one who ate most of it all by himself!!!!! That’s my boy!
Charlie did good too but I spoofed hm. He ate about 3/4 of it, again with a little baby food.
Linus, ughhh, he’s giving me a run for my money. I put his food in the den I made him last night. It’s just a box placed upside down with a hole cut in the side. It’s dark and private and it was suggested on the holistic ferret forum. He did go in and take a few bites but that was it. So, after I finished feeding Charlie I grabbed him up and spoofed him. He was just shoveling it in and eating large pieces. What’s his deal? I think he’s playing with me. I know he can do it all by himself but he doesn’t want to. Maybe he’s enjoying the special attention and kisses from me. He ate a between 1/2 & 3/4. Not bad.
Saw a couple of flees on them so everyone got a bath tonight. Linus loves a bath, well, he just loves water period. The other two act like I am sending them to their death. Lots of drama.
As a reward I took Linus and Ty out in the yard to play. Charlie had already gone for a nap. I was nervous with the two of them and just me. I was afraid they would go in opposite directions and in hard to go places but they were good. They dug in my garden bed, dooked in the grass and played in the falling leaves. It was fun. Now everyone has nestled in for a nap and it’s time for mommy to eat and relax.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2014 15:35:16 GMT -5
Well yesterday I was a wreck b/c Charlie lost a little weight. I've been feeding him about every 4 hrs and adjusting the BM as we go. I've also started a blog about my switch. gfountain suggested it, so I did. I'm adding more detail there and all my poo pictures that I've taken. I spent the better part of last night and today researching about fatty/seedy poops and what they could mean. These were the 3 themes: BM deficiency, an bacterial infection, or IBD and a problem with chicken. I thought that I would start with the BM b/c it's the simplest. I've taken notes and pictures of every poop Charlie left me today. Here is the link: ferretsgonewild.wordpress.com/2014/10/11/poop-diary/I also adjusted my recipe and I found an error. I added only 2 hearts (not 1ounce) and I had used to little BM since adding the slivers. Gfountain caught that mistake. Today's recipe 8oz chix thigh 2oz chix liver 1oz chix heart 1tsp of BM Ty and Linus both ate much larger chunks today about the size of a nickel. So proud of them. Linus needed some coaxing to get them in his mouth but once they were in he ate them. Ty same thing but he eats the smaller chunks with no problem at all. I'm going to keep reducing the soup and adding more slivers. I'm trying to not push them so hard but I don't have a problem pushing them if that what it takes. Linus ate just about all of his 2 oz and Ty did as well. So about 4oz total for them in total so far today. Oh I also added a pinch extra BM to the slivers as suggested to balance it out.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2014 16:50:05 GMT -5
I found myself giggling as I looked at all of the poops. I don't think even new parents to skin kids are as interested in Poops as all of us crazy Ferrents. I know that when my children were small, I wasn't this interested in their Poos.
You're exactly right about the three causes for those type of poops. It's the smell that makes me think bacterial overgrowth. However, I have no experience with IBD. We need Sherry or Katt and this is a bad weekend for them.
I believe a bacterial overgrowth would be more mucousy and foamy. That leaves the IBD, and like I said, we need Sherry or Katt for that.
You're doing good with the slivers. You will make better progress with hand feeding for a little while. I still do a little coaxing here and there. It's early in your switch, so it's okay to spoil them a little.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2014 17:28:53 GMT -5
@poncesmom thanks! You know it's funny you say that the last 2 were foamy. I couldn't find the right word. They had bubbles in them. I guess that's a sign of bacterial growth? I have amoxicillin maybe I should try giving him some of that?
I'm hoping to use the blog as a reference later for my future ferrets. I'm also a very visual learner so pictures really help me a lot and I'm sure someone out there might find it helpful. I was surprised how few poos pics were out there on the web being how obsessed we are about ferrets and their poo. From what I've learned, I can tell a great deal from poo. (Can't believe I said that) but it's true.
Yes, I know Sherry knows a lot about IBD and such. I feel so sad for her. We are never ready to lose a loved one, no matter how prepared we think we are. I've been there. So sad.
Great, I have been spoon feeding them and it good to know that's the right thing to do. How long should I wait in between increases? I don't want to push too hard but I don't want them to stall either.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2014 18:10:16 GMT -5
I really don't know the right answer to tell you about the Meds. I don't see anyone online now, with regular Meds experience. I've been lucky and only had my one sick Ponce and since then, everyone has stayed healthy (knock on wood). Except once when Roamy got sick.
