Dear Tanya:
 
>I have a question regarding duck soup recipes.  How long can a ferret
>survive on a mush mixture and remain healthy?  ...
>
>....After many days of observation, I figured out that she was having
>difficulty maneuvering the dry, hard kibble.  So I decided to go back to
>the mush recipe.  The recipe is as follows:
>
>1 can Hills A/D
>1 jar Gerber Chicken Baby Food  (2nd stage)
>1/2 cup softened kibble (8-1 Ultimate)
>1 inch  ribbon Ferretvite
 
The truth is, if you watch the teeth carefully, and you don't mind
semi-mushy stools - probably indefinitely.  I had a ferret on gruel for
chronic colitis for five years - he thrived.  But the best idea is to keep
trying to wean back onto the kibble.  Never try to force them on it cold
turkey - the old adage "They'll eat it if they get hungry enough" doesn't
seem to work in ferrets.
 
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM
[Posted in FML issue 3302]