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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2011 22:55:41 GMT -5
*I* think you can - I've always been comfortable with the method myself, as long as the fert's healthy. And if *you* are comfortable with it too, go right ahead. A purposeful fast generally sparks a great appetite in the stubborn poopers! And that's great for Salem! Maybe we found the food to convince her to eventually switch (also, no problem! It happens )
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Post by trippyferret on Feb 7, 2011 21:54:12 GMT -5
Well, it seemed to work to get Gwen eating chicken again! So that worked out pretty well! Salem is eating the tiny CGH chunks in her soups and I'm thinking I'll increase the size tomorrow, see what happens.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2011 22:02:50 GMT -5
\o/ That's awesome, and let me know how Salem does on the bigger chunks
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Post by trippyferret on Feb 8, 2011 10:30:50 GMT -5
I think we did it! We found a source she likes! Salem ate the bigger CGH chunks this morning, and I am a proud mamma! Gwen was a bit iffy about eating chicken again this morning, but then she saw Bomber eating it and she had to have it. lol! Last thing I know was they were both in the feeding den sharing a piece. Yay!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2011 20:27:13 GMT -5
That's great! Now we can start really working on getting her off of the soup and on to just meat.
(I don't know if you have done or not, but boneless chicken BREAST is a very bland meat, as well, and many ferrets like it in the beginning vs. darker meat)
Is Gwen showing any interest in new protein sources yet? Or is she still being stubborn?
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Post by trippyferret on Feb 8, 2011 20:55:00 GMT -5
Yep, Gwen's still being stubborn! I tried to get her to try goat tonight and she was just not having it! I smothered it in salmon oil(their favorite treat) but it didn't work at all! I'm guessing goat is pretty strong tasting too, like beef? Salem on the other hand is doing wonderfully, she is eating the slightly larger CGH chunks in her soups and loves it. Should I keep doing that for a couple of days, or can I try to go bigger tomorrow and see how she does? I have tried the boneless breast but that just didn't go over as well as the CGH.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2011 21:00:05 GMT -5
Goat is a gamier meat, so it's not that surprising that she's a bit hesitant (I'm actually trying my guys on it tonight, LOL). Mainly I would just be trying her on the pork and turkey stuff right now, if you can. She *needs* that variety. For Salem, I'd try the bigger chunks, and if she seems to regress, just go back to the old size for a day or two longer. Great work! Your guys are really doing amazingly well
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Post by trippyferret on Feb 10, 2011 11:02:31 GMT -5
I think I need to start adding pumpkin to their soups. Salem was throwing up her breakfast all over the place this morning. Just about scared me to death. Everything she threw up looked just like it did before she ate it. Her poos have been awful too, mucousy and liquidy. I increased her's and Gwen's feedings to 3 times a day instead of 2, I don't think they have been eating enough. Hasn't really helped the bad poos though, so I am gonna add in the pumpkin. I guess ever since the last time I reduced the amount of kibble in their soups, it started giving her problems.
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Post by trippyferret on Feb 10, 2011 11:05:01 GMT -5
What if I added some bone meal to her soups instead of the eggshell? Do you think that would help? Also, I bought a pack of gizzards/hearts yesterday and there was only ONE heart in the whole pack. Pretty peeved about that, now I've got to hope I find another one with more hearts.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2011 14:43:26 GMT -5
It can. I know the dosage for the eggshell (1/2 tsp/8 oz), but I don't know if the amount differs for bone meal (I'll ask another mentor for you).
Pumpking won't harm them at all, and you can add 1/2 tsp/ferret at every meal you give them. The weird/bad poos could be becuase of that (soup diet, even with chunks, are not going to make the greatest pos). As for Gwen getting sick this morning, was it on the chicken? It could be that she was eating too fast.
Keep an eye on it, though, because if it becomes chronic, there could be another issue (as w ell as with the poos, if they decline behaviorally, there might be something besides a little tummy upset).
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Post by trippyferret on Feb 10, 2011 15:52:03 GMT -5
It was Salem that was puking up everywhere, not Gwen. She was lapping up her soups with much vigor this morning, so maybe it could have been she ate too fast. She seems pretty normal, but the poos seem to have started when I decreased the kibble in the soup more, so I think that's what the problem is. I'll start putting in the pumpkin and see how that goes. They are used to getting pumpkin, especially during shedding season. Lemme know what you find out about the bone meal, I'm going to try and find some asap.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2011 20:58:36 GMT -5
Oh, sorry :C I was reading quickly and responding in class (bad me). The poos *could* be a result of the lack of fiber as you reduce kibble (kibble fed ferts generally have well-shaped BMs 'cause of all the bulk in it). Raw diets, especially with a lot of meat and less bone (as in a switching diet) can result in some runnier stuff, so pumpkin should be great in getting the poos more formed and healthier. And definitely, with more liquid/slush diet, there's more of the chance of eating too fast (since it's easy to gulp down and they don't have to really do much work). I talked to Sherry abou the bone meal, and it should be fine in the soup - same amount that you're using for the eggshell should work for the bone meal
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Post by trippyferret on Feb 10, 2011 21:36:34 GMT -5
Good, because I just ordered some! I want them to get phosphorous too, because if they are on soups for a while eggshell is only going to provide the calcium. Oh, and the pumpkin did the trick, poos are much better and no vomiting. Salem is eating those CGH chunks in her soup like there's no tomorrow. I'm so proud. I just increased the size yesterday and it's been no problem! She and Gwen eat every bit. Gwen also ate some chicken wing chunks this morning. She is getting better with the bone. But she won't eat gizzards!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2011 18:55:42 GMT -5
That's great ;D About the gizzards - is it the taste Gwen's unfamiliar with or is it the work involved in eating it? Because if it's getting her used to the taste, you could puree them up with some baby food and oil and see if she likes it. Get her used to the taste/smell that way and then try introducing them unaltered afterward. Just an idea Now, about Salem's soup, how much kibble is in there? Because if she's really gung-ho, you can maybe think about making a batch of just completely raw soup (no kibble) and see if she's game for that!
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Post by trippyferret on Feb 11, 2011 19:19:54 GMT -5
Yeah, I'd say it's the taste. But your idea is a good one and I'm going to try it out tomorrow. There's about... 1/4 cup kibble in the soup now. Every couple weeks I've been reducing it by 1/4, and tomorrow when I make my next batch I was actually planning to leave the kibble out! I hope the bone meal gets here soon in time for me to make the following batch after that.
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