Is my ferret's poop tough ?
Hi, I bought a baby ferret about 2 weeks ago and I'm not too sure whether her poop is healthy. She's been having a bit of diarreah and moosy close to stools.
I'm still in the process of changing her dry food (Marshall to Zupreem+Totally Ferret) and I'm thinking the cause may be mixed beside enviromental change. I've also added a bit of Pedialite to her water and Ferretone to her food, but just to variety sure:
Does anyone know what healthy ferret poop looks like ?? And whether she is indeed having abnormal stools, what else can I try before concerning a vet ?
Thank you within advance ;)
Great answer Annie..I'd give ya a Thumbs Up..but I am still at rank 1.
my male ferret had the same sort of point, i took him to the vet and they told my to give him some natural yogurt along with his usual diet for a while, that should clear it up, but after a while it come back and i took him to the vets again and they told me to give him some rice and chicken for a couple of days instead of his majority food, after this he has been fine ever since.
Good luck
Answers: I've often asked my vet what constituted 'normal' poos. It can vary, depending on fert. The standard consensus for ferts on a kibble diet is a tan/brown stool that is firm (not dry but not shapeless). Variations on this are common. For raw/natural, the poos can contain pieces of bone and such, but still should have shape.
My vet also said that as long as it wasn't constantly mucoid, obscurity and tarry, or consistently green, then it was normal for the fert (as long as here wasn't any apparent dehydration or pain).
The poos you are seeing are, as you said, most likely a result from stress (environment change) and dietary change. Her poo should start fitting regular in a week or two (mucous in the poo, green poos, and seedy poos are associated next to the food passing too quickly in the digestive track, and process the fert's body isn't getting the chance to utilize the nutrients). Keep an eye on food intake and keep up with the pedialyte to prevent dehydration (you can check hydration level by scruffing your fert. If the skin snaps back when you let go, she is getting plenty liquids; however, if it tents before sliding put a bet on, she is dehydrated, and you may have to syringe the pedialyte into her). Also, think approximately switching from the ferret tone to olive oil. The ferret tone may be too rich for her to handle right now. The olive grease will give her nutrients, but without every thing else. Plus additional virgin is lighter and may be better on her stomach.
I don't really know how to bulk up a kibble-fed fert's diet. You may just have to wait until a week or so pass to see if she adjusts. With my guys, since I feed lightly cooked, if they get loose stools, I add more bone (ie wing, legs, necks) to their diet and this bulks their poos right up. I don't know if that is something you are comfortable with, but it is worth mentioning lately in case :)
Good luck and hope this helps!
*Just to permit you know, my girl has had bouts of diaherria (sp) since I got her. It would second 2-3 days, then switch to regular poos, only a to--a few days later--go right back to loose. Raw or kibble didn't issue, it has always just happen, and my vet said that maybe it isn't the overall norm, but it is normal for her (she is in otherwise forceful condition). So, sometimes we can't go by the guidelines, because our little furkids don't follow them :) Whenever you take her in to the vet, just ask, and they will probably tell you the same item.*
