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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2015 14:25:57 GMT -5
Though they are small I have also noticed the changes in my ferrets. Mia's fur is a little thicker and WAY more plush feeling, Rumi is the same her fur actually looks a little darker, Noa grew more fur and she went from practically always squinting to eyes always wide and bright!, I haven't seen much change in Emil though (he doesn't eat that much) my only problem is they feel under weight... - Devan
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Post by Celene on Aug 9, 2015 18:09:03 GMT -5
Have you weighed them with the scale? Many raw fed ferrets start feeling smaller because they loose all the extra chub and flab that the carbs cause. Sometimes people are worried their ferrets have lost a lot of weight but they're actually the same! Their coats will become even more noticeably different when they shed their current fur and get their winter coats I'm somewhat concerned that Noa's eyes were previously squinty - that is usually a sign of pain in ferrets. It's possible her previous food really didn't agree with her. Either way I'm glad her eyes are brighter now! So what exactly are they being fed now - ground "soup" with chunks, or just chunks? I just want to make sure at this point they are still getting a balanced diet with enough calcium
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2015 0:02:39 GMT -5
Just chunks I've been wondering if I should mix some bone meal with them because I can't give them bone yet I'm guessing. Also eye squinting meant pain!? The heck!? Our ferrets guide book didn't say that! Now I have to keep a heavier eye on her! - Devan
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2015 0:10:50 GMT -5
Actually I have another question but it doesn't relate to food (hopefully that's OK) at first it was Noa then Mia then Emil now it's Rumi used/does wake up randomly in the middle of the night in their cage and scratch one side of their head near or directly at their ear very furiously and by how it seems hard...should I be concerned? Rumi gets them REALLY hard... - Devan
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Post by Celene on Aug 10, 2015 9:02:17 GMT -5
Oh yes, definitely sprinkle their meals with bonemeal! Without bone their poops will be dark and runny, and they won't be receiving the calcium and other minerals they need. If they're now eating chunks, depending on the size, I definitely recommend at least trying to start introducing bone. What I started with was cornish game hen (basically a really small chicken). What I did was cut the ribs individually into "french fries" and hand feed them. Other good "starter" bones are chicken wing tips and quail. If you buy a pack of chicken wings you can start with the tips (lower third) and either marinade the rest of the wings for yourself or freeze them for later If the bones are slightly bigger, you can smash them up a bit with a heavy knife / cleaver. I made a video for this one: One thing to keep in mind is that introducing bone can be SCARY. When my girls first tried bone and were used to chunks, they would chew a bit, think "good enough" and then try to slurp the rest back only to have the bone get caught in their throat! There was a lot of hacking and coughing and me watching nervously, but after a few meals they figured it out on their own. (I didn't let them eat bone unsupervised for the first week.) They also might get bone fragments stuck in their teeth and not yet know how to dislodge them easily. This is all part of the learning process. In regards to the ear scratching, ferrets are naturally VERY itchy creatures. If it's specifically the ears though, you might want to consider ear mites and google the symptoms for them. Ferrets normally have a lot of ear wax, so it can be difficult to tell on your own, but a vet can check for ear mites easily. Revolution (the kitten one) is very effective for treating (and preventing) mites - it also treats and prevents fleas and some worms. It's definitely good news that Noa isn't squinting anymore. Depending on the situation/other behaviour, squinting can mean anything from acute pain, to generally unwellness, particularly in the digestive system. I have also heard that some ferrets squint if they are constipated. Here are a couple "quotes" from ferret and veterinary websites on ferret squinting: "Squinting - Ferrets squint their eyes either in response to a specific painful eye problem or in response to generalized pain. General debilitation and weakness and moderate to severe dehydration can also cause squinting. If your ferret is squinting constantly and doesn't stop when it plays or in response to handling, then there is a problem. Squinting may sometimes be accompanied by tooth grinding, and may be a response to abdominal pain. When looking directly down on top of the ferret’s head you may see the muscles on top of the head twitching or moving rapidly. Occasionally you may hear a faint grinding sound. This tooth grinding is called “bruxism.”" "it is really amazing how different the eyes can look if a ferret is sick, they tend to get a slight squint (just like humans do when we are not feeling well)." Either way, I wouldn't worry too much if it's disappeared entirely, but definitely continue to keep an eye on her in case it returns.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2015 10:45:17 GMT -5
