From:
Debi Christy
Date: 2001-11-04 05:58:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Funky stools persistent
... My boy is so fat in the belly and it feels hard but his recent
ultra-sound
> showed only a slightly enlarged spleen, which the vet says is
common....Lastly Bandit will only eat Science Diet Maintenance
Formula for Cats and
> there is not enough protein or fat in it so I supplement his
feedings...
Does Bandit still have his anal sacs? I've seen several males with
unexplained soft or thin stools and "hard" stomachs (abdomens, not
large spleens) that had impacted anal sacs(or the beginnings of).I
don't know if this is actally a general symptom of that problem, or
just anectdotal. We'd have to get a vet's opinion on that.
You probably don't need to get quite that creative with the
supplements. Once every two days or so of a vitamin supplement is
likely to be quite adequate but I'm sure Bandit's not complaining
about all the 'treats', lol. I'm pretty sure 1/4 jar of chicken baby
food a day in addition to S/D Maintenance should be enough protein. I
believe too much protein is an extra strain on the renal system.
Keep in mind that low (ferret)nutrition foods will result in larger
stools as more of the intake is actually wasted material from the
beginning. I'd think that their system would be worked harder
to "strain out" the needed nutrients and "dispose" of the junk, which
leaves the phrase "stressed digestive tract" prominent in my mind,
but that's just my non-scientific opinion and is substantiated only
by my own observations.
I've had several that developed an intolerance for corn in foods, and
several that cannot tolerate foods (or treats) containing corn gluten
meal in particular without digestive tract upset, but this type of
upset does not occur with "hard" abdomens, just diarrhea or allergic
reddening of mouth & muzzle.
For what it's worth, I've never had a ferret that I couldn't
eventually coax into eating a good food, without stress (I'm real big
on the "no stress" part)... out of hundreds of ferrets. It's a simple
matter of time and keeping the good food always available and mixed
with the "junk food". That's offering it to them by hand, rubbing it
(gently) on their mouth several times daily, grinding it to a powder
to sprinkle on the "junk" food, making kibble & water soup from it
daily or every other day, and being persistent in reducing the amount
of "junk" for as long as it takes... never has taken longer than 3
months, and usually less than 2 months to completely switch to a new
food.
Only very rarely have I ever seen a ferret like a new food the first
time it's offered.
Debi Christy
Ferrets First Foster Home
http://www.geocities.com/ferretsfirst