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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2016 8:15:04 GMT -5
Thanks Maja. I hope your Chili will be okay. It's so hard and we can't explain to them why they don't feel well. I'll keep my fingers crossed that he will be okay. Funkelt I would look around for a better vet. It's hard sometimes to find a ferret savvy vet but it's important. When Ponce developed Lymphoma and Insulinoma we had just moved here and I couldn't find anyone who would even see ferrets. We drove up to Kentucky and our vet was lovely but so inexperienced. I still think if I could have found a good vet then I would have had more time with him. I found the forum looking for help for him. We have two vet lists. One is updated regularly by Ferrents when they find a good ferret vet but you have to scroll through it. holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/6/list-vet?page=4The second one is listed by Country and State: holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/13638/vet-country-stateYou might have to drive a bit to find one but look around and call them first and see if they regularly see ferrets and not just dogs and cats with an occasional ferret. Ask them if they've treated Adrenal or Insulinoma. Ask about Lymphoma and IBD and ask what they charge for wellness checkups. Also see if they have emergency hours or know of a vet who does. Another way is to call any rescues or shelters and ask who they use for ferrets. Vets mean well but they do make a profit from selling kibble. They don't receive alot of training on exotic diets and those studies are funded by kibble manufacturers. Then they see pet owners who simply don't take the time to learn about a proper diet and the vet gets leary of whether the owner will properly manage a diet like a Natural Diet.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2016 10:02:28 GMT -5
I am Katie Rocque, btw. You'll see me on the Facebook page often. Both my Lil dudes seem well and playful this morning Maja, you poor Lil ferret I know what you mean about doing all you can for him though. After the vet fiasco ,Roscoe started gaining weight again. He is still fighting with everything he has. These guys are tough! Lol I will get a fecal and rabies done in a couple weeks here. Fecal test $30 here but like you said, all 5 ferrets would be covered
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2016 10:51:45 GMT -5
Zomg, what is in that distemper vaccine??? Aris & Arya are flying through the air smacking into my legs and dukin off, jumping into eachother and walls, and running around the carpet full speed O.O They are so hyper!
On another note, I wanted to get your guys' opinion on what happened with my sisters ferrets this morning if you guys don't mind. We have both been putting rabbit ribs on shower rings on the side of the cage. Rabbit is a new protein that has become a favorite for Roscoe, Sheldon, and Chaos (Aris and Arya don't care for it) They ate every bit of their share, including every bit of the bone. So she puts heart and rabbit in their bowl this morning, then on the way out the door to work she went to put another large chunk of rabbit in their cage. Sheldon and Chaos dove for the meat, competing with eachother only they missed and both dug into Kaylas nail bed and finger. She said they were growling, hissing, and barrel rolling. They really messed up her finger. They don't have their rabies shot yet (her taxes were late, she had planned to have them done by now) and it clearly looks like an animal bite. After the Roscoe Fiasco with the CDC and vet she's weary about going to the doctor. We really don't think it was on purpose and they have never bitten a person like that before. Sheldon is new to the business, a young upstart, and all 3 of hers are male so I'm sure those factors played a part in their sudden competitiveness. What are your guys' expert opinions?
Btw, mine never finished their rabbit ribs. I took it down, cut it up fine, and put it back in their bowl. I thought they had eaten it finally and gave them a beef chunkies meal with extra chicken heart as a reward. Well today I found a neat pile of rabbit jerkey hidden in their tunnel. They had moved every piece so they could get something else. Ferrets, man!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2016 12:47:24 GMT -5
That's so cute and I have no idea why they are bouncing off the walls. Perhaps just the excitement of their vet experience has caught up to them. Perhaps it's spring fever. The whole rabbit excitement is normal. Sometimes they just get caught up in the excitement and it's more fun to take someone else's food then eat their own or share politely. I've seen it time and again on the forum where ferrets decide they simply must have that piece of meat because it's a favorite. I'm sorry your sister got bit but unless you really have a reason to suspect one of them might have rabies then I wouldn't worry or visit the doctor. Most of us have had a good bite here or there. I'll tag Heather though and see what she says. Heather I apologize for pestering you but could use your expert opinion on this. You've dealt with some rough kits and hobs before so what do you think?Ferret jerky is a real delicacy and stashing is important to them. They love to know there is some food somewhere that they can get to in case of a ferret emergency, lol. I'd leave it for a day and then quietly remove it so they can find another stashing spot. (giggle)
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2016 12:57:29 GMT -5
I spoke with Hurricanekatt who is a medical student and was my Mentor. This is what she replied:
I would reassure them that animals don't just carry rabies like you can be a carrier for other viruses. They either get it and become sick and die, or they don't have it.