I'll try to get a data card before I return home so I can show the sizes of meat I give them...with hearts its small slivers with thigh its a little bulky but Noa and Rumi like to chew on them so yeah...my concern is Emil I can't get him off of needing fish oil to eat ' any ideas?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2015 10:58:22 GMT -5
Is the revolution stuff ear drops or a med pill? Forgot to ask sorry... ._.' - Devan
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Post by Celene on Aug 10, 2015 16:25:03 GMT -5
Revolution comes as a tiny tube of liquid, and you apply it directly to their skin (usually at the back of their neck/between their shoulders where they can lick at it). Then it absorbs through their skin so when the mites/fleas/whatever bite them, they become sterile (so eggs won't hatch) and also die themselves. Your vet can show you how to apply it - I usually split one kitten dose between both my ferrets, but they are quite small.
Emil is playing you. I had the exact same problem with my ferrets, except I was using diluted egg yolk. They would look at the food as if they didn't recognize it and wait and look at me until I finally gave in and added it, then they'd dig in. As soon as I tried tough love and they realized the yolk wasn't coming, they gave up and ate it plain because they were hungry.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2015 7:58:27 GMT -5
Hopefully it's not too pricey if its vet prescribed...Ironically he ate without fish oil when I brought Raven back from her trip. - Devan
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Post by Celene on Aug 11, 2015 8:57:29 GMT -5
Haha! He was so excited to see her that he forgot about being fussy!
I'm not sure how much it would be in the US (where I assume you live), but on average I think it's $10-$15 per "dose" which actually does two ferrets. It's good for a month, although I don't know enough about ear mites to know whether you'd need more than a month or not. For fleas you have to use it for a few months at least because they lay eggs around the house which can take several weeks to hatch. Of course it might not be ear mites at all, simply itchy ferts!
Symptoms of ear mites include:
- overproduction of black, odorous ear wax - Oozing or a mucous-like substance around the ears - Reddish-brown or blackish crusting on the outer ear - Hair loss around the head and neck - The ferret’s ear has a foul odor - The ferret scratches its ears or shakes its head
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2015 18:29:23 GMT -5
All the ferrets love the meat and will store it everywhere. Today Noa and Mia ate the most but Emil and Rumi still ate quite a bit. Didn't start the bone because I just got back from Oregon so will do it tomorrow. - Raven
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2015 12:40:17 GMT -5
Emil is finally eating without holding back too much, Noa and Mia have gained wait to where they were Rumi is still a little puggy but losing weight. I think I know why Emil didn't eat while raven was gone. I've noticed though Emil and Noa like me they are most tied to Raven, Emil will follow me on occasion but he always follows Raven vice versa goes for Mia and Rumi with me. - Devan
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2015 12:56:51 GMT -5
BTW when we're not trying to make them eat bone their breakfast is heart then when we return from work its thigh then for bed its liver with either is that ok? - Devan
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Post by Celene on Aug 12, 2015 15:20:33 GMT -5
Have any of them munched bone yet?
Liver should not be more than 10% of their diet, which is why we recommend 1.5 meals per week of liver. Giving them a little extra heart is fine though.
I'm glad Emil is eating again. Ferrets become bonded to each other and their humans and can become depressed easily. Of course, just like people, some ferrets are more "sensitive" than others. Our girls were passed around to a lot of different "homes" before they came to us. They are definitely bonded to us, but I think are more used to be suddenly missing humans because they don't seem to mind when we go away.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2015 16:03:49 GMT -5
I don't know raven hasent told me (or posted) yet so is that meal we have for them bad or? - Devan
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