There is nothing harder than having to feed a sick ferret who doesn't want to be fed. Ferrets, like people, tend to want to be babied when they donut feel well. Ferrets are already known to be picky eaters and tend to have their palates set once they reach adulthood, and recovering from a surgery or an illness seems to only compound the problem. There is hope! In my experience, ferrets of any age can be introduced to new foods and learn to like them. The trick is to offer the foods when they are healthy and happy, and more eager to try new things -- not when they are sick, feeling depressed, or generally not feeling themselves. Offering different foods often, like a treat, is a great way to introduce new tastes. Here are two recipes that I am sure your ferret will learn to love. The basic recipe is the one that I have been using for a years and introduced to ferret people in our city. Now is has become a common staple in many of the ferret homes here in Alberta. I recommend mixing up a small portion of the recipes before making full batches. You must take note of expiry dates. Opened jars of baby food or Boost should be stored in the refrigerator for no longer than two days. If you have only a couple of ferrets, I recommend getting together with a few other ferret owners and mixing one batch to split amongst the group. That way the soup remains fresh, and there is no opportunity for spoilage while you are working on introducing this new food. The last thing you want to do is to make your ferret sick or turn it off of the food. Each day, for 3 to 5 days, gently squeeze a small amount of the food into the ferret's mouth giving it a chance to taste it. It is important not to squirt food directly into the center of the mouth! If the food goes down the ferrets airway, the ferret will choke, or worse, it could end up in the lungs. A safer alternative is to offer the food off of your finger. If the ferret does not take it by itself, rub a little on the nose, on the teeth, or right into the cheek. Most ferrets, in my experience, will take to this food right away, but some need a little more convincing. If you have been persistent and consistent, you should have convert within 3 to 5 days. Good luck! Recipe One - Basic Duck Soup 1 jar Chicken with Broth baby food 3 cm Nutrical** 1/2 jar* Boost**, Ensure**, or Deliver 2.0 (any flavour) 1 tbsp real Whipping Cream*** (not whipped topping) Mix altogether in a blender, or use a larger jar and shake vigorously. Mix can be poured back into baby food jars or into an ice-cube tray for easy serving. Serve warmed. Note: The Chicken with Broth baby food mixed only with the Nutrical can be used as a very basic Duck Soup, and is easy on the stomach and esophagus of a ferret should either be ulcerated. Recipe Two - Advanced Duck Soup 4 jars Chicken with Broth baby food 1 small can Hills A/D (available through your vet) 12 cm Nutrical** 1 jar* real Whipping Cream*** (not whipped topping) 1.5 jar* Boost**, Ensure**, or Deliver 2.0 (any flavour) Mix altogether in a blender, or use a larger jar and shake vigorously. Mix can be poured back into baby food jars or into an ice-cube tray for easy serving. Serve warmed. Mix can be heated in a microwave or in a bowl of hot water until warm to the touch. Should not be hot. Ferrets are individuals and may take one version of the Duck Soup over the other. You can start by using the Basic Bland version and slowly introduce other ingredients. *Use baby food jar as measuring device. **Boost/Ensure and Nutrical should be removed if insulinomic. Banana and vanilla flavours most popular. Water can be substituted. ***More whipping cream can be added if used for weight gain. Your ferret will have runny poops until he or she gets use to the mix. Whipping cream can also be slowly introduced a little at a time. betty and her blur o'fur for the love of ferrets [Posted in FML issue 3958]