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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2012 14:32:53 GMT -5
My little roan/silver male that came in almost two weeks ago has mushy seedy stools. When he came here he was skin and bones, individual vertibrea type skin and bones. I was suprised he was still alive. He came to the pound covered in a really bad flea infection, which they immediatly treated. I love that they always do that for me. Anyway, for over a week he was eatting one to two cups of kibble (my mixed kibbles) and putting on weight. He still needs some more weight and a lot of muscle tone, but he is much healthier and the eatting is slowing down. However, he has seedy mushy stools. We checked for worms, no problems there. The vet didn't feel any masses in his belly either. Feeding something like Marshall's was suggested. When I asked why since I was already feeding much higher quality foods, the tec said she thought it was more a suggestion to only have one protein source. As Marshall's is one of the only ferret foods avalible at both pet shops around here, I'm not too suprised at the suggestion. However, I'm wondering if their is something I can do to help him along. I can switch to just a single kibble, but what else will help? I'm not sure if pumpkin will help or if a dab of yogurt will do the trick. His belly probably is trying to rebuild the good bacteria after nearly being starved to death. His energy level is good and he is drinking water regularly.
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Post by Sherry on Aug 8, 2012 15:16:23 GMT -5
It's just going to time for him to stabilize. Between the starvation, the meds(flea treatment), and the new foods, to say nothing of the stress he must have been under his entire system is going to be out of whack.
If he continues to improve physically I'd just wait.
Although a bit of pumpkin and maybe a probiotic isn't going to hurt.
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Post by Heather on Aug 8, 2012 15:33:14 GMT -5
Chances are it's his body trying to get accustomed to good, regular food. I find a few of my nutritionally deprived wee ones have a hard time processing fats. Some pumpkin might indeed be worth adding. I would be very careful about yogurt. It's a dairy product and he's already having problems. A healthy ferret would be able to metabolize this new food, he's already having problems with the upgraded foods he's eating. You may want to use just one kibble too. I'm not saying go to marshals but if you're dealing with a sensitivity then you can narrow it down by adding one kibble at a time. I'm betting too much of a good thing
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2012 16:55:40 GMT -5
Okay. I was hopeful that you gals would think it is an adjustment to not starving and having good food. The yogurt though was to provide probiotics. What do you think of Marshall's Duck soup as a short term boost for his tummy? He is still a major poop factory, but not as massive as the first week.
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Post by Sherry on Aug 8, 2012 17:52:37 GMT -5
Honestly? I will NOT trust any food product put out by Marshall's. Talk to your vet and get some benebac or fortiflora instead. Even better, pick up some kefir from the refrigerator section of your local grocer's.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2012 18:34:56 GMT -5
Okay. I bought some Kefir and gave him a little bit. It looks like he may have licked some, but he seems more interrested in knocking the dish around. Next time I'll use a heavier dish. How much and for how many days should I give this to him? Also, how long can it be left in his cage? I know nothing about Kefir.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2012 18:37:27 GMT -5
Is EVO in your mix? My kids always had bad stools on EVO.
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Post by Sherry on Aug 8, 2012 18:48:42 GMT -5
He could have a half tsp daily I'd think for a couple or three weeks to improve the good gut flora.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2012 19:12:40 GMT -5
@ Jackie, no Evo
@sherry thanks for the amount and duration
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Post by allybeanspleen on Aug 8, 2012 19:29:09 GMT -5
seedy stool is generally caused from plant proteins in their food. if he was/is on a diet with plant proteins in there, that could cause it. i know that's what was happening with my girls
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Post by Sherry on Aug 8, 2012 19:37:05 GMT -5
Don't mean to contradict you Ally, but seedy stools can be caused by many things. Yes, plant proteins are definitely a reason. But anything that affects digestion will do it. Whether it's a change to a new diet, to stress, to IBD.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2012 19:34:20 GMT -5
Update, I've moved him to the bottom level of my personal ferrets so I can keep a better eye on him. I gave him some kefir last night and am giving him and a new pair some pumpkin, wysong achtype I, and kefir in hopes that it will help their digestive woes. One of the new bonded pair has developed the runs. Hopefully this will do the trick.
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Post by Sherry on Aug 11, 2012 23:45:16 GMT -5
Fingers crossed, and let us know. If the stool becomes yellowish, foamy, and foul then it's likely developed into a bacterial overload and may need antibiotics.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2012 10:32:54 GMT -5
Thanks for the heads up. I'll keep a close eye out for that.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2012 13:32:19 GMT -5
Definitely keep us posted!
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