About two weeks after we brought Mika home, Roamy got sick. I posted on the forum and Sherry thought it was a bacterial overgrowth. His poo looked like the ones in your pictures. We had just started switching and we also used FDR. Then his poo turned green and I took him to the vet. The Vet was never clear on whether he thought it was a bacterial overgrowth or ECE. He did take the time to tell me how much he disapproved of raw feeding and free roam. A course of antibiotics cleared it up and Roamy was fine. I wasn't keeping a log yet, so I'm not sure what Med. Roamy was put on.
In your next meal, try slivers of different sizes and see how far they will go. Make some the same size as you have been, make some a little bigger and make some even a little bigger. See what they will take. Don't worry about pushing too hard, they'll let you know if it's too big. Miss Keller is very polite and takes every piece and then quietly places it under the place mat. She accepts and eats some pieces that are small, and some that are medium but at least she is polite and doesn't spit them out at me.
I'm a visual learner also. I find the poop chart a little difficult though, the pictures aren't super clear, like your were.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2014 18:08:42 GMT -5
Charlie put weight back on. Yeah! Poos still aren't great but he's acting normal and eating well. He's back on small slivers. Everyone is eating 3-4 oz a day. Increasing the amount and size of slivers. Ty is best, Linus and Charlie are spoon fed but still eating. So alls good right now.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2014 19:13:32 GMT -5
All is the same. Adding tons of BM to the food and the stools are finally looking normal for raw, I think. Charlie lost a little weight but I'm not too worried about it. He's had a bit more energy lately which is great. Ty's and Linus have been more active and are playing more than usual. They just seem happier and healthier and softer since the switch. All positive things which tells me I know I did the right thing by switching them to raw and all this hard work is worth it. Now if I can just get them to eat chunks then bone it would be perfect. Soups are annoying!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2014 17:52:55 GMT -5
Charlie still has the fatty poops but no longer runny. I just added BM until they firmed up enough. He ate very well yesterday and so so today. I still have a few more feelings with hm tonight so I'm hoping he'll eat more. Ty did fabulous at dinner not so good at breakfast. He is SO lazy and never wants to get out of his warm bed. I have to physically get him up and put him in front of his food. Left chinks in their food this morning and they were not touched. I did not have time to hand feed them this morning so I left it in their cage. However, Ty ate about 2oz of soupie and 10'hand fed slivers dipped in warm water and soupie tonight. So proud of him Linus, is always the first up and ready to eat. Too funny he ate about the same as Ty. The only thing he wants is out of the cage but this morning no time. I try to keep them guessing about when they will be out all day and when I leave them in. He tends to throw a tantrum if he doesn't get his way and well mommy don't lay that game. However, he ate like 15, maybe more chicken slivers Linus who thinks chicken chunks are poison. Maybe it's a sign of better things to come. Maybe..
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2014 16:46:05 GMT -5
Finally got a new scale today the tare function isn't working on my old one. Major pain in the petutie. Still feeding chunks to the ferts. No one ate great this morning so I left it in the cage and there it sat uneaten Fed Linus and Ty 1.5oz each of just chicken chunks with BM and baby food. No one ate great BUT that could be bc they were so excited to be out of the cage, I had to work today and run errands. I can't trust them to not dig in my couch so they stayed in the cage until 3:30. Made Charlie 1pz of soupie with baby food. Didn't eat great either. I'll be trying dinner again when they get up from their nap. Ty went outside today for a half hour and had a blast he dooked all the way around the house, dug in the dirt rolled in the leaves and managed to find the only hole in the fence next door. Little weasel.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2014 17:38:29 GMT -5
Some days they will just be less hungry than others. It's easy to stress over it, but when you think about it, we are the same way.
