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Post by trippyferret on Mar 17, 2011 20:39:16 GMT -5
I typically do things like chunks and hearts at night, so maybe I could cage her in my room on those nights, see how that goes(I hate for her to be separate from her buddies for too long). The only thing I can see her having a problem with is she seems to associate that feeding den with food. That's how she got started with rabbit and quail, and she will run to check it when I come in in the mornings to feed them. Silly girl was hissing up a storm about some rabbit tonight, kept trying to run off with it but it was hooked to the cage. I dunno what to do about Salem, almost every meal I am spoon feeding her. Maybe that will just have to be the way it goes for a while.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2011 23:08:12 GMT -5
Unfortunately, if no other method really works, handfeeding IS what you're left with, though I would definitely still do sessions of containing her in a carrier/den and letting her figure it out, as well (because that did seem to have SOME positive effect), and maybe that way you and her might eventually break the habit
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Post by Sherry on Mar 19, 2011 18:40:08 GMT -5
Just going to jump in here for a moment- sorry sunnyberra! Right now, they'll likely be eating almost double what they'll wind up doing, so I think Sunnyberra is right- you likely need to be putting more in for them right now
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Post by trippyferret on Mar 19, 2011 21:24:14 GMT -5
I put a few more chunks in for them than usual and then they hardly wanted to touch their bone-in meals the next day. I still have not seen Gwen eat anything new. Once this weekend is over I'm on spring break so it will give me more time to really work with them. I added kidney into Salem's soups, and also a little bit of plain yogurt. She is doing ok with it but only eating from a spoon still. I think I'm going to try crating her like you suggested. But I'm concerned she'll be more focused on trying to get out of the crate.
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Post by trippyferret on Mar 20, 2011 19:36:34 GMT -5
I'm stressed. I can't get Salem to eat from the bowl at all now. I tried crating her for about 15 minutes and she just laid there the whole time. I gave in and spoon fed her. *sigh* I don't know what to do. Feeling a bit stuck. She hasn't had chunks in her food in a while because of this behavior. I just can't add anything new or I'm scared she'd go off it all together.
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Post by trippyferret on Mar 21, 2011 9:17:11 GMT -5
I was talking to Erinn(spiritualtramp) last night about Salem's issue. She said she went through the same thing with her fuzzy Tank. She had to handfeed for a month before he had the confidence to eat on his own, and from there it was easy. So it was nice to hear a success story and gave me more confidence as well that Salem will make it. So we'll just keep on trying!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2011 19:11:48 GMT -5
That's great that you've had some moral support. I *know* how tough it can be (and how hair-wrenchingly scary), but I've been lucky in that my guys were pretty easy at the same time! Be careful with the yogurt, as some ferts are very sensitive to dairy (I know my Sian LOVES yogurt but can't even handle a lick without getting the loose stools)
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Post by trippyferret on Mar 22, 2011 10:58:23 GMT -5
If you haven't heard, we've got a new little girl to switch! holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=talk&action=display&thread=992&page=1I was able to get her to eat some soupies off the spoon yesterday, but I left her with some kibbles over night. She's 9 months old, so I'm hoping she will be an easy switch! Gwen has been losing more weight, so I'm pretty sure she hasn't been eating the chunks, hearts, or kidneys. Right now she is lighter than Evie, and she has NEVER been lighter than Evie. So I tried pureeing her some hearts last night and she ate it no problem! So I think that is gonna have to be how I get her eating the other stuff.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2011 18:22:11 GMT -5
I didn't see the topic, but I DID notice your banner right away!
HELLO, PENELOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She is so, so, so cute! Nothing like baby fert-faces *smushes*
Honestly, I'd nix the free kibble at night and just leave the soups or kibble dusted chunks. She's young, but the more you offer the kibble, the more likely she is to resist changing.
If pureeing seems to work, then I'd definitely stick with it, and do what you've done for the soup - gradually thicken it as Gwen gets used to the taste.
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Post by trippyferret on Mar 23, 2011 10:24:50 GMT -5
She's so wonderful, in love with her already. And she is doing fantastic! I didn't take away the kibble that first night because she wasn't eating soupies on her own, and because she's kinda thin. But now she is eating it on her own from the bowl! So proud. She is doing really well. I also gave Gwen some beef puree last night and she did ok with it. Didn't eat as much as I'd like, but it's a start.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2011 8:48:45 GMT -5
That's great for both Penelope and Gwen - we can't expect Gwen to just jump in eagerly right now. At least she's trying the stuff
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Post by trippyferret on Mar 24, 2011 17:38:34 GMT -5
You're right, at least she is trying new things, and I really have a feeling this is going to work for her. So far I've gotten her to try beef, hearts, and gizzards pureed with decent success. And she looks like her weight is coming back too. Yay! Penny also ate some pureed gizzards last night. Soon I will probably start adding chunks to her soups.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2011 22:18:49 GMT -5
It can take awhile to find a method that has the fert-y stamp of approval. It doesn't help that ferts are so opinionated and work on their own "time." At least it's working now, though, and HURRAY for Gwen getting some of that weight back, as well! Sudden, dramatic weightloss is a no-no (unless it's a season slim down, of course; we just don't want it to be diet/health related).
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Post by trippyferret on Mar 25, 2011 15:57:04 GMT -5
Salem is just being ridiculous about the soup now. I changed one thing about her soup, I switched from thigh meat to breast meat because I figured it would be easier to blend without the skin. Now she is almost refusing to eat it, but I am managing to get her to eat most of it. It's just a struggle. I think I may have to switch back to thigh meat, but I don't see why it is such a huge difference to her.
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Post by trippyferret on Mar 26, 2011 20:26:20 GMT -5
She is doing better today. Still eating from a spoon, but not nearly the amount of resistance I have been experiencing with her lately. Thank goodness. BUT. I am starting to really tell a difference in her muscle on the raw soups. She feels thicker, more sturdy. It's awesome! She is looking terrific for 7. How long do you think it will take for me to start seeing results with Penny? She is eating like a horse but she is still real skinny, and it will be a little bit before I see a difference in her coat; she is having a crazy spring shed right now.
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