How can i fatten my ferret up?

Question

she is my brother's ferret. she is BONE THIN. I'm afraid I might have to put her to sleep. i'll probly have to call an emergency vet. not many vets deal with ferrets.

Answer 1

I would go to a store and buy him some pedilight and give him that and some baby food gerbers chicken, do not give him anything with fruits or veggies. I would also like to suggest some kind of ferret supplement such as ferrettone, I got mine at the pet store for eight dollors it can be used to help him gain weight again.Ill ferrets may not be interested in eating any food (even if finger fed), so it is up to you to ensure they do. You should always have feeding syringes (NO NEEDLES) on hand; 35cc catheter tip. Getting the tip into the side or front of their mouth, you will need to SLOWLY push the food through the syringe, giving them time to swallow. Too much at once could lead into choking and/or aspiration, so take your time. A ferret not eating on their own should be fed aprox 25-35cc of food every 3-4 hours, for a daily intake of about 80 - 120 cc's. I hope this helps you, I would get your fuzzy to the vet as soon as you possibly can.

Answer 2

Hand feed your ferret.  Get some wet food and dry food then mix with water.  Take the ferret and spoon feed it to her.

Answer 3

Go to a vet store and buy nutrical  for ferrets.  It is a high calorie supplement.  And maybe look into a different food.

Answer 4

starve him for several days n dumoa shitload of food  

Answer 5

chichken baby food

warm chicken baby food.

or a "duck soup" which is a name given to food you make for sick ferrets, heres a few recepies.

hope she gets well soon (ps is she neutered? cos if not it could be due to ferrets staying in heat unless they get bred, if she hasnt been neitered or "fixed" take er to the vets asap

Recipes

From Susan Malone, Ferrets Unlimited Rescue (FUR) Tulsa, OK

I developed this version with the assistance of a couple of vets and have had very good success with it. I also have a couple of modifications depending on the sickness of the ferret. These versions were developed by Ferrets Unlimited Rescue Of Tulsa, with the generous assistance of several veterinarians. This was designed as a high protein, easily digested, appealing supplement. There is more than one version which can be used, depending on the nutritional needs of your ferret. These recipes can be used as a sole source of food for sick, injured, recovering or malnourished ferrets, also as a daily treat/supplement for young kits and elderly ferrets or as a weekly treat/supplement for healthy ferrets.

Fanciful Ferret Duck Soup

Full Force Version

2 Small Jars (100% Natural, No Additives) Chicken Baby Food

2 whole (cooked & shelled) Chopped Eggs

4 Tablespoons Powdered (OR 1/2 Cup Liquid) Vanilla Ensure

*2 (5.5 ounce size) Science Diet Prescription Diet AD canned food

*First choice, but available only at vet office. If not available, substitute Iams canned Kitten food

1 Cup Dry High Quality Ferret Food

1/2 Tube of FerretVite, FuroVite, Nutrical or Nutrigel

1/4 cup powdered Nupro Supplement

4 dropperfulls of Pet Tinic

If using Liquid Ensure - 1/2 cup Un-Flavored Pedialyte

If using Powdered Ensure - 1 cup Un-Flavored Pedialyte

Soak dry kibble in Pedialyte until mushy. Mix everything together, stir until well blended. Mixture should be about the same texture of chunky canned dog food. *For very sick or ferret having trouble eating, add extra Pedialyte to thin mixture until a texture the ferret will lap up. *You can also leave out the dry kibble and make it water thin if needing to force feed with a syringe.

Feed 1-4 ounces up to 8-12 times a day if needed, may be decreased and used to supplement regular food as needed. Store unused portion in fridge for up to 3 days or in freezer up to 4 months.

*Many people make large batches, spoon it into ice cube trays and freeze... When needed in emergency or for weekly supplemental treat..

Simply pop out one cube per dose*

Medium Version

2 Small Jars (100% Natural, No Additives) Chicken Baby Food

2 whole (cooked & shelled) Chopped Eggs

4 Tablespoons Powdered (OR 1/2 Cup Liquid) Vanilla Ensure

*2 (5.5 ounce size) Science Diet Prescription Diet AD canned food

*First choice, but available only at vet office. If not available, substitute Iams canned Kitten food

1 Cup Dry High Quality Ferret Food

1/2 Tube of FerretVite, FuroVite, Nutrical or Nutrigel

1/4 cup powdered Nupro Supplement

If using Liquid Ensure - 1/2 cup Un-Flavored Pedialyte

If using Powdered Ensure - 1 cup Un-Flavored Pedialyte

Lowest Version

2 Small Jars (100% Natural, No Additives) Chicken Baby Food

2 whole (cooked & shelled) Chopped Eggs

2 Tablespoons Powdered (OR 1/4 Cup Liquid) Vanilla Ensure

*1 (5.5 ounce size) Science Diet Prescription Diet AD canned food

*First choice, but available only at vet office. If not available, substitute Iams canned Kitten food

