That combo could be all sorts of things including learning, but it is
also consistent with reduced sense of smell.
 
Sight is not important to them but smell is.  Warmed food smells more,
and wet flesh smells more than water.
 
Try giving crunchies in paper lunchbags or other safe containers,
and leave the soup in a bowl that is not too likely to tip, also in
containers that concentrate smell.  Try putting a smear of Nutrical or
a stinky treat oil along the edge of a water dish.  Let her learn with
her warmed up soup that a specific type of container is to be associated
with food.
 
How is her hydration?  Dehydration causes reduction in ability to smell
and so do diuretics for that reason.  It spirals when dehydration occurs.
 
How large is she and is she unusually lethargic?  There is brand new some
evidence that for some small ferrets under 600 grams the current level
of melatonin in the implants may be too much, and for some others who
may be a bit larger sequential implants may add up to too much since they
continuse to lose some melatonin for up to about 9 months.  (It's in one
of two fine articles on in the latest JEMM&S, so if your vet is a member
see if you can wrangle to pay for a photocopy.)
 
-- Sukie (not a vet)
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[Posted in FML issue 4935]