From: Carol Krause <[log in to unmask]> >Does anyone out there know anything about baby ferrets that just >stop growing? Or any animals for that matter. I am just interested >in info,thanks. As a breeder, I have had 2 instances of failure to thrive kits. In both cases, it showed up before they were 3 weeks old, and despite all my efforts to help them, in both cases they died. I have talked to several vets about this, and while none of them gave me anything definitive, they suggested that it was likely due to some sort of problem that keeps them from digesting food properly, and getting the needed nutrients out of it. I know that similar conditions can be seen in some human babies, and are caused by a number of different things. Per the following webpage, some of the causes are: Failure to thrive: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000991.htm> * Chromosome <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002327.htm> problems such as Down syndrome and Turner syndrome <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000379.htm> * Organ problems * Thyroid hormone deficiency, growth hormone deficiency, or other hormone deficiencies * Damage to the brain or central nervous system, which may cause feeding difficulties in an infant * Heart or lung problems, which can affect how nutrients move through the body * Anemia or other blood disorders * Gastrointestinal problems that make it hard to absorb nutrients or cause the body to have a lack of digestive enzymes * Long-term gastroenteritis and gastroesophageal reflux (usually temporary) * Cerebral palsy <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000716.htm> * Long-term (chronic) infections * Metabolic disorders * Complications of pregnancy and low birth weight Some of these problems likely do not apply to ferrets (i.e. I have never heard of a ferret having cerebral palsy), but most certainly others can apply to ferrets. With the 2 cases I have had, I did intervene as soon as the problem of low weight gain surfaced, and began hand feeding them. Most breeders weigh the kits daily with a scale accurate to at least 0.1 grams, and record the weights. That way, we know immediately when a kit is not growing as fast as they should. And, with both my cases, despite receiving the amount of formula they needed, they did not gain weight. They did pee and poop, but seemed to get no nutritional value from the food. For me, it was a very heartbreaking experience both times, because it required a lot of work on my part with mixing formula and feeding every 2 or 4 hours, depending on the age, and seeing the baby still slip away. When it would reach a point when it was clear the baby was not going to make it, I would simply leave it with the mom. In both cases the mom knew the baby was dying, and simply kept it close to her head and chest, but did not try to encourage it to nurse. I will sometimes have 1 or 2 kits in a litter that have a much lower birth weight than their siblings. This usually occurs when it is a large litter, and 2 placentas are close or overlapping. In this type of case, the ferret fetus is unable to get enough nutrition while still in the uterus. With this problem, by supplementing the baby, they will catch up very quickly, and soon will not be behind in weight. With large litters (and I have had some of 11 and 12 kits), there is always a greater chance of having problems in the early weeks. I have had other instances where a baby had less strength than its siblings, and had problems fighting its way to the teats. In those cases, I have been able to supplement them with hand feeding until they get their strength and size built up, and then they do just fine on their own. One such case has even taken at least 1 Best in Show at an AFA Ferret Show, so this type of situation does not necessarily mean the kit will be sick all their life. I am also aware of one breeder that did keep a FTT kit alive to reach adulthood. The ferret was always small and sickly, and only lived 18 months. I am sure that other breeders that read the FML can also share stories about FTT kits. I would also comment that sometimes the growth of a kit can be stunted because they do not receive enough nutrients during their first weeks. This can be due to an inability to get enough time at the mother's teats, or a whole litter can be affected if the mother is not producing enough milk, or has milk that is lacking in needed nutrients. Pre-natal care is just as important for pregnant jills as it is for pregnant humans. I hope this information is helpful, and I also hope that others will share their experiences. Danee DeVore ADV - If your ferret hasn't been tested, you don't know! See - http://www.ferretadv.com/ Owner of The Clay Ferret Quality Kits Raised With Love [Posted in FML 7726]