From:
cyprus4211@aol.com
Date: 2004-12-18 19:16:19 UTC
Subject: RE: New & Help
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <2076167.1103397379135.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
I have found that when Tibbie is mad at me he won't eat. Sometimes kissing his butt and being all ga ga goo to him works. Patting him and rubbing his head for a while, then offering him soup works too. One time I was really tired and tired of messing with him. I told him if he didn't eat I was going to make him spend the night in the cold garage. I know that sounds mean, but I was very sleep deprived. Anyway it worked he gobbled his food right down!
Don't give up, ferrets are fighters. I know from first hand experience.
I usually have to out some soup on Tibbie's lips before he'll eat. He doesn't trust his soup, since I've tried to put meds in it before. He has to be sure there is no "poison" in it.
Angelica
Author wrote:
> Just put some of the food on the lips, on the bottom of the nose (not much and not in the nostrils!), or in the mouth. Then hold the ferret on your lap upon a towel. Having some gentle or joyful musci going helps. Not flutes of pan pipes usually since too many don't seem to take to those readily, but guitar or banjo or singing which hearing ferrets often love. Keep yourself calm (Deep, slow breaths if you need them...) because the ferret WILL notice and respond. Sing to the ferret or speak gently and encouragingly. Offer food in a bowl or plate, in a spoon, or from your finger. Do NOT be surprised if you find that certain ferrets prefer specific styles of plates/bowls or spoons since they can be quite individual that way. Finger feeding usually works best but once the ferret begins eating well it doesn't go quite rapidly enough after a while.