For your ferret to achieve a long life span, the correct ferret diet is essential. Without proper feeding your ferret is at risk for some severe health troubles. 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 still purchase premium quality cat food for your ferret, but there are now many different ferret food choices on the market that provide the combination that your pet needs – high quality fat along with low carbohydrates. The proper mix will help ensure that your ferret can achieve a maximum life span.
The proper diet is extremely important for a baby ferret. Here’s what to look for when buying food for your ferret: 35-40% protein, 18-30% fat, 2% fiber, 21 amino acids, less than 7% ash and some good carbs such as 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. Buying a higher quality ferret food can be more expensive than a premium cat food, however, as ferrets don’t really eat very much, supplying them with high quality food may not be that costly in the long run. If you give your ferret a healthy diet, supplements will not be necessary.
Your ferret needs to eat at least twice a day to make sure it gets the number of calories it needs to preserve 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. Dry pellets can be left in the cage all day and they are also a good idea to help keep your ferret’s teeth clean. If you choose a dry pellet diet for your pet, remember that there should also be fresh water available. Use a dish for the fresh water as ferrets seem to prefer drinking from a dish rather than a water bottle. Remember to change their water frequently to keep it fresh and clean.
Treats aren’t necessary for your ferret but they can be helpful when you’re trying to housebreak your pet. Good snack options 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 things can cause nutritional problems. Health problems that your ferret could encounter include malnutrition, obesity, tooth decay, diarrhea, intestinal blockage, insulinoma and hypoglycemia. Always use treats sparingly so your ferret won’t refuse to eat its regular 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.
Making sure your ferret has a healthy diet is crucial in maintaining a long and healthy life. Your ferret will be content, comfy and less susceptible to any life-threatening illnesses. Most ferret owners are known for giving their pets lots of love and affection, however, the best way to be kind to your ferret is to make sure they are fed correctly.
Tags: feeding your ferret, ferret, ferrets, how to feed a ferret