Since Linus thinks chicken chunks are poison, try slicing a piece into a long thin piece and stand at the sink. Hold him with one hand and run the piece under some hot/warm water. Offer it to him. If he takes it, put him down and see if he eats it or tries to stash it. If he stashes it, let him keep it in his spot. You can either let it get jerkified (a true ferret delicacy) or you can pick it up when he isn't watching.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2014 17:58:52 GMT -5
Oh he does eat them and he eats them well with me shoveling them in via spoon. He's spoiled and I guess he likes the mommy and me time. On his own not so great which just tells me he's stubborn. What else is new? Lol
Yeah, no chicken will be around long enough for it to be jerkified. I have 2 dogs and a cat that will gladly lend a hand. You should see me fighting them off the raw food all night and then running back and forth putting up the dry cat food that Charlie and Linus think is great. Thankfully Ty won't touch it. They all keep me on my toes.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2014 13:24:26 GMT -5
So the last day and a half have not gone so well. Linus & Ty have managed to kick all the baby food off their food and leave the chicken on the plate. Only a few pieces have been eaten. I left the dish in the cage last night and by morning some was gone but most was left. Not only is this a complete waste of food but it's frustrating. I have tried spoon feeding them, hand feeding them piece by piece. I've warmed it under water, I've dipped it in soupie, I've dipped it in baby food. They put the meat in their mouth clean all the baby food off and spit out the chicken. Yup spit it out. I have no idea why one day they scarf it all down and the next ignore it like its poison. I'm using some tough love right now. I've tried everything else. If they are hungry enough they will eat right? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I hate wasting all this food. Charlie lost .3ozs recently sooo. I've been feeding him like clock work and this morning he ate 1.4 ozs all in one sitting its a miracle. He has also gained .18oz back and has been more energetic today. Poops are normal looking so I think I have the right amount of BM now. Also he's back on baby food and soupie mixture with no slivers. I can't have him wasting away so I'll feed him anything he will eat until he puts some weight back on. I'm just very careful with him bc of his age and his adrenal.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2014 18:06:12 GMT -5
So stuck,with the tough love and it worked 90% chicken eaten! Ha victory!! Charlie is doing AWESOME today he ate almost 4 oz. can't remember the last time that happened. All of it on his own no hand feeding... What a way to end the week!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2014 9:40:44 GMT -5
Charlie is doing great now and started eating chunks again yesterday. He's eating about 5-6oz a day and putting the weight on fast. He is also eating every 4 hours which has been time consuming and I'm running out of soupie fast. I am really sick of making it. Linus is still giving me problems. He will only eat chunks if I spoon feed him and even then puts the chicken in his mouth cleans off the soupie and baby food then spits out the rest. So annoying!!! I've tried a ton of ways to get him to eat on his own and be more accepting of chunks but nothing seems to be working consistently. I also catch him trying to eat out of the cat food bowl. He loves it and it's a no no. He does manage to wake up and quietly sneaks to the bowl and then I hear crunch crunch and I run to put it up out of his reach. Charlie does the same thing. However, Ty doesn't even think it's food anymore.. Ty is doing the best but still has his moments with the lick and spit like Linus. Grrrrr but he does go back to the plate and graze throughout the day which is good. I have also been slipping some lamb neck meat into the chunks and they have eaten it yeah!! I'm so sick of chicken and I can't help but feel that they want to chew something harder than mush. Also, Ty is growing hair back on his belly. I have no idea why but it started about 10 days ago. I have heard that it can happen but it will eventually fall out again and never grow back. I'm also wondering if there is another reason why ferts lose their hair other than adrenal. He shows absolutely no signs other than hair loss. He's the most active, smart, no hind leg weakness (scales baby gates with ease) poops have always been normal and eats with gusto. I can't wait to get a mentor. I think this switch is dragging on longer than it should but then again, maybe not. I have been lurking around julesalot switch thread which has been very helpful now that Charlie has insul.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2015 12:30:23 GMT -5
Lay let me give you the cliffs notes. Riot is back on soup. I know I know... Her energy drastically reduced for 2 days in a row and so I caved and made her soup. She's been eating like a pig and I'm going to start again with slivers. This morning they ALL had heart. Is it okay if I don't add heart or liver to riots soup? I'm make organ soup for everyone and she will eat hers with the rest of my bunch? I'll add the bone meal though. Riot and Ty HATE EVOO. Lovely and they act like its poison. Charlie is good. I've had a couple of foaming mouth moment but not scratching. He is also eating less. Season change too? Ty is slimming down and so is Linus. It must be the seasons. Otis and Riot are blowing their coats as well. I'm still making small to large (my large not yours chunks. Linus and Otis handle them fine. Ty still struggles gets annoyed and walks away. I'm not giving in though. He's going to have to figure it out. While I was at the vet today I happen to run into the owners of a dog/cat daycare/bed and breakfast and I discovered they carry Stella a Chevys FDR. Can I feed that to them? I was thinking I could add a couple new proteins to their diet this way - quail, pheasant and duck, I think she had rabbit too. If you don't think it's a good idea can I use them as treats? I need to find something I can bribe Ty and riot with bc they aren't liking anything I've tried so far. Other than baby food and I'm not going there with Ty. He'll hold out for it and moms done with that game.
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