From:
Steve Austin
Date: 2003-07-22 17:28:16 UTC
Subject: finicky eaters
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <20030722.134041.1588.3.kazpat1@juno.com>
Since you said you think she passed it all, any chance she didn't?
Was she always a finicky eater, or only now? IS she drinking well?
I don't usually force feed so to speak, if possible you can try a few
things,
take her kibble add some hot water, let it get real mushy, and add a
little ferretvite and feed it off your finger or a spoon ( the finger
works
best), get some meat baby food and feed it warmed up off your finger.
I have quite a few who won't eat my chicken gravy unless it is off
my hand. O.K., maybe I am spoiling them, but once I start them I can
usually get them to finish in the bowl. I hold the ferret on my lap and
put the food on my finger and offer it, if not taken, I put some on the
mouth area, and as the head turns and the lick starts to get it off I
push some more by the tongue that is licking, and hopefully that jump
starts
the eating. IF it is a new food I have to try a few times before the
ferret
will take it. I have not had any ferret refuse to eat unless the ferret
was ill, or had stomach ulcers ( in that case there was grinding)
Separate her if you have other ferrets so you can judge exactly what
she is eating and drinking, and check her stools/pee well.
IF she is vomiting, not passing normal stools, getting weak you will
need to go the vet for xrays,etc. It could be other things as well, you
didn't mention her age.
The only ferret I had that was older and chewed everything, was also
adrenal. I don't know that they are necessarily always together, and
I am sure kits chew,etc
Good luck, let us know how she does.
Patty
> She is becoming afraid of me because I'm force feeding her .... it
> breaks my
> heart. Does anyone have any other ideas for finicky eaters?
> Crushed chow
> w/Ferretone, duck soup, baby food, canned tuna, even lunch meats,
> have all been
> tried. Any other suggestions? She still plays and isn't grinding
> her teeth so
> I'm hoping she's not uncomfortable. I'm sure I could be wrong. I'm
> at a
> loss, though, and any help would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> -Y-
>
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