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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2016 11:50:40 GMT -5
Hello! I need some help with my one year old boy, Artemis. He's a Marshall's ferret I bought last October. I bought him as a baby, I switched him to raw as soon as I got him. He's been great this whole time except during the Summer something changed. He stopped wanted to take whole chunks of meat, and stopped chewing on bones (necks, wings, etc.) and he only would take soupy or grind. I know this isn't good! So I vetted him, and the vet said nothing was really wrong he's just being fussy. After this point I could never get him to eat meaty bones again. Now he will only eat soupy, eggs, and whole animal grind. He doesn't want to eat though! If I just give him a bowl of grind, he wont eat it. He will ignore it and starve. The only way I can get him to eat is to induce him with scruffing, it's been this way since he stopped accepting meaty bones. I need to scruff him for every meal, once in a blue moon he will start eating himself, but not enough to keep him healthy. If I don't scruff him to force him to eat, he will rapidly start losing weight and starving. It's really sad and I need help! I need to figure out how I can get him to start eating on his own again, and start taking bones!
Thank you for reading, I appreciate any advice, I really need it.
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2016 15:00:47 GMT -5
It's normal during this time of year for them to drop their winter weight and eat less. Is he refusing food all together or is he just eating less? I can put chunks of meat and bone in meat in my ferrets' enclosure and the food will be there a while as they graze all day. When winter starts food gets ate quickly.  |
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Post by Heather on May 15, 2016 15:09:17 GMT -5
This is always difficult. What are his stools like? How much is he eating? or I guess I should ask how much are you feeding him? The no bone thing is a manipulation but what we need to figure out is if he's backed you into a corner (manipulation) or if he's actually sick. When was he at the vet the last time? and what tests were done?
ciao
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2016 15:31:22 GMT -5
one of my 4 is extremely food weird, he was the biggest, but over the last few months he has lost a few oz... he is just picky, wont eat with anyone else, we have to put him in a dark box lined with fleece with no interruptions, hand feeding him is sometimes the only way...he is silly, oh and he food stores big time
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2016 16:06:30 GMT -5
It's normal during this time of year for them to drop their winter weight and eat less. Is he refusing food all together or is he just eating less? I can put chunks of meat and bone in meat in my ferrets' enclosure and the food will be there a while as they graze all day. When winter starts food gets ate quickly. He basically has been refusing food all together for the most part. Sometimes I will see him eat on his own, usually only if it's eggs though because they're his favorite. It was the same all winter as well, I had to hand feed him. |
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2016 16:15:14 GMT -5
This is always difficult. What are his stools like? How much is he eating? or I guess I should ask how much are you feeding him? The no bone thing is a manipulation but what we need to figure out is if he's backed you into a corner (manipulation) or if he's actually sick. When was he at the vet the last time? and what tests were done? ciao His stools are normal, but he does have IBS. I have never had a vet diagnose IBS, but it is really common for him to have mucus in his stools and stool spotting with only mucus. I tried an elimination diet with him when he was little and discovered chicken is a big culprit for irritating his bowels. Last time he was at the vet was in the fall, it was just a check up. No tests were done other than the vet giving him a good rub down all over and taking his temperature. However, in the fall he did have a blockage scare. I left them with a relative for a night to be baby sat, they got a hold of a roll of toilet paper and decided to make a bed out of it,  I preformed the blockage protocol until their stools were full sized and only pumpkin, no more toilet paper. Immediately afterwards he did start eating on his own and ate until his tummy was full. That is the only time I can remember that he willingly ate his whole animal grind without complaint since he stopped eating on his own. He has no signs of blockage now of course. I feed him the Carnivora whole animal grind patties, I believe they're 8oz per patty. I have two ferrets, so both of them share a whole 8oz patty per day. They get 4oz in the morning and 4oz in the evening, it's usually not touched by Artemis unless I hand feed him, but my other boy Alistair is chubby and eats his fill without complaint. Artemis teeth as well are showing signs of deterioration since he stopped eating bones, they're discolored for sure. Having a few brownish areas. |
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on May 16, 2016 16:39:56 GMT -5
Have you thought about feeding mice and rats? This large rat has some nice bones, I do skin and gut them. This is from Perfect Prey (FLorida)  Then guinea pig has some nice bones and a lot of organ meat from Hare Today---and a lot of guts! |
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on May 16, 2016 16:59:21 GMT -5
My abbey got ulcers in back of throat from what I am guessing is eating feathered proteins. She gets diarrhea when eating fowl. She also on occassion, would do this little heave---I am thinking it was acid reflux. Vet found ulcers in back of her throat. She is clear today of that. Food bill is a little higher, now since i am ordering a lot of rodents.
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2016 18:15:34 GMT -5
Have you thought about feeding mice and rats? This large rat has some nice bones, I do skin and gut them. This is from Perfect Prey (FLorida) Then guinea pig has some nice bones and a lot of organ meat from Hare Today---and a lot of guts! I would for sure feed my boy rats and mice, but I don't think he will take it. He will only eat things that are very wet, mushy, soupy, you know? Even with whole carcass grind I need to mix a bit of water in. |
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on May 16, 2016 18:33:46 GMT -5
Two of mine like a little water on saucer with their meat. Abbey will lap up some bloody water and then get a piece of meat. I have made mouse soupie in my Bullet. To get my newest one to eat chopped mouse, i made a little gravy with a few of these raw rabbit cubes and put on it(petco). Now she will eat mice without them. I usually skin everything and cut up----mine want to stash whole mice---except Annabelle. Abbey seems to choke on fur-- I think she gulps her food.  |
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Post by Heather on May 16, 2016 18:45:59 GMT -5
Your boy could very well have an ulcer. I would be vetting to try and pin it down. IBD/IBS can be treated with pred to bring it under control if needed. Ulcers though a pain are easily treated and often after a couple of treatments can be controlled
ciao
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2016 23:55:45 GMT -5
Your boy could very well have an ulcer. I would be vetting to try and pin it down. IBD/IBS can be treated with pred to bring it under control if needed. Ulcers though a pain are easily treated and often after a couple of treatments can be controlled ciao Do you know how they test for ulcers? Do they need them to do a barium enema or swallow, or something. |
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on May 17, 2016 5:51:39 GMT -5
Heather may know how they test for ulcers in stomach,but for back of throat----my vet took a little flash light and looked in throat.
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Post by Heather on May 17, 2016 11:27:36 GMT -5
Often there is no testing for ulcers, the vet's use symptoms. It takes too long for various tests and blood work to get back and the ferret needs to be treated ASAP. The vet makes a best guess scenario and prescribes the meds. Throat ulcers can be seen with a reasonably cooperative ferret.
ciao
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