Questions about Feeding a Cancer Patient

[Deleted]

In early April, I posted about one of my jills who had surgery for a suspected blockage and it was discovered that her enlarged uterus was causing the issue. The uterus was removed and sent to the lab. The lab results came back and she had a uterine carcinoma. A nearby lymph node was also examined and did not show signs of cancer; however, my vet said this type of cancer usually spreads to the liver, lungs and brain.

Through April and May, we had some real struggles with eating and nausea; she was getting anti-nausea meds every 48 hours. She started with clinicare plus turkey baby food, then (briefly) some cooked lamb soup and carnivore care. We finally settled on quail eggs and she's been eating them exclusively since mid May. I tried adding some carnivore care to the egg, but she decided she didn't want it after a short time.

She gets about 5 egg meals per day, each meal with 2/3 eggs plus a little water. The following things are mixed into her eggs (not all in the same meal and no more than two meals a day have supplements):

- 2/3 drops black seed oil (usually first meal of the day, but not on all days). This is the main alternative cancer fighter that I am using.
- Taurine powder
- Bone Meal
- Olive Oil
- Turmeric (juiced from root when I can get it)
- Coconut Oil
- Geneflora
Occasionally:
- Amino Essentials
- Flower Pollen
- Reishi
- Trace Minerals
- Raw Honey

She's been improving on the eggs - we haven't had any nausea issues since the beginning of June and she's put on over 100 grams. However, I want to make sure her diet is balanced naturally. I had some Wysong Call of the Wild which I have started to mix in every so often but am not sure how much of the nutrients in that are natural.

I was hoping to get her to eat mice so that she can feed herself when I'm not there but she was never a big mouse fan. She has had problems with blockages from day old chicks so I don't give her those anymore. I have tried 1 week quail and she ate it but is now ambivalent - maybe too much bulk for a digestive system that has been only eating eggs for that long?

1. What would be your suggestions to add to the eggs to make sure she's getting a balanced diet?

2. I've offered all kinds of ground raw and raw soups but she's not interested in any of it. Anyone have any luck with a specific food or mix for their picky ferrets? Before this issue, she ate fine ground raw (meat/bones/organs), heart, freeze dried raw, all without problems.

Any advice on next steps would be helpful.

Thanks!!!

[Deleted]

I wish your girl all the best luck.
I'm calling in the big guns for this question.
Sherry Heather and crazylady are all very experienced ferrents and should be able to offer you great advice.

[Heather]

Did they say she was in a possible remission or do they think they got all "that" cancer? Have you tried bone soup? I use this with my sickies. I've never used egg as a primary source of protein and though I'm not entirely comfortable with it I realize that limited time and quality is what we're probably talking about. Will she eat any raw meats (even ground bits) mixed in her eggs?
ciao

[Deleted]

The vet hasn't seen her since 5/27 - at that time, an abdominal mass (liver?) found at a prior visit was still there and larger than before. I haven't had her in since then but may do so soon to see what the mass has been up to. Truthfully, she's been doing well and I haven't wanted to stress her with a vet visit.

I only have (homemade) turkey, chicken and duck bone broth and she won't eat those when mixed with egg unless I syringe feed, and even then, she won't eat a full meal. I have some beef bones in the freezer so I can try that.

Here's the nutrition data on raw, fresh quail eggs: nutritiondata.self.com/facts/dairy-and-egg-products/128/2 This is the first I've looked at the details and it seems pretty good. Looks like taurine supplementation is needed - should I add a pinch of that to every meal?

I have tried mixing ground raw with the eggs and that hasn't gone so well - she won't eat it from the bowl and it's not easy getting it blended enough to feed from a syringe. I have some boneless emu in my next order from My Pet Carnivore that I'll try.

[Deleted]

Still eating quail eggs (enhanced with taurine, etc...) but she did run off with part of a turkey heart to the feeding den and chewed up most of it (yay!!!)

[Deleted]

She is now eating a soup made with Emu meat and beef organs (plus some quail egg or chicken egg yolk). To that I add bone meal. She gets this for two of her meals but she won't eat it unless I feed it from a syringe (she's great with a syringe). Her other small meals are still just egg meals. Tried to take her off Prednisolone (under vet guidance) but when I got to once every other day, she started getting nauseated again so we are holding at 0.1 ml 2xs daily for now and will try again later this month.

[unclejoe]

glad to see she's hangin in there

[Celene]

I'm not an expert in this area, but I do know that prednisone is hard on the stomach and can cause upset stomach and even ulcers. I have heard that ferrets with upset stomachs will often refuse food (although egg is just so tasty it's probably just impossible to resist). I think when that occurs, the ferret is often given a stomach coater like carafate to combat this. I believe katt, Desiree and acodlin  all give carafate/pred, so they might have some more insight.

Edited to add: I'm not sure what ratios you're using in your soupie recipe, but in order to be balanced we recommend 80% muscle meat, 10% heart and 10% liver, with 1/2 tsp bone meal per 8 oz of soup. If you're not good with percentages/ratios let me know and I can write it in a recipe format

[Sherry]

You may have to start a switch with her all over again. It sounds like she may have associated the raw with feeling sick and needs to get past this.
Personally I would make a raw puree with something like lamb, and start finger feeding that until she accepts it. It may take dabbing it on her nose or gums several times to get her to do so.

[Sherry]

If she is eating from a syringe, start using a spoon instead and hold her. Keep the spoon under her nose and don't let her go right away. You want her to take a few licks first.

[Deleted]

She's always been on raw; whole prey and grinds with some chunkies (hearts, livers). Although she will hide a chick or mouse now, she won't eat it yet. She also won't eat grinds yet. I was excited to get her to eat soup. I've been approximating the ratios but I will start a more exact measuring when I blend them.

Sometimes I think she just likes having me hold her baby-style to feed her. I will just have to be persistent The spoon will replace the syringe!

Thank you everyone for all the great advice!

[Desiree]

I would definitely ask the vet for carafate. Pred is super hard on the tummy. After the carafate, my old girl took to raw much easier. She went from soup to bone pretty fast. Some vets just aren't as knowledgable and don't know to prescribe it. Even if ots not causing her eating issues it'll prevent any future issues from cropping up. Just remember at least a half hour between the carafate and any other meds or food.

[Deleted]

It's been a while so I thought I would update. My girl has been off the pred since last fall. She still primarily eats eggs. I've recently found a local source for quail eggs (organic, non-soy, unwashed and unrefridgerated). She will now also eat liver and heart mixed in the eggs (with fine ground shell too). Plus she finally started eating chicks again a couple months ago.

Interestingly, her teeth are in great shape without me doing anything, even before eating chicks. I still occasionally supplement the black seed oil and have added slippery elm when needed.

She just received a Des implant (adrenal prevention). I was/am concerned about implanting a hormone modulater into a uterine cancer patient - monitoring how her body handles it.

Oh yes, she is eating out of her dish now. I only need to syringe feed the supplements . I kinda miss holding her while feeding but we still cuddle after she eats anyway.

[Sherry]

That is amazing that she is holding on so long. It does sound as though she got lucky and the cancer hasn't spread! I would actually look at getting her at least on a raw balanced grind now.

[abbeytheferret6]

I have skinned, gutted, and cut up a mouse and put it in bullet before. dont know if a mouse soupie would be enticing or not.