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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 9:37:40 GMT -5
So ever since the day we brought Kain home two weeks ago, Zoe has been acting off. I figure it's stress, but I'm worried about her. She eats a lot less then normal and her poop has been very loose, and sometimes - but not all- mucus-y. It's been less poop then usual too. The color seems fine however. When she's up she runs around fine, though she doesn't want to play any hand games with me lately, but sometimes she'll run over to play with a walmart bag with me.. she plays by herself mostly now. She's also never been a snuggly ferret, she'd rather hide and sleep then lay on you.. except this morning she laid on my chest for a half hour. Last time she did this she had a bad cold. She's not coughing or acting lethargic or anything else. I gave her an egg about a week ago and she scarfed that right down no problem. Is this likely just stress or she maybe starting to get another cold?  I'm gonna go try to find some RR today to see if it will help her, is there anything else maybe I can do? Right before we got Kain we got her a new, bigger cage and since they weren't getting along, I have him in her old cage. I'm curious if maybe she might be upset about him being in her old cage she had for years. Should I let her have it back and switch them or would that just make it worse? They both get plenty of time out and about (apart from each other until she can get along with him) the house. If they're awake and not eating/lounging/pooping they're out. They even seem to be on different sleeping schedules so they're rarely awake at the same time, which helps keeping them apart since she is not happy with him. (Edit: I also just realized I likely put this in the wrong place.. sorry! ) |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 10:00:39 GMT -5
Forgive me for asking but are you the one whose ferret had recently lost her bonded friend? Sorry I cannot remember if that was you that I'm thinking of (still on my first coffee)If so it could be that she isn't ready to move on or is depressed. While my others have moved on, my Waffles is still not quite back to his self.
If they are in the same room but out at different times she might be jealous. This happened at my house for a while.
Since ending up with 2 1/2 play groups (4 of mine are 24/7 out of cage except when I'm cleaning, but then there are 2 groups of 2 that get swapped out, I had to put one of my cages in the living-room because my nutters (Peanut) would dig and bit at the cage when he was up and I was in the room playing with the group that was out. Even though I actually timed my play to make sure they were getting the same amount of time.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 10:10:40 GMT -5
Nope, not us. These are my first two.  I've had Zoe for almost 3 years now and we got Kain about two weeks ago. Their cages are in the same room, but where they have play time is in a separate part of the apartment. Sometimes they might see me take the other one out if they're awake, or if I put one back in to bring the other out though, since their cages are pretty close to each other. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 10:15:46 GMT -5
Kain has been home for two weeks now and is a young ferret at 3 months.
A baby Ferret may carry ECE or green slime disease. Kain is not a baby ferret but I'm wondering if he possibly passed along ECE.
After I brought home baby Mika it took about two weeks before I noticed that Roamy wasn't feeling well and then the green slimey pooped showed up. Mika was only about 8 weeks old so it was the first thing I thought of and we took Roamy to the vet and he had a course of antibiotics and was fine.
I know they haven't gotten along well but hoped they were doing better now.
I would try switching cages again and see if she is happier with her own things back. I'd also try to play some more with her and give her some extra attention.
How sure are you of her age? I know you've had her for 3 years but is she older than that?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 10:31:41 GMT -5
Kain's poop has been perfectly normal - even which his food change from what they were giving him before to what we have here. Is that possibly for him to give her ECE when his is normal? I've been keeping an eye on her poop daily to make sure that not any odd colors.
As for them not doing better together, I decided to keep them apart until he's a bit older since it was suggested by so many people. I put their cages close to each other and they sniff at each other through the bars with no hissing now though. So I'm hoping it's helping with them being to be able to do that.
Zoe will be 5 in August.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 10:40:59 GMT -5
Ahh now I am remembering where I read about your wee ones. I'd consider what @poncesmom said, she is one of the brilliant ones here, I am not one of the brilliant ones lol If I understand correctly some can be carriers and not show signs of ECE. I'm not saying that is what it is but just pointing out that what Poncesmom says should be considered since carriers can be asymptomatic. Edit to add: I found a link on it miamiferret.org/ece_symptoms.htm |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 10:50:18 GMT -5
Other then her eating less and loose stools, nothing else really fits. There's definitely not been anything green at all. Does it have to be green or is having normal colored still a sign?
