Ferret Treats/ Food Recall

Question

Hello,

My ferret is about 1 1/2 years old (I got him June '06). I tried Bandit treats so I could try to train him, he used to like them but they changed size and doesn't eat them anymore. I heard that raisins and peanut butter are good treats too, but I'm not sure. Also should I still be concerned about the Ferret Food Recall?
Thank you,
Laura

Answer
Hi Laura,

Lots of people give raisins as treats, but they are not a good choice for a treat.  Ferrets don't process sugar very well, and too much sugar can cause pancreas problems.  Try to avoid giving any fruits, as they can cause intestinal blockages...which can lead to very high vet bills or even the loss of your baby.

Try FerretTone or FerretVite; they are liquid supplements that I give as the occasional "treat", but only a few drops at a time.  Its a very rare ferret that dislikes FerretTone.  Its available at your local pet store or on the internet.

Cheerios are also a popular treat, since they don't contain as much sugar or cause blocks.  They are ok as a rare treat once in a while.  Stick with store-bought ferret-friendly treats made especially for our fuzzy friends and you can't go wrong.  And please, no peanut butter.

A comprehensive list of current recalls is available from the AVMA here: http://www.avma.org/aa/petfoodrecall/default.asp

I hope this was helpful for you.  Please don't hesitate to make any further inquiries if you need to!

Stephenie