Pet Information > ASK Experts > Exotic Pets > Ferrets > fat ferret

fat ferret

21 10:55:22

Question
I am a new ferret owner and my ferret is 6 months old and he is very fat. When I bought him, I read that ferrets would only eat what they need and all I needed to do is fill his bowl daily and make sure he has plenty of water. I have done that but now he is overweight. Is there a diet plan for ferrets or a low fat food?

Answer
Hello Amber,

Well first off what food do you have him on? That can make a difference in their weight.

Now ferrets tend to be at their biggest when they are around six months in age because this is when they stop growing and have finally reached their adult size, and then they tend to slim down a bit after a year or so.

Ferrets also tend to gain weight in the winter, along with a nice fluffy soft coat. They can sometimes almost double in size, and then some ferrets will gain almost no weight at all.
The biggest thing you want to look for is when you scruff him does he make a bowling pin shape? That's a sign of an over weight ferret. What you want to see is almost the same width around from underneath their front legs to the top of their bottom legs.

Try to engage him in play more, wrestle with him, chase him around (carefully) and just try to get him moving, because even if he is a large ferret you still want him to be healthy.

Do not ration his food though, at all. Make sure he has food available at all times.
More than likely you do not have to anything to really worry about, this is probably just his winter weight that he's getting.

But as with all things, any sudden increase or decrease of weight could be a symptom of an underlying medical problem. So it wouldn't hurt to ask your vet when you are in to see him. If he is lethargic (more so than normal) and doesn't seem to want to play at all then you really should go see your vet.

But more than likely he's fine, if not a little chunky so sit back and enjoy his belly, because fat little ferrets are just too cute. I have a ferret that is 4 pounds and as fluffy as can be, he kinda reminds me of a slipper. But he still plays all the time and acts like a normal ferret.

Some high quality foods you can look into that will keep your ferret healthy are:
Innova Evo Cat
Innova Evo Ferret
Wellness Core Cat

Good luck and keep me updated!

Lindsey