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How to Feed Your Ferret Right
By Dog Lover | January 2, 2010
For your ferret to achieve a long life span, the correct ferret diet is essential. Without correct feeding your ferret is at risk for serious health problems. Ferrets evolved to be meat eaters and need a low fiber, high protein diet in order to thrive. Several years ago the best choice for feeding ferrets was high quality cat food. You can always buy a premium quality cat food for your ferret, but now there are several different ferret food choices available that provide just what your pet needs – high quality fat together with low carbohydrates. The correct mix will make it possible for your ferret to achieve a maximum life span.
A correct diet is essential for a baby ferret. Here’s the important things to look for when choosing food for your ferret: 35-40% protein, 18-30% fat, 2% fiber, 21 amino acids, less than 7% ash and some good carbs like rice flour or brewer’s yeast. Watch out for some ferret foods that use frozen fish as your ferret will not eat it. It is not uncommon for ferrets to refuse foods they don’t like until the starve. High quality ferret food is often costlier than a premium quality cat food, however ferrets don’t eat very much, so buying quality food shouldn’t be that expensive in the long run. If you give your ferret a healthy diet, supplements will not be necessary.
Your ferret will need to eat at least twice a day to ensure the amount calories required to maintain good health. Because ferrets are small animals their food portions should be small too. When giving your pet a moist diet, the food can only be left out for 45 minutes or so, then it should be removed if it has not been eaten. If you want to have the food available for longer than that, you may want to consider dry pellet food. You can leave dry pellets in your ferret’s cage all day and they are also a good option to help keep your pet’s teeth clean. If you select a dry pellet diet for your pet, make sure there is always fresh water available. Ferrets seem to prefer drinking from a dish rather than a water bottle so supply them with fresh water in a bowl. Also, be sure to change the water often to ensure freshness and cleanliness.
Treats aren’t necessary for your ferret but they can be helpful when you’re trying to housebreak your pet. Good snack selections are cooked eggs and meats. Avoid any high-sugar fruits or candy as well as dairy products such as ice cream or milk. Also, avoid nuts or nut products. Any of these things can cause nutritional problems. Health problems that your ferret could encounter include malnutrition, obesity, tooth decay, diarrhea, intestinal blockage, insulinoma and hypoglycemia. Be sure to use treats sparingly so your ferret doesn’t begin to refuse its normal food. A ferret doesn’t tolerate vegetables and grains well, so be sure to avoid them. And, be sure to avoid onions because they are actually poisonous to ferrets.
Making sure your ferret has a healthy diet is crucial in maintaining a long and healthy life. Your ferret will be happy, comfortable and less likely to develop any life-threatening illnesses. Ferret owners are generally known for giving their pets lots of love and attention, however, feeding them correctly is the best way to show affection.
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Topics: Exotic Pets & Unusual Pets | No Comments »