First Coast Pet

For your pet to live a long time, a proper ferret diet is crucial. Without correct feeding your ferret is at risk for serious health problems. Ferrets evovled to be meat eaters and because of this they need a high protein, low fiber diet in order to do well. 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. With the proper mix your ferret should be able to achieve its maximum life span.
The proper diet is crucial 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. Look out for ferret foods that incorporate frozen fish as your ferret won’t eat it. Some ferrets may even refuse food that they don’t like until they 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. 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 help to keep your pet’s teeth clean and can be left in your ferret’s cage for the entire day. 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 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. In addition, stay away from nuts or nut products. Any of these could cause nutritrional problems. Several health problems that your ferret might encounter include malnutrition, obesity, tooth decay, diarrhea, intestinal blockage, insulinmoa and hypoglycemia. Treats should be used sparingly so your ferret doesn’t reject its normal food. Your ferret does not digest vegetables and grains well, so it’s best to avoid them. And, make sure you never give your pet onions because they are poisonous to ferrets.
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 are generally known for giving their pets lots of love and attention, however, feeding them correctly is the best way to show affection.