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Post by Melissa Zombie. on Feb 13, 2011 0:10:23 GMT -5
I got him yesterday, and as far as I know, he hasn't eaten since then.. He was found in San Fransico eariler this week and seems to be in good health. I tried feeding him everything I've got.. -.- and he only like FerretLax.. I tried putting it on his food, but he wont go near it.. I've been force feeding him Chicken Baby food, but I've got work so I can't be doing it as much as I should.. Any ideas?
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Post by joclyn on Feb 13, 2011 3:16:16 GMT -5
he's upset, frightened, confused & scared and you probably don't have the type of kibble he's used to...no wonder he's not eating! if he's taking the baby food, that's good. are you warming it up a little?? it tastes much better when it's warm and it also smells better and that makes them more likely to eat it  turkey instead of chicken as that has more flavor and aroma - iow, if it smells good they're more likely to eat it. you also might want to get some canned a/d from the vet - most ferrets like that. i'd leave kibble out for him, too, it may be he just needs to settle in a bit to be comfortable enough to start eating on his own. is he takng in enough water??? i'd be more concerned with that rather than the food - being dehydrated will do more damage than missing a few meals! how is he with urinating & deficating? doing so in a normal amount and with the normal frequency? or down a bit since he's not taking too much in? does everything look okay?? if he's not wanting to eat and what is coming out looks ribbony, then he might have a blockage. considering he was found wandering, it's pretty likely he got into things he shouldn't have when he was looking for food to eat. so, giving the lax once daily is not so bad...and he does like it, so, at least he's getting something!! you can go for 8 hours in between feedings of baby food...although it's not the ideal, he will manage...just make sure you get a good amount into him at each feeding! if he's only eating baby food, he should be taking in 1 whole jar a day, if not a little more. you can leave some out in a bowl for him when you leave for work..even if he only eats a little of it (due to it being cold) that's better than nothing. and just feed him right when you get home to compensate for the extended time. he will need to go to the vet - and sooner rather than later if his stool is ribbony. if he's having normal stool, then, the not eating is just due to him being out of sorts with being in a new place. what kibbles have you given him?? |
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Post by dragonswartz on Feb 13, 2011 4:11:09 GMT -5
What we do here quite often is mix a little furovite in with some warm watered kibble, and my guys seemed to make the adjustment well, now they eat pretty much everything we have after realizing it can't be too bad if everyone else is eating it.
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Post by Melissa Zombie. on Feb 13, 2011 11:21:32 GMT -5
He doesn't willingly eat the baby food, but I will try warming it up and possibly get Turkey. I saw him drink water once, Friday, and haven't seen him drink since.. but he did pee on my yesterday (He's not litter trained I guess) moving him to the box. And his poop is loose.. and what looks to be dark red..
I feed my guys Wellness Core, Zupreem and Mazzuri.. Also, I am calling the vet tomorrow (their closed on the weekends) and I am going to make an opp. as soon as possible.
He is acting very skiddish. I had him in the bathroom yesterday while I was taking a bath, and each time I turned the water on he was jump, and look at me with a worried face.
I hope he's just scared and it's not something worse.
I put Furovite in his baby food, and he still wasn't interested in it. But I'll try those suggestions.
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Post by Melissa Zombie. on Feb 13, 2011 11:58:05 GMT -5
He did eat Chicken Baby food on his own just now.. so I out some in his cage and mixed a few pieces of kibble in it.. and now he doesn't seem interested at all.
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Post by WTFerret on Feb 13, 2011 15:27:55 GMT -5
What was Kim feeding him ? And if he ate nothing there ask Lili to contact the people who found him what they fed him. You should also buy some rescue remedy if you're gonna foster for the club  |
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Post by joclyn on Feb 13, 2011 17:24:22 GMT -5
that's good that he ate the babyfood on his own...if he didn't when the kibble was mixed in, then it's clear he doesn't like the kibble. so, just do the baby food...you can introduce him to the kibble by giving it as a 'treat' - if he's out playing with others, you can give each of them a piece...he might need to see someone else eating it before he will...
keep an eye on his hydration...if he's not, that will cause more problems.
red stool doesn't sound good. keep an eye on it and bring a sample when you go to the vet so it can be checked for parasites as well as blood. although, he IS stressed right now, so, an ulcer would be 'normal' under the circumstances. easily treated too. stool would be black rather than red though, if an ulcer is present...
skittish? yeah, i'll bet he is! he's been lost and in two new places within a short time - his head is spinning! as for the worried look with the running water, he may not like baths - most of mine don't and react to the water coming out of the spigot even if we're at the sink (rather than the tub).
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Post by Melissa Zombie. on Feb 13, 2011 22:37:26 GMT -5
He's only eating when I hold him.  But atleast he's getting something! I'm calling the vet tomorrow and making an appointment asap! He needs to see the vet before he gets to play with my two.. so I can't do that food/treat idea yet.. |
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Post by Melissa Zombie. on Feb 13, 2011 22:41:06 GMT -5
Mike, Kimberly didn't have him long.. and when she did she was at work. She said she didn't think he was eating though.
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Post by WTFerret on Feb 13, 2011 22:48:17 GMT -5
Yea I talked to her and the pecker after I posted here.
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Post by WTFerret on Feb 13, 2011 22:49:20 GMT -5
Hey do me a favor and see if he'll eat raw.
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Post by Melissa Zombie. on Feb 13, 2011 23:09:23 GMT -5
I was thinking that.. but I currently have nothing meat wise (that's not frost bitten). What about deli meat?
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Post by WTFerret on Feb 13, 2011 23:31:29 GMT -5
Naw you dont want to do that. Just buy a chicken breast it something.
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Post by Melissa Zombie. on Feb 14, 2011 12:54:06 GMT -5
Lili told me he was eating crappy Safeway kitten food, so I got some and he's eating it.
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Post by joclyn on Feb 14, 2011 18:31:45 GMT -5
ahh, that's it - he just didn't like what you were offering!! so glad he's willingly eating again!!!
after he settles in (a couple/three weeks) start mixing in the better food so that you can work towards getting him off the crappy stuff.
to make him more amenable to the new stuff, mix some of both in a plastic zip bag and store it for a week - the smells will blend and he'll be more likely to eat the new kibble if it smells like the stuff he's used to. mix it 50/50 for storage and then take some of the mix and put it in the bowl so that, initially, he's only getting about 15-20% of the new stuff. stay at that level for a couple weeks and then do increases by 10% every couple/three weeks (depending on how his body takes to the better stuff) until you've got the crap stuff weeded out.
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turkey instead of chicken as that has more flavor and aroma - iow, if it smells good they're more likely to eat it.
But atleast he's getting something! I'm calling the vet tomorrow and making an appointment asap! He needs to see the vet before he gets to play with my two.. so I can't do that food/treat idea yet.. 