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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2015 20:58:31 GMT -5
I agree he's being stubborn. A no soup at all for him just tiny slivers of chicken? How many oz? Should I do the same for Linus or go as usual with him?
How often should I check Charlie's BG? Should I do a fasting test or no? The vet did try to look in his mouth but he was being very difficult so we gave up.
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Post by gfountain on Jan 12, 2015 21:18:05 GMT -5
To keep it simpler for you, I'd just do the same meal for both boys. I don't think Linus will protest without soup, will he? Start with a couple of ounces and see how it goes. If they eat it all, give them more. No, don't fast Charlie. He needs his food. I just wanted to know if it was low because that will cause nausea. When is the last time you talked with the vet? What did he/she tell you about increasing meds? I don't want to tell you to up his meds without talking to the vet first. I know the dosage he's on can be increased, but since we're not vets I can't in good conscience tell you to go ahead and do it. No luck getting him to open up even with scruffing? Stubborn boy, lol. It's good that he's still got some fight in him. Give him hugs for me!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2015 9:17:58 GMT -5
I will, poor Charlie. He was at the vets about 3weeks ago. I'll call her today and see what she says. I need to refill his Pred anyway. No luck with the mouth ulcers. He doesn't even open his mouth when you scruff him.
I have no idea if Linus will protest but I'm sure that Ty will but maybe he will surprise me. I'll cut the pieces really small and see what happens. If Linus won't eat can I put some EVOO on it or an egg?
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Post by gfountain on Jan 13, 2015 11:33:45 GMT -5
Sure, add some oil or egg. If you use egg, use either the whole egg or just the yolk. Never feed only the white. Does Ty like egg? We've got to find something that he loves besides soup to entice that boy to eat his chunks! Do you have any fish oil capsules? If so, see if he likes that. What about Ferretone? It's NOT healthy, but if he likes it you can use it to transition him to something better. Ferretone was like ferret crack at my house. Slinkee would do absolutely anything for a lick of 'tone. Fortunately, he wasn't too hard to switch but he still prefers to have his oil from the ferretone bottle rather than from the other numerous bottles sitting strategically around the house, lol. Did you check Charlie's weight again? It would be good to know if he's gained any before you talk to the vet. What does the vet think the mass in his tummy is?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2015 11:50:30 GMT -5
Well we aren't sure but the vet was thinking lymphoma or some other kind of cancer. I actually weighed him this morning and he gained 1.7 oz in the last 9 days. He's eating a ton and I'm almost through the entire large bag of CC which he's eating in 1 week. Yikes! I know that you said this is a complete diet but I am wondering if raw soup is better than CC for his Insulinoma? It's not a cost thing just a what's better for Charlie thing. I just want him to be stable if possible. I upped his Pred this morning to .4. I'm going to call the vet bc I need a refill anyway.
Ty wasn't crazy about egg the first time but that really doesn't mean anything to me. I don't give up easily so I will try the egg first but if not can I do some watered down baby food? He hates the EVOO which we've tried 4 times. I want him off the baby food but right now it's the only known gun in my arsenal. I'm not sure if we have fish oil but I'll look. If not, I can get a small bottle tonight when I pick up his meds. Is there any place to get salmon oil other than the internet? I don't know much about it at all. No ferretone in my house I tried it and no one has liked it.
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Post by gfountain on Jan 13, 2015 12:14:27 GMT -5
Raw is the best. CC is complete, but raw is always better. If you want to get him started on it, just start mixing in a little soup at a time, just like you were doing with the baby food. Is he still eating often throughout the day? Try just dipping Ty's pieces in some baby food and then holding it until he takes it, rather than mixing it together. He's a picky little bugger! He may not like the fish oil either. Mine don't. I've heard of people finding salmon oil locally but I've never seen it around here. Keep working on the egg with Ty. It's really beneficial for lots of reasons. He should eventually learn to like it if you just keep giving it to him. Try giving him just the yolk. My Leon doesn't like the texture of the white, but if I serve just the yolk, he dives in full-face. You're just going to have to out-stubborn one of the most stubborn creatures on the planet!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2015 13:01:16 GMT -5
I just called my vet and she said that she doesn't think we need to up the Pred but I'm not sure I agree with her. However, she's calling in a antibiotic for Charlie bc the tumor on his head, which can not be removed surgically due to his weakened state, exploded. Gross, I know but it is clean and I have been cleaning it out and putting neosporin on it which the vet said is great too! She also said the if he does have ulcers the antibiotic will help with that as well. So, I think I'll keep him where he is med wise and see if that helps with his mouth pawing. He's doing it again today even after I upped his pred to .4. I'm moving back down to .35. She is also amazed that he is still with us. I think she thought he was nearer to the bridge but you know us ferret moms, we don't give up so easily. Charlie is eating me out of house an home the cc is $31 a bag and, at this rate, that's a bag a week. The reason I asked about the raw with Charlie is bc I kept reading on the forum that raw is best for insu ferts. I'll try some soup and see how it goes but I'm not sure how he will do maybe he will surprise me. I think I'll try the egg with him first, if that doesn't work I'll try the fish oil and if that doesn't work I'll try the baby food. He's really testing my patience. If you would have asked me months ago I would have said Ty would be the easier switch but no, right now it's Linus. Go figure they like to keep mom on her toes.
