If you want your pet to live for a long time, a proper ferret diet is very important. 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 continue to buy high quality cat food for your ferret, however there are lots of different ferret food options available that can supply the combination that your pet requires – high quality fat and low carbohydrates. The correct mix will make it possible for your ferret to achieve a maximum life span.
A correct and balanced diet is critical for a baby ferret. When buying food for your ferret, here’s what to look for: 35-40% protein, 18-30% fat, 2% fiber, 21 amino acids, less than 7% ash and some good carbohydrates like rice flour or brewer’s yeast. Watch out for some ferret foods that use frozen fish as your ferret will not eat it. Some ferrets may even refuse food that they don’t like until they starve. Higher quality ferret food is frequently more expensive than a premium quality cat food, but ferrets tend not to eat very much, so it may not be very 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 the portion sizes you feed them should be small as well. With a moist diet, the food can only be left out for about forty five minutes and then, if it has not been eaten in that time frame, it should be removed. If you’d like their food to be accessible for longer than that, you might want to think about using a 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 choose a dry pellet diet for your pet, remember that there should also be 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 are not required for your ferret buy they can be helpful if you’re trying to train or housebreak your pet. Good choices for snacks are cooked eggs and meats. You should stay away from high-sugar fruits or candy as well as any dairy products like ice cream or milk. Furthermore, be sure to avoid nuts or nut products. Any of these could cause nutritrional 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. Vegetables and grains are not well tolerated by ferrets, so make sure to avoid them. And, never, ever give your ferret onions, they are poisonous to your pet.
Ensuring that your ferret receives a healthy diet is essential to support a long and healthy life. Your ferret will be happy, comfortable and less likely to develop any life-threatening illnesses. Ferret owners shower their pets with lots of care and affection, but, the kindest thing they can do is to ensure that their pet is fed properly.
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