normal?

Question
OKay i got a 3 month old baby.. Peanut is his name, 2 weeks ago and ever sence I brought him home his poops have been yellowish in color.. Just recently for 2 days he threw up a peice of blanket that somehow he must have bit off and swallowed. I know it could be stress but then today he pooped and it looked like something my little brother would cough up and spit out.. Slimey yellowish.. the poop is also grainy.. I am feeding him Ferret diet which has 40% protein is that to much for a baby? I just want to know what you think he has an appointment at the vet to get his shot on monday.. i will also ask her.

Answer
Hello Loryn,

Peanut, what a perfect name!  They are fun at that age =)  I bet he keeps you busy.  

It sounds like he could have a partial blockage, although stress is certainly a cause for diarrhea.   It could be a bit of both.  Has he continued to vomit?  Intestinal blockages are often accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, a painful abdomen and annorexia.  It is a SERIOUS condition that needs to be seen by your vet ASAP, especially if he develops any of the other symptoms.  A partial blockage can move at any time, creating a complete blockage.  This would need emergency surgery.   

Your veterinarian can take x-rays of the intestines to see if there is anything occluding the GI tract.  Although the material itself will not be seen if it is fabric, the doctor would be able to tell by the pattern within the stomach/intestines if there is a blockage.  This is an important diagnostic tool, since you do NOT want to have Peanut go to surgery if there is no foreign body to remove!  

There is the possibility that Peanut threw up the entire blanket scrap, or that the rest will pass on it's own.  If so, the diarrhea should stop by morning and he should have normal stool.

Here are some other reasons for diarrhea:

Have you changed his diet?  Any change in food can certainly lead to a loose stool.  If you have changed brands, did you transitioned slowly?  I usually start with an 80/20 ratio of old/new and then gradually begin introducing the new kibble in greater amounts over the next few days.  This helps sensitive ferret tummies get used to the new diet.  

Make sure you are feeding only HIGH quality ferret food and only the PROPER snacks.  40% protein should be fine =)  Remember that diet is EXTREMELY important to a ferret's well-being and can lead to health problem later in life if not fed properly.  NEVER ever give any vegetable/fruit to ferrets!!!  Sugar (anything ending in -ose) can lead to complications such as insulinoma.  Also, ferrets are obligate carnivores.  Their digestive tract is too short to properly break down carbohydrates, which is why their diet should be grain-free and protein based.   Below is a link to an old question that I have answered regarding proper diet.  Please take a peek and make sure you are feeding the proper food.  If you have any further questions regarding this topic, I would be more than happy to answer them.

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Ferrets-2277/2008/9/Best-types-ferret-food.htm

Diarrhea can be caused by internal parasites.  Although this is rare in indoor ferrets, they can be obtained from fleas or other animals in the household.  You should bring a stool sample to your veterinarian to perform a fecal flotation or giardia snap to rule these out as the cause.  Some parasites, such as giardia, ARE transmittable to humans as well as other pets. Only your vet would be able to diagnose and treat a parasitic infection, especially since certain medications work for certain types of buggies!

Watch out since too much diarrhea can quickly lead to dehydration and become serious or life-threatening.  Check his gums to make sure they are pink (not white!) and that they are wet and not tacky to the touch.  Also, when you scruff him, her skin should "snap" back into place.  If it stays molded in the upright position, he is more than 10% dehydrated which is serious and needs veterinary attention and IV fluids right away.  

Remember that diarrhea can be caused by many many things! This is a list of the most common reasons.  If the loose stools continue or he becomes anorexic/lethargic, please have him seen by your vet ASAP.  He may have a foreign body which needs medical attention immediately.  Remember to watch out for dehydration too!

I hope this answer is of some use to you.  Let me know how things turn out for your little kid or if you have any other questions.

Best regards,
-Cindy P.