different foods

Question
I hi its me again. I recently wrote about my ferret... The pet store sales person gave me a different food from what was in her cage. I never see her eating and she never excepts a treat. How can I get her used to this new food and to try a treat? Also how long would it take for her to start playing around normally

Answer
Hi Keyonna:

It's really hard to get ferrets to change foods. If your ferret is very young, you may have an even harder time if all his/her teeth aren't in yet. It may be necessary to soak the hard kibble in warm water for a half hour or so before feeding it to the ferret. If you do this, be sure to remove whatever he/she doesn't eat within an hour because it spoils really quickly and can make the ferret sick. It's a good idea to feed the ferret about every hour when they are this tiny. It shouldn't be more than a week until the ferret can eat hard kibble.

Probably the reason the salesperson gave you a different food than the store uses is that pet stores notoriously use the cheapest food available for their ferrets. It's NEVER the best food for the ferrets. Since you are going to be getting your ferret used to a new food, may I recommend that you try getting him/her used to baby formula Totally Ferret food?  That has all the nutrition and extra vitamins and minerals that little ferrets need so they can grow up strong and healthy. You will be surprised at how quickly your ferret will take to it too.

When you first intoduce it, act like it's a treat, handfeeding it at first while telling your ferret "good girl/boy!".  Then you can put a few loose ones on the floor of the cage, maybe a small bowl in the cage with very warm water on it to soften it (don't put in the cage until it cools) which will also enhance the already yummy smell.  I really thing you won't have much problems with this food. If you do, you can try handfeeding either chicken or turkey babyfood MEAT ONLY or Hill's A/D feline canned food - warm and add water to make a nice gravy-thickness gruel, dip your finger in it, then on the ferret's nose or mouth until he gets the idea and eats it. He may even gag at first, but he WILL take to it - I promise he will.

Best of luck with that little one. It's frustrating when you have problems right off the bat. I'm hoping the problems were because maybe the person working at the pet store just MAY have been looking out for your little one.  You can check foods for ferrets here:

http://www.mdferretpaws.org/care/food_treats.html

The foods highest on the list are the healthiest ones...use this as a guide when choosing your ferret's food and your ferret will be healthier and happier. Just try not to change foods often because it is really a problem. They get used to a food when they are very young and don't like to change; even if it's good for them. Sometimes we have to do what is best for them anyway. Just DO be sure they are eating well. You can dribble a bit of Ferretone on the kibble in the bowl, but be sure you don't leave any 'oiled' kibble in the bowl more than a day because it becomes rancid. Always wash the bowl with soapy hot water, dry, then refill and again use Ferretone if they need it to increase their appetite. And.....always remember, if you mix Ferretone 1/2 with virgin olive oil, it will go twice as far, be just as good for them, they will love it just as much, and you won't have to worry about them overdosing on those vitamins that are in Ferretone!  Keep 'em healthy and love 'em lots!

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers