From:
autumn_whispers2me
Date: 2005-01-29 16:24:00 UTC
Subject: Weight gain after illness getting out of control
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <20050129162400.11444.qmail@web54505.mail.yahoo.com>
Hi everyone: You may recall my situation with Boo-Boo, my ferret who was diagnosed with ulcers, was suspected of having CRF among other things until recent labs showed differently. He had lost almost half his weight and was a very thin 2lbs. We've been feeding him Bob Church's chicken gravy, sans bones and eggshells (per vet). The ulcers are pretty much healed, but he still grinds his teeth some.
He began gaining, which was great in the beginning since the poor guy was skeletal, but he kept gaining and gaining. The vet suggested feeding him every 8hrs, but I was warned by numerous people on other groups not to wait that long to feed him. The vet also suggested just placing the bowl of gravy in front of him so he could eat what he wanted and however much he wanted. I told them I wasn't force-feeding, but would try that. He's still eating a LOT.
To let you know how much he's eating and how fat he's gotten---when he pees his poor tummy gets in it and I have to wash him off. He's lethargic, but I think now it's due to the weight moreso than illness. He's still not wanting his dry kibble, so we're getting a different kind today, and we're pretty sure it's going to take some coaxing and we need some ideas on how to handle this because it's confusing with his low activity level trying to figure out what he needs nutritionally.
He's a bit over 4lbs. Before the illness struck him he was a healthy, non-fat, non-round 3.8 lbs, but it looked different on him than his current "just over 4lbs" weight, probably because he was active and perhaps more muscular? Now his just round and he looks like he's miserable when he walks, waddling and such. But I guess even that little bit of extra weight is a lot for a ferret.
Anyway, I have to do something to help him. First he was sick and miserable, and now he's fat and can't play the way he used to... and I think he wants to because he just looks so sad sometimes. It's my gut feeling when I watch him that if he weren't so heavy he'd play with the others like a normal ferret (just a guess, though). He just finished the rest of the antibiotics a couple of days ago and we're going to get him some pepcid AC to keep on hand in case the tooth grinding starts getting worse (he fights tooth and nail over the carafate, unfortunately, no matter how we try and disguise it).
My problem is this: I don't know how much to feed him or how often. The vet told us every 8hrs, but again, we've heard that's just too far apart for their metabolisms. The vet also said the chicken gravy is probably too fatening right now, so we're wondering how to make it more low-cal without making it deficient in nutrients. We used to mix it with A/D food, but we're wondering if we should buy another brand of ferret food (like Zupreem ????) and soften it and start mixing that with his gravy until there's no more gravy and he's eating just the Zupreem? Or, since we're not going to change everyone's food completely but start mixing two brands (Sheppard is what's in the cage now and he wont touch it) we thought we'd soften the zupreem and the S&G and mix with the gravy. But we don't know how much to mix with the gravy, how often to feed it, or even how much to feed.
I really could use some of ya'lls advice. He is SO miserable with this weight---I can see it in him. He doesn't trust the S&G food I think because of the stomach pain he had before (I think he's associating the pain with that food).
What I'm starting to do until I figure out what how I should approach this in a healthful way for him: please correct me if this is wrong!!:
1. Moved his feedings to every 5hrs instead of every 4, which will eliminate one feeding (I don't feed him in the night anymore per the vet two weeks ago).
2. Lowered the amount given from letting him eat what he wants until he stops to about 30 cc's max.
Other than the above, and trying to start introducting the Zupreem, then later the regular food, I don't know what to do, but something needs to be done starting today. We really thought (per the vet) that if the bowl were set in front of him that he would regulate the amount eaten, but that's not happening.
And exercise: the weight is making him very sluggish. He wants to play and explore, but he skin-rugs a lot (speed bump) and it looks like he's just tired, yet he's awake like he wants to do more. I feel so sorry for him. I don't know how to get him moving.
Please help so we can get his quality of life back to a more fun, enjoyable and full of dancing one.
Thank you, and sorry so long.
Ella & the furkids
For the love of ferrets and the human hearts they hold...
Ella, Pixie, Boo-Boo, Peanut, and Tocho, and the bassets, Josie & Julep
www.autumnwhisperstome.com/thelastpound (weight loss forum)
www.thecorridors.com
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