From:
KIMurray
Date: 2010-06-22 20:33:44 UTC
Subject: Fwd: Re: [ferrethealth] Insulinomic Ferret - Bob's Chicken Gravy ok, or do I need to remove the honey? / TRY GLUCERNA OR BOOST
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
[See caution note below post on Sorbitol and Xylitol]
I can't speak to this recipee or the honey, but have another suggestion.=C2=
=A0 Some may be repetitive but sending just in case.
When I had sick ferrets who wouldn't/couldn't eat, I had amazing success wi=
th the nutritional drinks=C2=A0Ensure or Sustical and later=C2=A0switched t=
o a diabetic version to eliminate the sugar, either Glucerna or Boost Gluco=
se Control,=C2=A0vanilla flavor.=C2=A0 This is availalble at major drug sto=
res (e.g., CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens) or grocery (e.g., Safeway, Giant).=C2=
=A0 I watch for sales and coupons since a six pack runs anywhere from $8-10=
.=C2=A0 Check for generic brands that are diabetic versions too.=C2=A0 Keep=
in mind the expiration date, as a general climate-controlled shelf life is=
about a year.=C2=A0 Refrigerate after opening.
http://glucerna.com/product/
http://www.boostgc.com/Pages/home.aspx
See Houston's Ferret Association recipee:
http://www.houstonareaferretassociation.com/SOUP.htm
See additional info on soup recipee with reference to Dr. Bruce Williams, D=
VM:
http://www.everythingferret.com/caring_for_a_sick_ferret.htm
I ran this by my vets and they were fine with my adding this to my simplifi=
ed version of "duck soup" which was kibble (usually Totally Ferret with oth=
er high quality kibble), plus=C2=A0a jar of turkey or chicken baby food, an=
d Nutri-Cal.=C2=A0 Ask your vet to provide the gooey vitamin-enriched suppl=
ement that you can add as well.=C2=A0 I forgot the name.
[Nutrical]
This added calories, vitamins, minerals and tasted good.=C2=A0 It also aide=
d in hydration.=C2=A0 This saved many a life and turned around a bad situat=
ion.=C2=A0 Depending if they were too weak to eat alone, I'd syringe feed, =
carefully squirting in the back corner of the mouth a few cc's at a time, t=
o stimulate the swallowing reflex.=C2=A0 Be VERY careful to not point the s=
yringe down the mouth, rather I would hold it perpendicular to the mouth su=
ch if the syringe squirts accidentally, it will shoot across and not down t=
he mouth.
[FHL member veterinarians have repeatedly asked that any
mention of syringe feeding include the warning that this
must be learned hands on from a vet or vet tech at the
treating hospital because if done wrong aspiration
pneumonia is likely. Typically those vets have preferred
patient finger feeding, patient spoon feeding, or dripping
the liquid in front of the muzzle and letting the ferret lick it
that way.]
=C2=A0 I warm the soup or just Glucerna or Boost alone.=C2=A0 They took it =
much better this way.=C2=A0 When they were feeling better, it was hard to g=
et them off the porridge mixture back onto kibble, but that was the least o=
f my worries since I was so relieved they were hydrated again and building =
strength.
All the best, k
[Watch for diarrhea if Glucerna is still made
with Sorbitol. That does not affect all ferrets
that way but certainly can have that result for
some. Also check the others for it.
More seriously, NEVER buy any sugar-free ones
that are sweetened with Xylitol which can destroy
livers within days.
-- Moderator]
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