So unless your little ones have come in contact with an animal carrying rabies then you can be sure that you don't have to worry about rabies.
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Post by maja01 on Mar 4, 2016 12:59:51 GMT -5
It definetly was not a purpose bite and the rabies fear is pretty much zero. The food "fights" are normal, she was just unlucky to put her hend inbetveen them. I really would not worry not even little bit about ferrets. But would took care of the hand. Bute wounds might get nasty and they might get inflamed. I usually take care of my bite wounds by myself, but ... we have all the necessary meda and equipment at home My friends usualy go see a doctor and if asked, they say a stray cat has bitten them when they tried to catch it. The worst it might happen is that you (in this case your sister) get rabies shots ...
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2016 13:09:56 GMT -5
We aren't concerned about rabies, we're just worried that if she goes to the docs they will report the bite and we'll have to go through the whole quarantine BS again but really, what can they do if she says it was a stray? Thanks guys. It's good to get 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th opinions that this is normal and not too concerning (other than the ouch factor). And now we know that on rabbit day we should just throw it in the lion pit from afar lol
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Post by maja01 on Mar 4, 2016 13:16:15 GMT -5
I would exclude ferrets from the story. If she said her ferret/cat/dog bit her, yes the animal would probably go trough an unnecessary quarantine protocol. That is why we always blame it to the stray cats ... Btw, i give mine meat on tray, exactly from that reason. They all fight over same piece of meat (tough i give at least as many pieces as many ferrets there are) ... Once i was stupid enough to put my hand between the two fighting (young - in my defence) stone martens. Well it felt like i have put it in blender. All i was hoping for it was that the finger will stay attached (it did, but was bad). What is worse ... after the incidence the kit was so scared that he hid under the closet (they were my foster martens i had since they were two weeks old) and i wanted to comfort him and reached under the closet for him ... he blended the other hand as well. ?
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Post by Sherry on Mar 4, 2016 14:39:32 GMT -5
I would also leave it out. Depending on where you live a ferret can be seized and killed to be tested. That is the norm where I am in Calgary Alberta, when a bite is reported.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2016 14:53:35 GMT -5
I spoke with your sister on FB. It's a nasty bite but she was smart and did not report it as an animal bite. Your sister is a sweetheart and I love that you all have such a happy family business.
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Post by Heather on Mar 4, 2016 16:39:47 GMT -5
Do not report an animal bite especially one of your own ferrets. The medical profession is really stupid about this one. The chance of rabies is non-existent from a ferret. They die, long before they ever get the chance to transmit the disease and I gather biting isn't the problem (they develop dumb rabies). I had a long discussion with this surprisingly with someone of authority on it (the Canadian Food Inspection Agency). It was the head vet who actually pulled the information for me and we discussed the idiocy of having to have a rabies and rabies quarantine from UK ferrets. ciao
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Post by maja01 on Mar 5, 2016 6:18:18 GMT -5
Ok, back to bone in meat I promised pics of crushed rabbit bones - i crush it, before I put it in a blender to make a smoothie for Chili. Atm I really want it to be super smooth in case I would need assisted feeding with syringe. And I don't have one of those super blender like blendtec or omniblend in which you could also blend an iphone or golf ball , just a regular nutribullet (which I am really pleased with, btw). This are ribbs + part of back bone. They ar so much crushed, that they don't hold a shape when you pick them up. There are bone particles about 3x3 mm (0,1 inchx 0,1 inch). This are upper part of ribbs and a back bone - that white thing in the middle is not a bone is actually a spinal cord. And this piece also does not keep it's original form Once the bones are crushed, you can cut chunks to a size they are used to now. And of course, it does not need to be a rabbit, you can do the same with chicken, cornish game hen or quail. They all have pretty soft bones, you just need a good cleaver (I have one from Ikea - which is very good, but again, it does not cost a fortune).
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2016 18:25:14 GMT -5
Thanks for everyone's input
Next time I serve ribs I'll try blending them. Today was turkey neck. They actually ate the beef I introduced yesterday.
Kayla made a Hate Today order for other organs for the frankenprey diet so I'll work on a menu
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2016 18:25:45 GMT -5
How's everyone doing? It's the weekend so I won't tease you with lessons. That's a good post from maja01. Do you have any questions about this?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2016 18:26:59 GMT -5
Thanks for everyone's input Next time I serve ribs I'll try blending them. Today was turkey neck. They actually ate the beef I introduced yesterday. Kayla made a Hate Today order for other organs for the frankenprey diet so I'll work on a menu lol, we cross posted. I love hearing that they liked the beef. That makes getting a red meat into their menu so much easier. How's your sister's finger doing?
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