From:
ChaoticFer8s@aol.com
Date: 2001-10-20 01:35:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Two day old orphaned kits
Hi Pam - I am posting this on the list and to your e-mail address. Although
I have succeeded in handraising from birth, it is so hard that I would have
to say almost impossible to do. A pipette to drop Esbilac Puppy Milk (my
preferred) on the back of the tongue is about the only thing that works -
drop by drop round the clock. Also, with regard to your next post on the
lack of colostrum, well...I have a ferret over 4 years old who I completely
hand raised and she is healthy (X Fingers for writing this).
I also have a jill, Isabelle, whose last two kits (12 weeks) just left for
their new home. I just checked her nipples and although they have gone down,
they are still pink colored and on a gentle squeeze of one, I got a drop of
milk. She could be re-lactated. i have also done this before. Also, if
anyone has a jill that is falsing or just falsed, that jill can also nurse
newborns.
However, now comes the big "but". At three days old now, I would suspect
they are extremely weak and might be rejected by any foster mother. At three
days if the mother does not have milk or died as in this case, they usually
succumb. On the other hand, I have placed "no hope" babies with lactating
mothers who coddled and raised them.
While all baby ferret life is precious, any breeder will tell you that the
trail is littered with lost babies. They are so very fragile. Also, I live
in Northern Virginia which is a good distance away.
I have a jill on the verge of delivering - actually has begun as I write
these words but she is for a "special project" and will be leaving for
mid-country on Tuesday or Wednesday. As she is a first time mother, I do not
know yet if she will be a good mother or not - most are, but you never know.
Why did the mother die? If she had infection, it is possible the kits might
pass this on to another mother and litter. Also, if the owner was trying to
hand feed, it is likely the kits have aspirated milk and might be lost to
aspiration pneumonia. Are the kits dark colored and weak? You can call me
if you wish at xxx-xxx-xxx. I am sorry to say, however, that saving these
kits is a long shot. Regards, Meg
In a message dated 10/19/01 2:55:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
pjdutche@e... writes:
<< Hey all,
This is a little convoluted at this point, but it's time-critical, so I'm
casting about (flailing?) wildly for help.
Long story short, there are four baby kits in a town about an hour away
from me that lost their mother in birth TWO NIGHTS AGO. They have been
"dropper fed" - I do not know with what - but their caretaker now wants
someone to take them.
If anyone can answer any of the following, it would be greatly
appreciated:
- Is it even possible to handraise kits this young, or do they really need a
lactating jill to nurse them?
- If it is possible, does anyone have a formula and technique that can be
used to hand-raise kits at this age.
- Any contact info on any responsible breeders anywhere near Greensboro,
NC, or surrounding states, that may have good advice or maybe even a jill
that could take these babies.
Please e-mail me directly at pjdutche (@) email.unc.edu (repair
address).
Thanks for any help,
-Pam S.
>>