Also, she's been drinking water fine and plenty of it. She's not dehydrated at all.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 10:52:57 GMT -5
@libbyw you made me blush. Thank you for your kind words but everything I've learned is from our very experienced Ferrents like Sherry, Heather, Hurricanekatt and Bitbyter among others.
There's a wealth of knowledge on this forum and I'm truly grateful for it
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 11:00:00 GMT -5
Other then her eating less and loose stools, nothing else really fits. There's definitely not been anything green at all. Does it have to be green or is having normal colored still a sign? Also, she's been drinking water fine and plenty of it. She's not dehydrated at all. How do her ears, nose and paws look? Are they a nice pink color? It took around two weeks before I saw green poops which is why they call it green slime disease. I honestly don't know if it's possible to have it without the green poo showing up. I'll tag HeatherHas she had any changes in diet recently? What does she eat now? If she is on kibble then was there a formula recall or formula change? Spring is coming and they do eat less during the Spring. You should always trust your instincts and if you think something is wrong or off about her then take her to the vet and explain the situation. He can look her over and perhaps prescribe a course of antibiotics to see if that changes things.  |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 11:13:17 GMT -5
Diet is the same as usual, she's on kibble and we've been on the same bag for at least the past month now. Her paws and ears are their normal pink, her nose is mostly speckled black from her coat color, but the rest is a pale pink.
I'll continue to keep an eye on her poop and if she gets any kind of lethargic, pukey, etc.. I'll take her in. I'll probably take her in anyways if she doesn't start eating more in a few days just to be sure.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 11:19:20 GMT -5
@kyeri
I'm not sure where you are located but I know that here in Virginia we have suddenly started warming up with signs of spring being on its way for the past week. The ferrets I believe can feel these changes before we even notice them ourselves. Some of mine have already started eating a tad less and I believe that there is a tiny bit of shedding starting too. Depending on where you are maybe it is a seasonal thing?
From the things you have said, if they were my ferts I would call the vet and ask if I can drop off a poop sample just to be safe. Some vets will insist on a visit first, I'm not sure how yours is. Aside from the poop though everything else seems ok from what I'm reading, she is still active and still eating. Her not wanting to play with you could just be that she is butthurt over having to share her momma. Her cuddling with you could be her way of saying "ok, I don't want to play with you but you are still mine."
Honestly of all the things you mentioned the only red-lights that would go off for me would be the poop. All the other stuff could be attributed to normal jealousy or stress from a new fert. 2 weeks might seem like it's long enough for us to adjust but we can't tell the furones that, they go at their own pace.
So much with these wee ones is guessing and going by our guts feelings since they can't tell us. I can't say that its just seasonal, or stress or say it is or isn't something more or less but I can say that because we know our babies so well, if you are worried a vet visit might be in order if for no other reason than to put your mind at ease or catch something that is just starting to show.
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Post by Heather on Feb 25, 2016 12:44:17 GMT -5
Stress could be a factor but baby ferrets carry all sorts of icky viruses. Katt brought something into her group when she brought her mother's new ferrets to live with her for a bit. Her guys needed support (antibiotics) but they got very ill. From the sounds of the actions, I would say mostly stress from the new ferret. It's only been 2 weeks, for her to be alone and the only one for a few years and to suddenly find out there is such thing as another ferret, she could be very stressed about the new situation
I don't think the cage thing will be much of an issue, she may be a bit stressed but it will be because it's not her cage, not because the baby is in her cage. I'm thinking the baby brought in a virus, it doesn't sound like ECE. If it is it's so mild that watching to make sure she's actually eating and drinking would be sufficient. ECE doesn't have to be that horrible vibrant green but it often is. Dehydration is the usual killer with secondary infections which are treated with antibiotics.
She sounds like she's ticked with you for bringing in this new annoyance, but she's willing to play some games. The refusal to play can also be because she's feeling off. Her stools are loose...as in watery, or just loose? are they very frequent?
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 14:36:46 GMT -5
Thanks for all the advice, guys! Its loose as in just loose and sometimes (but not all) a bit mucus-y. Not watery though. Frequent enough to when she's eating.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 22:11:01 GMT -5
Some good news, while she's still not touching her regular food, she's tearing up the soupy I made for her. Is it possibly that she's just being picky even though she's been eating that food for a few months now?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 22:39:04 GMT -5
Could be, could be that the recipe was adjusted too.
Did you make her raw soupy?
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