Ferret Food-Vitamins-Treats

Question
Age:7 months
Food:Totally Ferret
Hi, I want to switch Maya's food from Totally Ferret to Marshall Premium Ferret Diet! All of my ferret friends have that brand! I think it's the safest way to go. Can you give me the most accurate way to switch her food! Should I buy the big pack already or the small? Also, will it be ok to mix her food with 8 in 1 Ferretvite Multi-Vitamin Daily Treat. Not a lot of those, only about 2 pebbles a ay? Would it be okay? SHould I give her more than 2?

Answer
Hi Beata & Maya!

Honestly, you have Maya on the best ferret food in my opinion.  If you want, you could MIX the two foods together, but you notice a stronger smelling poop when you add Marshalls to the mix because it has fish in it.  It's not a HUGE difference, but it IS different and not pleasant.  Totally Ferret, in my opinion, is the best ferret food out there.  Many people do mix 2 or even 3 different foods together and feed to their ferrets.  The reason is that IF one of the food manufacturers changes their formula (it happens occasionally), ferrets suddenly won't eat because ferrets "imprint" on the foods they are fed as kits and often won't even recognize the new food as food!  

As far as the vitamins.....Totally Ferret is a COMPLETE food and your ferret shouldn't need any vitamins while eating it, so it's basically a waste of your money.

What you could spend your money on that WOULD make a difference is some Ferretlax (or any cat laxative). Ferrets need this about 1" ribbon out of the tube once weekly to keep any fur they have ingested while grooming moving along in the intestinal tract. If this fur is allowed to sit in the intestines, it tends to group up and can cause an intestinal blockage, so it's really important that all ferrets get their laxative ONCE WEEKLY.  During the time when ferrets are shedding, they need ferret laxative (or cat) DAILY to keep from having an intestinal blockage.  If your ferret stops eating and/or pooping at any time for more than 6-8 hours, she probably has an intestinal blockage and needs immediate vet care. Other symptoms of blockage are small, skinny (like spaghetti) poop, pawing at the mouth (means they feel sick to their stomach) or listlessness - all these things mean "GET TO THE VET".

Also, a 'treat' your ferret would LOVE is called Ferretone. This has some essential oils that will make your ferret's coat shiny and full. Give no more than 1/2 tsp a couple times a week.  

Ferretlax and Ferretone, Cheweasels and Foamy Fries (get them online or at your local pet store) are the ONLY treats I give my kids. You have to be really careful not to every feed dried fruits and vegetables (or even fresh ones). Ferrets are carnivores, which means they should only eat meat OR kibble that is made from mostly meat.

My vote is to stay on the Totally Ferret OR mix it with Marshalls if you insist on feeding Marshalls.  Hope that helps you decide what is healthiest for your ferret. Thanks for writing!

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers