cubby 3 Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 went out to feed the gang this afternoon. whilst rattling the keys only four of my team appeared. the newest member Shadow did not surface which is unusual as she is normally first up. i keep two ferrets in one hutch and three in the other. shadow was one of the three. i got her a few months ago when someone i knew had contacted me saying thier neighbour had trapped a ferretb out their backdoor. so i went up had a look she looked a little skinny but no other signs of illness( maybe looking back i should have had her looked at by the vet ) she settled in quite quickly with the others. i hadnt managed to get her out for the bunnies yet due to weather and work constraints. i had noticed over the last few days that all the other ferrets had full winter coats and she didnt and that she had got a little skinnier. but she was still active, eating, drinking and playing so i just carried on with the same routine. the others all seem to be fine. two of which had a good morning work out on saturday. can anyone give any suggestions as to why this may happen? i also lost three ferrets in april. similar circumstances. alive and well on day dead the next. my friend lost two of his the same way about a month later. has anyone else lost ferrets like this? they are fed on mainly dried food with occasional birds, rabbit squirrel. could this be a factor to consider? any suggestions welcomed Quote Link to post
jacrabbit 0 Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 really sorry to here that. maybe it was stress as you dont know where she came from and as she did not have a full coat she may have been an indoor pet. i cant think what else. you could take her to vet for a PM . Quote Link to post
Kay 3,709 Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 Sadly ferrets are prone to just die without showing any clinical signs of anything, theres lots of things it could have been , still a shock when you find one thats been ok hours before dead Quote Link to post
Brimmer 220 Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 I know its a bit of a common reply, but knowing quite a few have gone down, i'd be having a word with the vet. Sounds like they may have had some type of virus or illness. I'd probs spend a few quid and get the others checked out, and start a fresh with new cages and carry boxes, or some serious disinfecting. Sorry to hear about the jill. Quote Link to post
Brimmer 220 Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 Just thought, have you ever mixed milk in with their food? Quote Link to post
cubby 3 Posted December 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 thanks guys i have gutted the hutch she stayed in hope fully the others will be ok. hopefully just a one off this time Quote Link to post
cubby 3 Posted December 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 Just thought, have you ever mixed milk in with their food? no no milk added just curious why? Quote Link to post
Brimmer 220 Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 I made a big mistake years ago, by mixing some dried food with milk, this was on top of the daily meat. As a result, it was not all eaten that day, and being in the warmer months must have gone off. Within 2 days, the ferrets looked a little weak one day, the following day they had passed away. I put it down to bacteria in the milk with it going off. Never let any of my ferrets near the stuff ever again. Quote Link to post
cubby 3 Posted December 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 I made a big mistake years ago, by mixing some dried food with milk, this was on top of the daily meat. As a result, it was not all eaten that day, and being in the warmer months must have gone off. Within 2 days, the ferrets looked a little weak one day, the following day they had passed away. I put it down to bacteria in the milk with it going off. Never let any of my ferrets near the stuff ever again. good to know will keep it in mind. i dont think it is the dried food but will be keeping a very close eye on the others. thought maybe the other two had bullied her away from food Quote Link to post
The one 8,592 Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 I think as you lost three ferrets in april i would have asked a vet to have a look they seem to have went downhill rather fast Quote Link to post
watchman 256 Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 (edited) iv heard of a ferret years ago with the same sort of symptoms,all the others had good winter coats but one in particular remained rather skinny and had thining hair,it died shortly afterwards and it was diagnosed as some sort of liver complaint,but only a vet really gonna be able to give you an answer Edited December 7, 2009 by watchman Quote Link to post
sky08 3 Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 mine died last nite out ov the blue along with 3 mate's aswell 2 ov the lads had 1 each and the other lad had a couple dont no how many hav died exacly but ino ov 4 all yesterday aswell Quote Link to post
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