diet

Question
Can my ferret have fruits or vegatables or any meats? He seems weak and I don't know what I can give him? Any specific foods he can have that would help?

Answer
Hello Bret,

Thank you for asking!  Your ferret's diet is extremely important for good health.  It concerns me that your ferret seems "weak" and it might not be related to diet.  I would bring him to your vet to make sure he does not have an underlying medical problem.  

As far as diet, ferrets are obligate carnivores and cannot digest plant material. They should never be given vegetables, fruit or anything containing sugar.  This can lead to serious health complications.  You can, however, feed meat if your ferret will eat it.  I feed my guys chicken on occasion, and they love it.  

Make sure you are feeding a HIGH quality, grain free diet.  The diet should be high in protein (about 45 percent) and high in fat (about 20 percent).  It should also have low fiber.  

The first three ingredients should be meat-based, and not contain by-products since these are mostly devoid of valuable nutrition.  Also, the food should be low in carbohydrates (corn, rice, potatoes, etc) since ferrets are obligate carnivores and cannot digest them.

Here are some brands I recommend:

Wysong Archetypal-1 (beef) or Archetypal-2 (chicken)
http://www.wysong.net/products/archetypal-1-natural-healthy-ferret-food.php
http://www.wysong.net/products/archetypal-2-natural-healthy-ferret-food.php

Wellness Core Feline
http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/cat_wellness_dry_core.html

Innova Ferret EVO (Or cat version if not available)
http://www.evopet.com/products/default.asp?id=15

Wilderness by Blue Buffalo
http://www.bluebuff.com/products/cats/wilderness-cat.shtml


Serengeti Cat (Timberwolf brand)
http://www.timberwolforganics.com/Pet-Foods/Serengetii
****36% protein so mix with a high protein brand, such as Wellness****

Brands I Do not recammend:  Marshall Farms, Totally Ferret, 8-in-one, IAMS, Kaycee ferret, etc.   

This list is by no means all inclusive.  There are many other good types available, just check the labels. Not all premium kitten/cat kibble is good for these guys, and not even all brands of ferret-specific food!  Every brand is different, and that is why I tend to choose 3 of the best, and create a mixture. I currently feed a mix of Core Wellness, Wilderness and Serengeti Cat, although it varies from month to month with what is available.       

It is difficult to change a ferret's diet once they have imprinted on a certain brand.  Imprinting on certain foods happens at a very young age, and most will turn up their noses to anything else!   If you decide to switch brands, always introduce the new type by mixing it in with the old kibble.  I generally start with a 25/75 mixture, then increase the amount of new food over the next few days.  This allows the sensitive ferret tummies and taste buds to get used to the new diet.  Changing food too quickly can result in nasty vomiting and diarrhea.

Remember to store all extra food in airtight containers (Such as for cereal storage).  If you buy three kinds of kibble, it will last you awhile!  Also, change the kibble in your ferret's bowl DAILY.  These brands contain vitamins that can go rancid quickly and cause stomach problems.  

Stay away from vegetables, fruits and milk products as treats.  Raisins can cause kidney failure, and too much sugar (anything that ends with -ose) can lead to insulinoma and other complications. I feed my guys dehydrated 100% chicken treats with no additives as snacks.  These can be found in the canine section of your local pet store.  Another obscure (but healthy) treat is live meal worms.  These can be found at any pet store, and I haven't met a ferret who didn't love them yet.

There is a short FAQ that contains some info on nutrition from the AFA's Official Website:

http://www.ferret.org/read/faq.html

I hope this answers your question!  Sorry that my response is so lengthy, but I wanted to cover all of the important points =3

Remember... Always check the ingredients for whatever you buy, since most store bought brands are not good for the little guys!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask!

-Cindy P