|
Post by bitbyter on Sept 8, 2012 8:24:02 GMT -5
Morning Sheery, So they ate everything I gave them yesterday morning with absolutely no leftovers (that was a total of 5 oz of soup before water being added). In the evening I decided to take a different approach. I gave them 2 oz each and then pulled what they hadn't eated after an hour and put it back in the fridge. They had barely eated anything so this morning I reused it. They are now chowing down on their soups (again a total of 5 oz before water added). This evening I am going to try again with some added ground (maybe turkey this time).
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Sept 8, 2012 11:23:48 GMT -5
It really sounds like you are making progress with this method- so keep at it
|
|
|
Post by bitbyter on Sept 9, 2012 17:06:08 GMT -5
Sigh, I still feel like I am throwing out half of what I am giving them (probably less than this). I had to pitch the ground turkey I made as I think I left it to long in the fridge as it was "boarder line" fresh. They wouldn't touch it. It's so frustrating not knowing if they are just not hungry or if they are objecting to something in the food I am giving them (how it was prepared, different ratios, etc).
Again they ate nothing last night and clean up their plates today. Does anyone else on the board have female ferrets who only seem to eat once a day on raw / whole prey? They are gaining weight so they aren't starving by any stretch.
On the positive side, yesterday was ferret room cleaning day and play evening. I always love playing with them after cleaning the room as I leave them caged for most of the day and they are bursting with energy and excitement when they get out. For the first time EVER Socks was play biting when I was hand wrestling with her (a bit harder than Wilma does) but she has never ever done this before. Usually she would just accept what you were doing to her and then run off if she didn't like it. With the added energy she definitely has more "fire". Also when I picked Wilma up for some "kisses" I noticed ABSOLUTELY no smell. Their scent is now totally neutral. I know a raw diet is supposed to do this but I was amazed at the difference.
I think this week I am going to focus on making and getting them to accept a mouse / rat soup so they have more variety and adding ground chicken or turkey to their chicken soup.
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Sept 9, 2012 18:58:53 GMT -5
Let me talk to some of the other mentors about the meals. Mine tend to eat a LOT more during the night/early morning, but do still eat during the day as well. As for the activity levels, and the neutral odour- isn't it fantastic ;D
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Sept 10, 2012 17:04:45 GMT -5
Okay, just discussed this with Heather. From what she says, most UK ferrets, etc only eat once a day, and they are most likely getting what they need from what they are eating. So give them their meal that they'll eat, and put in a snack for evening time, maybe 1/3 of a meal. That way if they don't eat it, you aren't wasting nearly as much and if they DO decide they want a bit more, it's there for them.
|
|
|
Post by bitbyter on Sept 10, 2012 18:30:12 GMT -5
I've been thinking of ordering some dehydrated stuff for them to chew on as a snack overnight or giving them a duck foot each to increase their jaw strength. I know they'll eat the duck feet as I find a few remenants every so often.
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Sept 10, 2012 20:21:00 GMT -5
That sounds like a great idea! Especially the feet. Those will exercise their jaws preparatory to crunching on bones
|
|
|
Post by bitbyter on Sept 10, 2012 21:39:03 GMT -5
Another benefit of RAW / Whole Prey. As they are so much more hydrated rather than almost continously dehydrated from the kibble, I just noticed how much shinnier their eyes are! They reflect the light all the time now. Before, their eyes always looked a little dull.
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Sept 10, 2012 22:40:23 GMT -5
It is really interesting noting all the changes, large and small And they all add up to a happier, bouncier, healthier ferret!
|
|
|
Post by bitbyter on Sept 11, 2012 8:40:53 GMT -5
Morning Sherry, this is a bit off topic but is kind of food related...
Wilma's loose bum is acting up again. It was sticking out a bit last night (~1/2 cm) and it hadn't receded this morning. Now she could have just used the litter box both times but I am going to pick up some Preperation H on the way home tonight. Any advise to using it on our littke fuzzes?
I've been thinking of taking her into the vet to have him look at her in regards to this but I don't think a purse string is warranted at this point. It just constantly worries me and I don't want it to get worse. Usually it recededs after about 20 minutes but it worries me that it might escalate into a full prolapse at some point. Is there anything I or the vet can do to prevent it from getting worse? It seems to be a repetative problem for her (I think you mentioned one of yours is similar?).
Thanks for any advise you may have.
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Sept 11, 2012 8:58:30 GMT -5
Our Lucrezia can be like that. It happens when she doesn't get enough bone in her diet. She needs it daily. Maybe try increasing the eggshell powder just a wee bit in her soup and see if it corrects itself. Just add a pinch and mix in before giving it to her. Since it's going back in on it's own it's not over a concern just yet. Lucrezia needed something put on her bottom and to have it gently pushed back into place, then I'd put her up in her cage for about 20 minutes to let her calm(she constantly scooted when this happened). For the prep H, apply it and hold her for about 10 minutes to give it time to work.
|
|
|
Post by bitbyter on Sept 11, 2012 9:07:11 GMT -5
She isn't scooting anymore than usual (just after the uses the litterbox) so I guess it really isn't bothering her. I'll give you an update when I get home and I'll up their bone. I am actually going to try ground turkey tongiht with some really based up turkey or chicken necks in it as well.
|
|
|
Post by bitbyter on Sept 11, 2012 21:23:52 GMT -5
When I got home Wilma was totally fine. No need for the Prep H but it's good I have it on hand now. Socks was in one of the tube and if I listend carefully I could here her chewing on one of the duck feet I gave them this morning.
Socks tucked into her plate of soup easily this evening but I had to encourage Wilma with my finger first but she ate a good portion as well. They seem to be eating a little less now that I have started pulling back on the water I mix in. The conistancy is now like a soft mousse or pate. I think tomorrow night I'm going to attempt ground with a bit of watery soup spooned over it.
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Sept 11, 2012 22:53:31 GMT -5
It's not uncommon for them to eat a bit less when it's a bit more difficult for them to inhale it ;D and trying the ground now is worthwhile. If they refuse it, try mixing the ground in with their regular soup.
|
|
|
Post by bitbyter on Sept 11, 2012 22:55:09 GMT -5
Yeah Wilma is she can do her wet / dry vacuum act anymore. ;D
|
|