Weight loss instead of weight gain?

[Deleted]

It's getting to be winter, and one of my girls, Bea, seems to be growing into her spring coat instead!
Her sister, Darcy, is all set, though. She's bigger, fluffier, and has the chubby winter belly, which is what Bea had for a few months, but now she's losing weight and her coat is changing. 

They're both very young, Bea will be 10 months this month and Darcy will be 6 months. They're both rawfed. Darcy always eats first, and Bea will eat last but she always gets enough food, so I dont think she's starving. Although, i am concerned that she isnt getting enough organ...will feeding whole prey help with this? Bea LOVES whole prey. 

Bea is acting normal, but she's lost quite a bit of weight. Could this be from the lack of organ? Or is something setting her off? Is this worth a vet visit? 

Thank you! 

[Sherry]

Sounds like she has her seasons mixed up. Ferrets would normally be born in the spring/summer. Yours was born in winter which would explain that.

[crazylady]

sherry has hit the nail on the head it sounds like a mix up in seasons take care bye for now
Bev

[Deleted]

Agree with the above!

To answer your other questions...whole prey contains a balanced amount of bone/muscle meat/organ. "Prey model raw" - the type of raw diet most of us here follow - is an attempt to achieve the natural, whole carcass balance using non-whole prey food items. Whole prey is ideal as long as adult animals are the main portion of the diet and you offer a variety of appropriate prey animals. You can use juvenile animals (pinky mice, chicks, etc.) occasionally but these tend to be too high in fat and low in calcium.

Feeding the right balance of organ meats is important, however I don't think it would effect weight. Weight gain/loss is usually relative to the amount of calories and the macronutrient profile (carbs:protein:fat) being consumed. If she's not eating enough organ meat, however, you could see other issues like vitamin deficiencies.

A few ideas to keep their meals balanced...you could feed them separately so you can monitor the portions each ferret eats, or you could set up a weekly menu where you have organ days - instead of offering a smaller portion of organ every day - where you only offer organ meat or a grind/soup that has the right ratio of organs for the weekly schedule - so you are certain they are eating balanced amounts of organs.