From:
katharine
Date: 2001-06-29 17:05:00 UTC
Subject: Re: ferret only eating baby food
Aileen wrote:
<My ferret Slinky "decided" a few weeks ago that
the only thing he
will eat is Gerbers chicken baby food. He's got
kidney failure and
problably doesn't have too much longer. He's been
to the vet and
we've explored various possibilities, but there's
nothing left to do,
since a kidney transplant is right out.<
I can't help you with the calories but I must tell
you that Gerber's chicken baby food is the worst
thing for Slinky to be eating. He needs lower
protein when his kidneys are not functioning
properly and meat (chicken) is loaded with
protein. Of course, if he is at the end stages of
kidney disease, I guess it doesn't really matter.
Has renal failure definitely been diagnosed
through bloodwork? How long has he had it? What
preventive care have you been using until now?
Any medications? Fluids?
I posted just a few days ago about my experience
with renal failure/kidney disease, including the
diet I'm using. You may want to search the
archives.
Good luck with Slinky. I fully understand what
you're going through. My Champ is starting to
fuss about eating again. I'm not sure where to go
with him now. We'll see his Doc next week and
talk about it. I don't think he's in pain but he
certainly has little quality of life. I think he
sleeps >23 hours a day. I take him out of the
cage, feed and medicate him, and he goes and find
a hidey hole to go back to sleep. He rarely stays
up for any length of time. I'm not sure he's
getting any enjoyment from life anymore.
Katharine