From:
Lacy Slaunwhite
Date: 2004-10-11 00:09:06 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Ferret refusing to eat kibble
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <15f0356304101017097b5bd41b@mail.gmail.com>
I know it's not quite the same thing, but my ferret would not eat
kibble for a while after his operation.
He was raised for 3 years on Marshall's ferret food and often ate
Science Diet cat food when roaming the house.We changed the cats to
Pets First Holistic cat food and changed my ferret to Totally Ferret
after his operation...
But right after his operation he had to eat Carnivore Care, which is a
powder that you mix with water and feed with a syringe or in a bowl.
Then he was to eat the a/d.
Trying to get him to eat kibble again was really hard. We tried mixing
the kibble with water, chicken broth, beef broth, etc., for it to seem
more appealing but he didn't like any of those.
As weird as it may seem, it was when we tried mixing kibble with a
little bit of soymilk that he started trying it. I cannot speak for
any other ferrets, but mine is very much a soymilk addict - we used to
give it to him once in a while as a treat or bedtime snack - since
ferrets are lactose intolerant and he was intent on sharing anything
we had it was an alternative...
I am not sure how healthy it is for them, but many places have little
drink boxes of soy milk and if you wanted to try it, it might work.
I think Mike is probably right, changing a ferret's food is often very
hard and if the poor kit is used to one kind of food, it might be
really hard to switch her over.. But I would take his advice, try some
popular cat foods, and if you find one she likes, slowly mix the good
stuff into it.
The "leave her with food and she will eat" is usually only recommended
for one day, two max (at least as far as my vet has told me).. If you
can't find anything, you might look at Carnivore Care for the meantime
- I think it's only available at veterinarians but is really really
good for them. Oh.. mixing carnivore care and kibble might also work.
Ferrets are supposed to LOVE Carnivore Care.
I hope this has helped even a little..
Good luck!!! Keep us updated please!!!
-Lacy