Message Number: YG13597 | New FHL Archives Search
From: caitlynmaire@earthlink.net
Date: 2002-06-06 10:05:00 UTC
Subject: Re: medical advise needed

Hi, Melonie,

> the other however when I got him was very underweight,
> nose was wet and runny (clear), lathargic, His eyes looked stoned and
> runny and just very weak and could not use his hind legs. I took him
> to the vet and she put him on amox drops.

Did the vet check his blood glucose? This sounds a lot like insulinoma,
which is a fairly common disease in ferrets. If so he's going to need
different meds and/or surgery. The good news is that insulinoma can be
controlled and ferrets can live for a number of years with the disease.

> First what is the best diet for him (or both for that matter),

A high quality ferret food, such as:

Totally Ferret
Zupreem Ferret Diet
8-in-1 Ultimate
Path Valley Chicken and Rice
Mazuri

The key is a high protein, high fat diet. You want the food to contain
at least 30%, and preferably 35% or more protein, and 15% fat, and
again, a number around 20% is better. Ferrets are obligate carnivores,
so it has to be a meat based diet. Our vet believe the higer quality
foods formulated specifically for ferrets are best.

Don't buy cheap food. Your ferrets will need to eat more to get the
same amount of nutrition they need, and reward you with mountains of
smelly poop. With a picky guy who doesn't want to eat right now, it
just plain means less nutrition. In the long run the more expensive food
won't cost that much more.

If you can't find any of these brands locally, you can order them online
from: http://www.theferretstore.com

> second how can I get him to gain weight and start eating. He's eating
> VERY little.

Do you know what he was eating before you got him? You may need to mix
some of that in. Also, if he does *not* have insulinoma (and you really
need to find out), you can give him a high calorie supplement like
8-in-1 Ferretvite or Tomlyn Nutrical for Ferrets. Actually, give him a
little of one of these and see if his hind legs work better. That would
be pretty much proof of hypoglycemia since these are sweet.

Another thing you can do, which has worked very well for us when we've
rehabbed ferrets, is to make some of Bob Church's Chicken Gravy. This
is a high quality food made mainly from whole ground chickens with lots
of things to make it balanced for a ferret's nutritional needs. We
serve it warmed, and most ferrets take to it very quickly. Try offering
some on a spoon or your finger tip first, and he may decide he really
likes it. The gravy will put weight on a skinny fert.

Info on how to make it and why it works are at:
http://www.trifl.org/gravy.html I find Pam Sessoms' pressure cooker
method to be the easiest way to make it. Our perenially medically
challenged Pertwee eats this two or three times a day and he is doing
very well right now. Ker Avon, who is recovering from insulinoma
surgery two days ago, eagerly eats the stuff up.

> Third the hind leg thing worries me alot. When I put him on
> my bed to stretch out and get a little exercise he drags his back
> legs. He will try and move a little bit and then flop down in
> exhaustion.

This could be a lot of things, but again, insulinoma is the most common
reason. It's easy to test for, which is why I asked if your vet had
checked his blood glucose. Of course, there are a lot of other possible
explanations. I just think ruling out the common and easy to check
ones is a great place to start.

Good luck to you and your little guy.

All the best,
Caity and the notorious nine