From:
autumn_whispers2me
Date: 2005-05-28 14:02:45 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Really Big Boy
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <14314484.1117295269950.JavaMail.nobody@chromium.smartgroups.com>
My Boo-Boo, after losing weight due to ulcers, has gotten back his weight and then
some. He's over 4lbs now and this is not a good weight for 'him.' He's not very
active at this weight, though he does try. Even climbing from one level of the cage
to the other (one level is connectged with a short 'funnels' tube (way the cage is
designed) is difficult for him and he struggles something aweful with getting up and
down through there. Unfortunately, this is the way he has to go to get from the
bedding, food, etc. areas to the litter area at the bottom of the cage.
I've tried cutting his food back (he's still on chicken gravy and refuses to eat
kibble---except for a couple of odd occurances where he did) but he's so fat. He
pees huge puddles and his big ole belly ends up sagging into it because, well, he
wont use the litter pan in or out of a cage (bottom of cage is all litter because most
of my 4 wont use a litter pan at all).
The vet told us a while back that he's too fat, to cut him back, etc. We've tried that
and he ends up acting as if he's starving, clawing and struggling at the next feeding
to get to the bowl. Cutting him back didn't make him lose weight either---he
doesn't exercise much at all, and I think it's his weight doing this.
I know I've mentioned this before, and we've tried everything. At this point I guess I
need to know exactly how much to feed him so I know he's getting 'enough,' but will
still lose some of this excess weight.
Not sure what to do at this point, and this thread made me think of this. Boo-Boo is
several ounces heavier than at his most healthiest weight.