From:
Sherry Halsey
Date: 2011-10-08 23:33:24 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Why do stick ferrets stop eating hard kibble? - ferret w/mult diseases
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hi,
I have often wondered this, and came to the same conclusion, that it takes to much effort.
My ferret Otter (3y/o male) also has insulinoma, and has not eaten on his own sisnce diagnosed. I hand feed him 4 meals of gruel a day (I use crushed ferret kibbles-Totally ferret venison, turkey & lamb and Zupreem grain free & drs. foster & smith original ferret & gerber baby food turkey or chicken & Rx Hills A/D all mixed together) he gets pred 2x's a day also. While he refuses to eat the hard kibble out of the dish, he may in fact eat 1-5 when I feed them to him by placing them in his mouth on his back teeth. He does eat his gruel with gusto! Watching him play with his ferret sisters you wouldn't know anything is wrong with him, as he is a happy, go-go ferret. I try to not give treats to him, but did offer
N-bones (those chewy sticks) to his sisters and he stold it from Poppy and chewed it down.
I also think Otter may expect to be fed gruel (he is often waiting and staring out of the cage when meal times come around) and no long thinks the kibbles are tastey enough. Or that the gruel has imprented on him as his only food source.
I have a question to.
Since he is only eating gruel, his breath has began to smell since kibbles are not cleaning his teeth. I don't want to upset his stomach or his glucose levels and have not brushed his teeth. What could I do? I know his teeth will get bad without eating kibbles.
Thanks
Sherry, Otter-Owl, Poppy-Fizz & Scrambler.
[If his breath is smelling he may be developing gum disease or may have a dental infection. Pred does knock out the immune system, so ferrets become more prone to developing infections. If he has a dental infection he will require antibiotics. He will likely need to have a professional dental scaling done by your vet to remove the plaque that is building up, which causes gum and tooth problems. If left untended he could develop painful tooth abscesses. Time for a vet visit. - Moderator (TD)].
------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
ferrethealth-digest@yahoogroups.com
ferrethealth-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ferrethealth-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/