1 Cup Dry High Quality Ferret Food

1/4 Tube of FerretVite, FuroVite, Nutrical or Nutrigel

1/4 cup powdered Nupro Supplement

If using Liquid Ensure - 1/2 cup Un-Flavored Pedialyte

If using Powdered Ensure - 1 cup Un-Flavored Pedialyte

Kit Weaning Mush

2 Small Jars (100% Natural, No Additives) Chicken Baby Food

1/4 Cup MIX of 75% Powdered KMR and 25% Powdered Goats Milk

2 (5.5 ounce size) Iams canned Kitten food

1 Cup Dry High Quality Ferret Food

1/4 Tube of FerretVite, FuroVite, Nutrical or Nutrigel

1/4 cup powdered Nupro Supplement

Water to desired thickness. I usually start them on this at 4 weeks old as a very thin liquid and gradually decrease water week by week until by 10 weeks it is the consistency of canned dog food.

I also start offering dry high quality ferret food at 6 weeks and gradually Increase the amount of kibble while decreasing the amount of mush until they are fully weaned.

From Ann Davis

(This recipe is quoted directly from the Ferret FAQ at the Ferret Central WWW site maintained by Pam Greene)

ACME Ferret Company - The Original DUCK SOUP

[If your ferret is really sick, you may have to work your way through] all the steps, from full Sustacal to Duck Soup in caring for a sick ferret.

1 can Sustacal (8 oz., or about 230 ml; it comes in a larger size too)

1 can water (8 oz., or about 230 ml)

2 scoops puppy or kitten weaning formula -- OPTIONAL

4 oz. (110 g? or ml?) dry kitten or ferret food, soaked in enough water to cover and soften it completely

[Sustacal is meant for humans; look for it by baby formulas or in the pharmacy section of your supermarket. Debbie Riccio says you can also use Ensure, Discover 2.0, or Just Born (puppy/kitten milk replacer).] Mix thoroughly. We always nuke it for them to the temperature of baby formula. We serve about 4 fluid ounces at a time twice a day for maintenance; if your little guys eat too much and you feel they are getting fat, you can increase the amount of water. We have tried increasing the amount of dry food, but if it gets too thick some of them won't eat it. This formula also freezes well – the Sustacal must be used within 48 hours if left only in the fridge.

From Troy Lynn Eckart

1 can Science Diet A/D

2 cups Pedialyte

1/3 cup Buttermilk

1/3 cup goats milk

1 tablespoon brewers yeast with fiber

1 capsule contents Immune Action

1 cup finely ground Iams kitten or Totally Ferret

1 capsule contents Primadopholus

Buttermilk is added for the natural flora as well as the Primadopholus. Goats milk more for flavor and because it contains less bacteria than cows milk. I get it fresh as needed and pasteurized.

From Faye Graham

This recipe is based on the one in the Ferret FAQ, but there are good comments on serving, storage, and the response of the ferret included at the bottom.

1 can ensure (vanilla flavor)

1 can water

4 oz. Science Diet (or equal) feline growth dry food

1 jar Gerber's Baby Food - veal or chicken (optional)

Soak the dry food in warm water to cover till it is mushy - put in a blender with 1 can of ensure, 1 can (ensure can) of water, and baby food if desired. Puree till evenly mixed and "soupy". Makes eleven 2 ounce servings. After the first week Fancy responded so well and gained weight so quickly that the baby food was omitted. Every other batch, a 1 to 2 inch "worm" of Nutrical or Ferretvite is added to Fancy's soup, just in case I guess..... Ensure is only good for 24 hours, so the soup gets put up in two oz. jars seven of which are frozen - or 2/3 of the mixture is put into a ziplock sandwich bag for freezing. Fancy eats 3 to 4 jars a day so 3 a day are removed from the freezer. Also, it should be served luke warm. I zap it in the microwave for 11 to 14 seconds to warm. I have also substituted Longs brand of ensure and she likes that just as much.

Answer 6

When your ferret gets this thin, there is probably some neurological damage to their nervous system as well as liver damage.  This ferret may also have adrenal disease because in advanced stages of the disease, ferrets lose muscle mass and get very pot bellied but just get really thin with frequent loose bowel movements.  

To get this one some needed protein, I would definitely get her some baby food, turkey of chicken and either use a syringe or rubber baby spoon and feed her small amounts every hour.  Hold her and give her love and see if she wants to hold on.  She may only be able to eat a few teaspoons at a time or about 2 cc's but she needs the animal protein to keep her going.  In the morning, I would not worry about a vet this evening because the ferret has been in this condition for some time and the stress of lugging her out is not really going to help her if you can get some chicken in her your self.  She may be dehydrated so be sure and give her a couple of cc's of water also for dehydration.  Put her in a nice dark spot between feedings where she feels safe and stress free and get her to a ferret knowledgeable vet in the AM.  

My most simple recipe for a good duck soup is a can of AD prescription cat food and a can of baby food.  Mix together.  Easy and provides the organ meats as well as the animal protein.  

Sorry she is so sick.