Message Number: YG8719 | New FHL Archives Search
From: katharine
Date: 2001-11-15 19:58:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Can any one help? Smelly ferret poop

I've been reading everyone's responses and I have
to say that my first thought was the same as
Alicia's. When someone says "super smelly poop",
I first think of giardia, coccidia, etc. These
parasites stink to high heaven. I certainly can
tell when my wildlife babies have one of these.
It may take several fecal samples to identify
them. Perhaps you could collect a sample each
time he goes for a day or so and keep them
separate for your vet. He could then look at each
one.

The prolapsed rectum could be from diarrhea but it
may also be from him trying to eat too rich a diet
for his age. I think I would try a bland diet for
a while, such as Gerber's chicken baby food or
Hill's A/D (or mixed together). You could add a
little ground kibble to it. This will probably
help his little bottom and also keep his little
tummy soothed.

Russell is right. Be sure to get 8 in 1
ULTIMATE. He taught me that <g>. Since you're
not sure if it is the Marshall's causing the
smell, I would not feed it for a while. Just
close it up tight and keep it in the refrigerator
until this episode is over. It will keep.

Does everyone really think the older one got ECE
from the baby? Can they die that quickly from
it? I have no idea.

Make sure the baby is not getting dehydrated from
the diarrhea. If he is a little bit dehydrated,
you can try giving him Pedialyte (baby section in
the grocery store). If it's more serious, you may
need to give lactated ringers sub-q.

Well, that's my two cents on the issue. Probably
not even worth that much.

BTW, has anyone ever had a ferret who teaches the
others his GOOD habits??? Just wondering. Doc,
my latest adoptee, has taught all the others all
sorts of things, none of them particularly good
<g>. He has gotten into more trouble in a month
than every ferret I've ever owned combined! And,
they're all learning quite well from him. Total
chaos is the order of the day around here.

Katharine