From:
"kazpat1"
Date: 2007-11-18 16:44:12 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: HELP! My ferret chokes on his food, ALOT!
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
He needs to see a vet for an exam, at 1 year old he was due for his
distemper vaccines. If you got him under a year, he is due since all
kit vaccines under a year are then boosted at 1 year and yearly
thereafter. Besides at this point it is not usual to be choking while
eating. Megaespohagus (mentioned by someone else) is something where
food comes up after eating- like a gurgling sound and would happen
whether hard or soft foods. So I doubt this but perhaps early signs?,
but whatever it is it is worth a physical at the vet and perhaps can
be witnessed if he eats while awaiting his appointment.
I also don't know why he would do this with hard kibble only and not
with soft food. You can try a different kibble shaped food and also
check his mouth when it happens to see if any pieces are stuck to the
roof of his mouth.
Having his teeth checked well and also a full physical to at least
rule out medical causes would be helpful at this point.
Also, softening food or feeding meats, etc is not bad for him. It
actually can reduce tooth damage, the main problems are getting the
right diet and spoilage. Whereas, kibble can be left out for days
without spoiling, anything wet , softened, canned, etc would spoil
overnight.
Patty
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, rabbitkayt66@... wrote:
>
>
>
> Hey Patty,
>
> Thanks so much, first of all for the response!
>
> Well, almost every time he eats, it seems he'll not close his pipes
> (airwaves/throat) or stop breathing while he chomps away and will
get stuck in his
> pipes. I'm almost positive the problem is food related because it
happens a
> lot, but 9 out of 10 times he's give one good hack and a lil piece
will fly out
> ....and then of course, he eats it again .....but 3 times now,
including
> right now, since we've had him for the last 6 months-ish, he wasn't
able (and
> hasn't been able to since I've been home from work today) to get it
out for a
> few hours ...sometimes not until the next morning I'll notice that
when he's
> playing, sniffing, drinking/eating, being picked up, etc., that
he's not being
> affected by it still.
> Thanks again for your help! I will be waiting a response!
> Kaytea
>
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