From:
Karen Purcell, DVM
Date: 2001-09-10 19:56:00 UTC
Subject: Re: HELP: Diet during illness
Danielle,
> Oops. I meant ADV. She tested negative for ADV.
>
> I spent an hour running several searches here(i.e. return hard food,
> soft food, etc.) and also looking around on Ferret Central.
<SNIP>
Okay, let's see if I can write that book (now that I'm recovered
from my vacation ;-)
>SNIP>
: What has been your
> > experience with returning your ferrets who have been on soft food
> > (only hand-fed) to a normal eating schedule (hard food)?
Usually takes several weeks. Don't rush the process.
How do
you
> > wean them off special treatment?
I usually start with baby food, then duck soup mixed 50/50 with
baby food, slowly decreasing the baby food until it is straight duck
soup. At all times after this, kibble is available. Then I start
increasing the percentage of powdered kibble in the duck soup, and
decrease the number of feedings, though still feeding as much as the
ferret wants per feeding. I usually find that they start picking at
the kibble in between feedings. Once that happens, I start backing
off on the amount, unless it is an insulinoma case. Those fellows I
keep on twice daily supplements of duck soup or baby food for the
rest of their days.
Will she ever return to hard
food
> > or will I have to hand-feed her forever?
It takes awhile, but you can get her switched back.
-Dr. Karen
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