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Post by marietta on Aug 1, 2017 17:42:33 GMT -5
I had a blood panel done (and adrenal test done) on Gwin bc I wanted to find out what is going on with his hair loss and we got the regular panel results back which were normal except for his hydration levels. What might cause that on a raw diet and what might I be able to do to fix that?
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Post by LindaM on Aug 1, 2017 21:17:06 GMT -5
The Adrenal test is truly not worth the money it costs to run it. The test will often, if not almost always, come back with false positives. Meaning it will say the ferret is perfectly healthy, when in fact they might actually be Adrenal.
The best, and most often recommended, way to test for Adrenal Disease is to run a few months' trial of Lupron injections or simply do the DES implant. If symptoms begin to improve, the chances of the ferret having Adrenal is pretty much confirmed. It can be a bit harder to tell with very aggressive Adrenal in some ferrets, as the implant seems to not work as well as it should.
In my experience, raw-fed ferrets are much more hydrated than kibble-fed ones. Has Gwin been having any diarrhea or anything similar lately that could have been dehydrating him? Perhaps lots of FDR treats given quite often? FDR as is will absorb moisture from inside, so they shouldn't get a bunch in a single go, it's also why we tend to say rehydrate FDR when given as food. I know you do Frankenprey for food though, but not sure what you do for treats.
How dehydrated is he? Did the vet recommend anything for his dehydration or say how bad it is? Are his gums pale and tacky to the touch? There is a home-made pedialyte recipe somewhere here on the forum to help rehydrate a ferret in need.
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Post by Heather on Aug 1, 2017 21:47:23 GMT -5
If this was the reading on his blood work. Stress will make it show that the ferret was dehydrated
ciao
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Post by marietta on Aug 1, 2017 21:53:48 GMT -5
He doesn't really get any treats other than the occasional dab of salmon oil. He does get off an on diarrhea randomly. I haven't been paying as close attention recently to his poop as I should. Things have just been crazy. Could too much bone and not enough meat cause dehydration? Maybe I'm not giving enough meat if that is a possibility. The only other thing I can think of is that maybe because our finished basement (where their cage is located) can get kind of hot. So I'm wondering if it is too hot for them and maybe causing dehydration. The vet didn't say the dehydration was really bad she just mentioned that she noticed it wasn't quite as good as it should be. She also didn't seem to have suggestions.
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Post by marietta on Aug 1, 2017 21:54:31 GMT -5
If this was the reading on his blood work. Stress will make it show that the ferret was dehydrated ciao Hm that is interesting |
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Post by Heather on Aug 1, 2017 22:13:29 GMT -5
Too much bone will cause constipation and possible blockage risks, too much heat can indeed significantly increase dehydration. Sounds like your wee guys need some more attention to their diet and accommodations if you're having issues with too much bone and heat. These can be significant indicators in health of your ferrets. I know all about crazy things and time constraints but both these issues can create significant health issues and vet expenses. Meat provides moisture but will not protect ferrets from overheating or dehydration
ciao
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Post by LindaM on Aug 1, 2017 22:23:19 GMT -5
I agree with Heather. Definitely keep an eye on how the poops are doing. I believe by now you already know how to spot poops that show that there is possibly too much bone in the current diet, and if it seems that way, replace one of the bone-in meals with a muscle meal and see if it improves. There is a bit of playing room in this as the bone-in meals are usually 7-9 per week, so there is play room in those numbers.
Ferrets being carnivores, get the majority moisture they need from their food, and are thus awful at drinking enough water to make up for any extra loss that could be occurring from the heat. Ferrets also being very prone to heat strokes, makes this even more dangerous. I would invest in some way to cool their basement area if I were you, if it feels hot to you, it's definitely too hot for them. We keep our home at ever higher than 72F year-round, which the ferrets seem to approve of, even though they might fare better in cooler weather still, but hubby and I might not so that's what it's at, lol.
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Post by marietta on Aug 2, 2017 10:27:59 GMT -5
I wasn't saying that they definitely have too much bone in their diet I was just wondering if that might cause dehydration bc then I could take a closer look and make sure they aren't getting too much. I don't think they have too much bone but I wanted to double check.
I am working on addressing the heat issue so hopefully that will be solved soon. I will push a little harder to make sure it is taken care of sooner. I don't want my little guys to overheat.
Thanks for the input.
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Post by LindaM on Aug 2, 2017 13:02:58 GMT -5
Kits need a lot of bone in their diet, so they usually eat the full quota, older ferrets do not need quite as much and may become constipated by comparison, but it varies a lot between ferrets. Which is why keeping track of their poop and intake is so important in a raw diet. It may be that they get exactly the right amount, who knows, only you will be able to tell. But it can be a possibility to check out with your current problem, that's all.
Right now, the heat might be the actual culprit and you'll know once that gets resolved if it was or wasn't.
Good luck and let us know what you find out.
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Post by marietta on Aug 2, 2017 21:29:24 GMT -5
Took a look at their poop tonight and it looks to be ok. The only thing I am noticing is some of it looks sort of seedy. It doesn't look dry or hard though.
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Post by LindaM on Aug 2, 2017 22:18:15 GMT -5
Hmm, I believe while seedy is mostly from undigested fats, it can also occur with too much bone in the diet (the more common sign of course being chalky-looking poops). But if it seemed on the wetter side while seedy instead of hard and dry, then you're probably okay.
I figure the heat might just simply be the bigger culprit. You use water bowls for them to drink from versus bottles, right?
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Aug 3, 2017 6:42:11 GMT -5
Just a thought--- you can add a tablespoon or so of water on your meat. A couple of mine liked lapping up juices from serving whole prey, so when I cut up frankenprey, I sprinkle water on it. Though one of my girls prefers food that is dry.
Yes, do serve water in bowl.
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Post by marietta on Aug 7, 2017 8:41:59 GMT -5
Yeah I use a water bowl. I am thinking it probably just from the heat. Working on getting a portable AC unit to put down there.
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Post by msav on Aug 7, 2017 9:54:24 GMT -5
I always make it a habit of giving soup at least once a week.(so they stay used to eating it in case they get sick) If I suspect dehydration I will give them a daily plate of watery soup util hydration is back up. This always does the trick.
Generally in my experience whenever a ferret starts getting ill. The first sign is dehydration (especially with kibble fed) But can still happen with raw fed.
I keep SubQ fluids on hand in case a ferret gets ill despite my soup augmentation or if I miss the signs and don't give the soup in time.
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