Please Help Again

[becky]

I had asked for help the other day with finding a certain kind of food for my sister-in-laws's ferret. I had babysat the ferret for a week. The ferret became ill while I had her. I thought she was better and tried to do what everyone said. Anyway, today my nephew had to take her to the vet. The vet gave her lots of IV fluids but sent her home because she felt ferret might be depressed. What can we expect? Will the fluids help her to regain her appetite. We can't get her to eat the chicken baby food because she is nearly five years old. I thought she was about three or four. The other question i have is this: if there is poop does that mean she has eaten at least a piece or two of food? Or does it simply mean she is eating the fat in her own body. From day 1 when I had her she had stools but nothing like they were a few years ago. Sorry to go on. Thanks for any information. I just don't want to lose her.

[BadgersMama]

Becky,

If the vet gave her fluids, she was dehydrated… I would recommend getting unflavored Pedialyte, to maintain her electrolytes (found in the baby section of any store). What did the vet have to say about her not eating? Did they go any other tests that you know about? Normally, if there’s poopie, she’s eating. If she’s older, they may want to offer her wet food, it could be hard for her to chew the kibble now if her teeth are not in good condition. Wet food can be found in the pet store or you can take the kibble add some room temperature water let the kibble soak up the water and add some Ferretone (very small amount) after the food has absorbed all or most of the water.

You want to make sure that the Ferritone is not added until the kibble has taken in the water because the oils from the Ferritone will block the water from going into the kibble.

Please keep us updated.

[Fuzzielover]

Becky,

If the vet gave her fluids, she was dehydrated… I would recommend getting unflavored Pedialyte, to maintain her electrolytes (found in the baby section of any store). What did the vet have to say about her not eating? Did they go any other tests that you know about? Normally, if there’s poopie, she’s eating. If she’s older, they may want to offer her wet food, it could be hard for her to chew the kibble now if her teeth are not in good condition. Wet food can be found in the pet store or you can take the kibble add some room temperature water let the kibble soak up the water and add some Ferretone (very small amount) after the food has absorbed all or most of the water.

You want to make sure that the Ferritone is not added until the kibble has taken in the water because the oils from the Ferritone will block the water from going into the kibble.

Please keep us updated.Badgers Mommy is right on Plus you may need to feed the baby with A mix of ferrotone ,Ferretvite and Gerber stage 2 Chicken Or Beef Baby Food , That has worked very well when one of our Babies has not felt well . We Hope this Helps and our prayers are with you !! Tim,Cheryl ,Freebie ,Pogo & Katman P.S . I meant you may have to use A syringe .. I am sorry

[becky]

Thank you both for the information. How often should they be giving the Pedialyte? Also, the pet store owner I called said something about an oil in a toothpaste tube--is that the
Ferretone? I am going tomorrow to get some. She is absolutely refusing everything. At 9 tonight--about6 hours after her iv--she was trying to throw up. She tried to poop but couldn't. The vet said she had no temp. Is that a good sign or nothing? They are going to run tests tomorrow since she is no better. We are afraid of using the syring because we have been warned that it could killer her but I guess they are going to have to if she doesn't start eating. Thank you again and I will keep you posted. I shouldn't say this but I almost wish I had never known this little ferret--I just fell in love with her and it is all I can think about.

[Pilchergate]

Hi Becky,With me having a few older ferrets,if they go off their food I give them ferretvite but only small amounts,then I usually buy a chicken and boil it,I put small pieces of chopped up chicken in a bowl and pour over some of the water the chicken has been cooked in.Let it cool down then offer it to your ferret.If fuzzy doesnt eat the chicken but laps at the juice at least you know it will be getting some fluids,which is most important.My rule of thumb is if a ferret is off colour for more than a day get it to a vet.Hope this helps in some way, Good luck,Keep us all posted.

[BadgersMama]

Thank you both for the information. How often should they be giving the Pedialyte? Also, the pet store owner I called said something about an oil in a toothpaste tube--is that the
Ferretone? I am going tomorrow to get some. She is absolutely refusing everything. At 9 tonight--about6 hours after her iv--she was trying to throw up. She tried to poop but couldn't. The vet said she had no temp. Is that a good sign or nothing? They are going to run tests tomorrow since she is no better. We are afraid of using the syring because we have been warned that it could killer her but I guess they are going to have to if she doesn't start eating. Thank you again and I will keep you posted. I shouldn't say this but I almost wish I had never known this little ferret--I just fell in love with her and it is all I can think about.
Pedialyte should be given in place of her water. It won't hurt her one bit, if anything help her. The toothpaste tube is a vitamin, the Ferretone comes in a bottle. If she's starting to get sick and can't go to the bathroom, she may have a blockage... this is NOT good. Do you know if she ate something rubber? Rubber is the most common thing a ferret will eat and get a blockage. As far as using a syring to feed her, that's not going to killer her, where ever they got that information it's incorrect. Feeding from a syring is going to save her life, not eating will kill her.

[KokosDaddy]

By syringe feeding, we're not saying to blow food down your fert's throat. We are saying to scruff the kid, and dribble food into his mouth and allow him to get it down. Its a slow process, but at least the fert WILL eat. Eating is the first step to recovery in almost every situation. Fluids are also important, but feeding a runny soup type with a syringe will give nourishment as well as vital hydration to your fert.