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Post by Aftershock on Oct 5, 2017 0:02:31 GMT -5
Wait wait wait, pictures? Heart and other organs ALWAYS make for dark, loose poops. If they aren't used to lamb heart, yes, they can avoid eating it. Even switching brands of meat can cause them to reject it.
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stacylo
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Post by stacylo on Oct 5, 2017 10:33:09 GMT -5
Well danggggggg then. I messed up. I knew I was running low on chicken hearts but didn't think anything of it since they already had been used to lamb protein and I figured lamb heart fit in that same category. Well, the crash course of mistakes and learnings continues I suppose. Okay so where things are at now: They went to the vet this morning since their lethargy came back along with not eating (I did explain to the vet that I messed it up by including lamb heart when they weren't used it.) and they both had fevers still so she's putting them on a 10 day treatment plan instead of just the 3 day that we did Friday-Sunday. I've spoon fed them about 4 ounces total in the last 4 hours or so of lamb soupie with slivers minus heart but with taurine. They have just been sleeping hardcore when I haven't been feeding them. Tomorrow (when the shipment arrives at the butcher) I will stock up on chicken hearts and plan accordingly to never run out again. My plan is to get them eating the lamb soupie with slivers well again, then make the slivers bigger and bigger. And when they're stable with eating again I'll introduce another protein. Does that sound okay Aftershock? I'm open to doing it another way too. How did ferrets evolve to be such picky eaters? Is this behavior that occurs naturally in the wild in the mustelid family? I am more than happy to modify for their finicky food nature I just want to weed out health issues. I feel bad force feeding them if they don't feel well but they also need their nutrients. These last few days have been such a rollercoaster!
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stacylo
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Post by stacylo on Oct 6, 2017 7:49:03 GMT -5
They ate 13 ounces in the last 24 hours. A fair amount of that was spoon fed but still.
EDIT: Oooh! I meant to add, you're totally right about waking rogue up to feed her. She's a lot less sassy and is less worried about missing the action when she's just waking up. She's eat and eat and eat when I get her in that mode.
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stacylo
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Posts: 225
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Post by stacylo on Oct 7, 2017 12:36:47 GMT -5
Alright well another update. They both ate well yesterday though Rogue is only eating when I spoon feed her which is still super problematic to me. Although I do wonder if she's finicky enough that she thinks I'll spoon feed her forever? I'm not quite sure how to get her past this point. She'll eat from my hand with no hesitation but as soon as I try to encourage her to the bowl she runs away.
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stacylo
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Post by stacylo on Oct 7, 2017 16:58:53 GMT -5
Here is a video of me trying to encourage Rogue to eat out of her bowl. I put a couple drops of salmon oil on it.
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stacylo
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Post by stacylo on Oct 7, 2017 20:46:29 GMT -5
I was considering hanging a somewhat smashed up chicken wing tomorrow. Wish me luck with that! They used to eat them with tons of enthusiasm...
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Post by LindaM on Oct 7, 2017 20:51:20 GMT -5
Hey Stacy! Just checking in on your guys (I'm kinda lurking over this thread in the back).
Ferrets can become a bit spoiled when it comes to the spoon. Athena went through a bit of that, wee little snot wouldn't eat unless it was fed to her, and she waited for it like a real madam too. It had taken me a while, but I had finally gotten her off of that. Have you tried lowering the spoon gently down to the bowl as she's eating from the spoon?
Sadly, I cannot seem to see your video, it says unavailable for me.
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stacylo
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Post by stacylo on Oct 7, 2017 21:08:07 GMT -5
LindaM - Oops! Try it again. For some reason it was set to private but I think I fixed it. If that doesn't work I'll re-upload. I have tried gently lowering but she is too smart and stops following the spoon or my finger haha.
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Post by Aftershock on Oct 7, 2017 23:24:42 GMT -5
Looks like a couple of drops of salmon oil is a good way to get her off the spoon
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stacylo
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Post by stacylo on Oct 8, 2017 10:25:30 GMT -5
Well the salmon oil bit did not work this morning. She just walked away from the bowl. She also only gained one ounce this week and Calamity has caught up to her in weight. This worries me a bit. Rogue is SO finicky and that seems surprising for a kit, right?
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Post by Aftershock on Oct 8, 2017 10:31:46 GMT -5
How are energy levels? Is she drinking/playing/pooping like normal?
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stacylo
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Post by stacylo on Oct 8, 2017 10:37:40 GMT -5
I think her energy levels are a bit lower than her normal self. She also did a super brief coughing/dry heave thing a few hours ago that has me on high alert. It only lasted a couple seconds and there was no pawing at her mouth. She's on medicine for the coccidia treatment (which had a negative stool sample but the first three doses seemed to improve so much we kept going). I did do a blockage protocol on her yesterday to double check that all was well since her eating is so light and her appetite is much lower than Calamity's. Here is a picture of their poop this morning: imgur.com/a/Zf9IICalamity's is the globby one, Rogue's is the orangeish as she clearly is still passing pumpkin. I'd think that the pumpkin and vaseline lowered her appetite except she truly will not eat on her own before the pumpkin. The slight red tint to it makes me slightly nervous except that they've had heart and liver in their soupie so I figure it's just that. But I could be wrong. So far she has had zero interest in the chicken wing as well.
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stacylo
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Post by stacylo on Oct 8, 2017 12:45:31 GMT -5
Rogue is chewing a bit on the chicken wing! If I read her facial expressions and body language correctly, she's chewing with a fair amount of skepticism but I quickly walked away because I don't want to disturb her. Maybe I just need to give her more time to get accustomed. I was reading some other threads (and I know I shouldn't compare by fuzzbuts but it's sooooo hard) and I wonder if I need to just take my dandy old time getting them switched. Like maybe if the chicken wing is a success (doesn't destroy Calamity's tummy) I'll keep it to just lamb soupie and slivers and chicken wings for awhile and see what happens. I don't know. Thoughts?
My brain does better and stresses less when I have a strategy to go with.
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stacylo
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Post by stacylo on Oct 8, 2017 19:51:38 GMT -5
In typical Rogue fashion, ate the egg and left the slivers - imgur.com/a/I4BUr. Why can't my babies be normal babies??!?! :D
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Post by Aftershock on Oct 9, 2017 12:22:24 GMT -5
RE red tint- I see it occasionally in my crews poop, but I usually grab a baby wipe and pick it up to squish it to check color. It has always turned into a brown color on the baby wipe. If you are worried, squish it! You'll never know unless you actually poke through it. It also helps to become more familiar with what their poops usually look like in case something goes amiss. RE chicken wing- That's great news! Skeptical or not just be prepared in case she takes a step back. RE comparing your switch to others- I know how hard it is, but seriously, when you read through them look for for the little tips and tricks over the time frame. Time means nothing. Measure it in steps and keep repeating that slow and stead wins the race. Look at it this way, occasionally offering big chunks or wings and testing if they will take to it again isn't a problem, I encourage it, but you need to be prepared that they may not take to it and to take small steps backward and see where they end up. It's hard to not become frustrated or upset, but just tell yourself it is what it is, and that it will get back to what it was eventually. Okay- question time, How old are they now (in months please)? How much are they currently eating?
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