Ferret Diet

A ferret’s diet is crucial for longevity, without a proper diet ferrets are at risk for serious health problems. Ferrets are meat eaters and cannot survive without a high-protein, lower-fiber diet.

Premium cat food was the only commercial food choice for pet ferrets until the mid-1980’s. High-quality cat foods are still acceptable for ferrets, but there are numerous brands of ferret foods that provide the higher-quality fat needed, as well as lower carbohydrate content.

To achieve a maximum life span ferrets need a combination of fat and lower carbohydrates. It is even more important that a baby ferret have this type of diet. The proper food for ferrets will have good carbohydrate ingredients such as or brewer’s yeast or rice flower with at least 18-30% fat, 35-40% protein, 2% fiber, and needs to contain 21 amino acids and have less than 7% ash level.

Also, your ferret may not eat foods made with poorly processed frozen fish. Some ferrets are so finicky they will refuse to eat to the point of starvation. High-quality ferret food is usually more expensive than comparable quality cat food, but ferrets consume much less food than cats do. Ferrets do not need to take supplements if they are fed healthy diets.

Ferrets need to eat at least twice a day in order to get the calories they need to sustain a healthy life. With an average weight of between one and two pounds, ferrets are relatively small animals, their food portions should be small too. If a ferret is fed a moist diet the food is only good for about forty five minutes, soon after the food should be removed.

You might also want to consider a dry pellet diet. A dry pellet diet is longer lasting and can be left in the cage all day. Dry pellet food also helps to clean the ferret’s teeth.  Ferrets on dry diets need fresh water all the time. Ferrets prefer to drink water from a dish rather than a bottle, but if your ferret gets water from a dish it should be cleaned and changed several times a day.

Giving your ferret treats is not a necessity, but they can be helpful when housebreaking your ferret. Cooked eggs and meats are the best choices for a snack. Avoid fruits because they are high in sugar, candy, dairy products such as ice cream and milk, nuts and nut products; these products will cause nutritional problems.

Some health problems include malnutrition, obesity, tooth decay, diarrhea, intestinal blockage, insulinoma, and hypoglycemia. Treats may also cause your ferret to refuse its normal daily diet, so use treats sparingly. Ferrets do not digest vegetables or grains well, so those should be avoided at all cost. Onions are poisonous to ferrets.

Providing a ferret with the proper nutrition is essential for a healthy life. It will ensure your ferret is happy and comfortable; it also minimizes the risk for serious life-threatening illnesses. Ferret owners have a reputation for showing lots of love and affection towards their pets, but the best way to love to your ferret is by feeding it good diet.

For more information about the proper ferret diet visit Ferret-Care-Center.com.