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Post by gfountain on Jan 13, 2015 13:12:01 GMT -5
When is he doing the mouth pawing? Can you pinpoint it to a certain time before or after meds or food? Did you ask her about splitting his dose and giving it 3 times a day instead of twice? Antibiotics will help if there are ulcers. That's good. Poor little guy just has a lot against him! How does your vet feel about the raw diet? It is definitely the best and I'm sure Charlie would benefit IF he'll eat it. He wasn't liking it in his baby food, but maybe he'll take it better in the CC. It's worth a try. Just keep pushing that egg at him. Smear it on his gums if you can. That way he won't be able to just rub it off. Has he eaten any slivers today?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2015 13:56:50 GMT -5
No, I haven't tried anything today with Charlie yet BUT he was eating slivers in soup before he had his seizure. After seizure he wouldn't eat anything raw. I will try introducing some soup into his cc today. My vet isn't against raw but would prefer me getting a commercially produced raw instead. I think she feels that they may not be getting a complete balanced meal. I, however, have all the faith in the world,a with the help of HFF, that the diet is balanced. Well, I'm surprised. I mixed 1 egg yoke into 1oz of very small slivers for each. I let Ty lick the egg off my finger leading his head to the dish and he started eating. However, he was licking around all the chicken slivers I let him go and then he was done but I wasn't and so we had a battle of wills until I was satisfied for the moment. I put him down and did the same with Linus. He too was licking around the chicken so I added some EVOO over the dish. He ate a lot more but not all. Put him down and picked up Ty again. He ate a little more but not much he was half way done. I added some watered down baby food and he ate 90% of his dish and all the yolk. Go Ty! I praised him when he chewed the chicken and at the end I gave him a little treat to reinforce he did what I was asking of him. Picked up Linus again and he finished 99% in total. I am very happy! For tonight, what should I do? I think they can only have one egg a week, right? I can do the EVOO with Linus but Ty, I haven't a clue.
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Post by gfountain on Jan 13, 2015 14:09:55 GMT -5
Good for them! So Ty does like the egg, he just didn't want you to know it, lol. Normally, yes, the equivalent of one egg per week. But the only thing the egg is gonna do is give him looser, yellow, stinky poops, so go ahead and give him some more tonight. Cut back to one yolk between the two of them though. And watch the poops this afternoon. If they're loose, and they likely will be, sprinkle a little eggshell or bonemeal on their meal tonight. Think 'salting' it and you'll have about the right amount.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2015 14:30:21 GMT -5
Okay great! I'll do that and I have bonemeal. So excited.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2015 20:13:34 GMT -5
Dinner ugh. I got some quail eggs today. Ty and Linus each got one whole quail egg. Linus was fantastic ate the whole 1oz of slivers and the egg. Ty, well, he's driving me CRAZY refused to eat tonight. Just refused. After a little while of trying multiple times I added a small bit of baby food. He ate some of the egg and a few slivers. So, if he doesn't want to eat tonight then he can be hungry. I'm leaving it out just in case the hunger pains kick in but I'm not holding my breath. Charlie has also,decided he didn't want to eat either. (Throwing hand up and shaking my head). Just a frustrating evening. On another note I managed to get some lamb necks and veal kidneys. I got 2 lg packages of kidney bc I haven't seen them before in the store so I stocked up. I don't even know of they will eat them but can't hurt to try.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2015 20:26:25 GMT -5
I just thought of something. I wonder if Ty doesn't like the texture of the whites either or he's just being a pain in my @ss?
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Post by gfountain on Jan 13, 2015 20:29:43 GMT -5
Stay tough, momma! Just leave the food where he can get to it if he wants it. If he gets hungry enough, he'll eat...hopefully, lol. My first switch was a stubborn boy like Ty. His mom worked and worked with him, begging him to eat and coaxing sometimes for an hour at a time. One morning she just got frustrated, tossed the food in the cage with him, turned off the light and slammed the door on him. She went to take a shower and 'cool off' and came back an hour later, opened the door and caught him with a mouth full of food. She was so surprised she just said "oh, excuse me!" And closed the door on him again. He ate everything in his dish and never looked back. He just wanted privacy apparently, lol. I'm sorry the fuzzies are frustrating tonight. I know how aggravating they can be. Tomorrow is another day. Hugs to everyone. Kidney is a good find!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2015 15:04:22 GMT -5
Believe it or not Ty went back later and ate more last night. So, this morning I was feeling optimistic and gave them 2oz instead of 1 and a quail egg in each, except Ty got only the yolk (no baby food). Warmed it up and Ty won't eat again, Linus ate for a few minutes and he was done. So I am leaving it out for them and hopefully they will eat more later. Ty has got to be hungry by now. He eats 5oz a day normally. If not, they will be getting the same for dinner?? The standoff continues.
Charlie: today I am trying .1 3xs a day and I'll see if that makes any difference. He was still pawing at his mouth first thing this morning and there was a bit of foam as well. I haven't seen any more as of yet but I'll be picking up his meds tonight.
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