From:
"possum1213"
Date: 2007-01-24 20:44:11 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Ugg -Force feeding and ferretone
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, Vicki Montgomery
<ferretfrenzy@...> wrote:
> I forced a sick little girl once; she did not aspirate the soup, I
was taught well and very patient. But, she knew it was time for her
to go when I did not. Forcing her only made her miserable and later
left me with a sense of guilt about syringing food into her mouth.
I swore then that I would never again force an animal to eat and I
won't. >
When an animal continues to push food away and it becomes stressful
for both of you, that can be a very clear message. However, there
is nothing wrong with syringe feeding an animal. I only see it
as "force feeding" if you have to fight with them. Most ferrets
that I have syringe fed have their little tongues licking at the air
until I get the syringe into their mouths. Often, they will not eat
enough on their own, and syringe feeding is a good way to make sure
they are getting all the sustenance they need. I know exactly how
much is getting into them. When the time comes that they are
continually fighting me, clamping their mouths shut, and refusing to
eat, then the whole thing needs to be re-visited.
I think we are getting into semantics here. Call it what you want.
I try to call it syringe feeding, so that others don't misinterpret
that I'm forcefully holding the animal down and pushing food into
its mouth. It's not that at all.
Often, an animal is sick but will recover, and needs prodding to
eat, just as we sometimes do. I would hate to think that I let an
animal slowly starve because I stubbornly refused to syringe feed
under any circumstances.
I weigh all of my ferrets monthly. If one has any weight loss, I
may do a few syringe (or bowl) feedings to get their weight back
up. Often, that's all that's needed.
Katharine
Florida
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