From:
"Meryl Faulkner"
Date: 2009-02-13 02:05:02 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Any benefit giving pumpkin (for loose stools) to ferret with kidney disease?
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Xena (previous posts concerning her renal disease) seems stable and is
going in for follow up blood work end of this month. (past BUN on 1/21
= 169, 1/30 139). I wondered if there would be any advantage to adding
pumpkin to Xena's "gravy". She gets a mix of Gerber's chicken - approx
2-3 tsp mixed with 1 tsp A/D, 1 tsp water,about four -five times a
day, twice daily I add 1/12 tsp Epakitin mixed with "gravy".Once a day
1/2 capsule of Azodyl. Those last two are "supplements" vet said give
them a try - can't hurt. I sub-cue her 30 mls LRS twice a day while
she's drinking her slurry of food. Her body condition seems better,
her remaining (shaved for ultrasound)body hair has a nicer "feel",
perhaps the melatonin - or maybe the sc.hydration.
>From what I've read, better they eat more of something they like,
rather than little of what they don't - ie she refuses to eat the A/D
alone or mixed with warm water. However, her stools are formed but
loose - look slightly syrupy. Since the pumpkin I found at one store
(organic - if that makes a difference) mentions that 122 g (serving
size 1/2 cup)contains 10g of carbohydrate and 1g of protein I assume
the rest is water/filler. Would it be worth mixing some in with her
gravy, or would I just be reducing her caloric intake with no real
benefit other than firmer stools?
For those interested,re hydration, in the past as the kidney problems
apparently developed she insisted on going out on the pool deck to
drink out of the Spa side of the pool - no heat, just bubbles since
the spa side acts as the "out" for the filtration system. She did not
seem to like water in a bowl. Since the pool is slightly chlorinated,
and it's been sometimes cold outside,neither of us humans were
enthusiastic about taking her out. However Xena wanted a drink from
the spa at 5.30 am, 10 am, 4pm and 7pm - sometimes at 9 or 10 pm.
Either my roommate or I had to bundle up to take a half naked ferret-
shaved for ultrasound and who seemed determined to show us humans up
as west coast wimps - out on her leash. In desperation (I thought a
raccoon might make a rush and snatch her up anytime - that's my excuse
anyway!) I ordered a bubbling fountain (Drinkwell for cats)and now
thank goodness she likes to drink from that - it must be the splash
and the small bubbles. No more moonlight walks on the deck thank
goodness, and the other ferrets seem to like the fountain as well.
Warning - one ferret tried to find the source of the water movement
and tried to tip it over, then attempted to dig out the water.
Thankfully, after a few days he became bored and lost interest.
Meryl
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