Best diet

Question
My friend just got a Ferret, first time with this type pet, she needs to know what is best for them to eat, especially on a low budget, also what is a normal diet for a ferret? Basically, what she needs to know to take care of him properly.

Answer
Hi Abigail:

Please tell your friend "CONGRATULATIONS" on her new ferret!  She is just entering into *more* than just pet ownership - most ferret owners soon learn to love their ferrets so much that they become an integral part of the family.    You are right in researching the proper food - and LOTS of other information - early on, as these things can affect a ferret's health and well-being not only now, but far down the road, often even determining whether the ferret dies at a young age or lives a long, healthy life.

Since you asked specifically about food, I will start there. A ferret is a "obligate carnivore", which means that their stomachs (and even their teeth) are made to eat meat and meat byproducts only - NO "junk food" like we feed some other pets. Ferrets are so small, it's really important that they get a diet consisting of around 37% protein (meat).  The *best* diets for ferrets are those made specifically FOR ferrets.  You can check http://www.theferretstore.com and find quite a few ferret foods by Totally Ferret, 8 in 1 Ultimate, Zupreem, Path Valley - all of these are kibbled foods, but are made from meat and meat by-products (things like heart, liver, bone, etc all ground up and dried, then pressed into hard kibble).

When you first get a ferret - it's very important to find out what he/she HAS BEEN eating and slowing mix the food you intend to feed him/her (more new food/less old food each time you fill the food bowl). Ferrets "imprint" in food - in other words, if they have only been fed one food all their lives, they probably won't even recognize other things as food, so it is important that you introduce new foods slowly so your ferret doesn't stop eating.

Most ferret foods are pretty expensive. Keeping ferrets is pretty expensive.  It's a good idea for any ferret owner to start a savings account for future vet bills/surgeries/etc, as almost all ferrets eventually have high vet bills.  The *cheapest* food you can buy that meets a ferret's nutritional needs is IAMS KITTEN - it comes in a purple bag and is a dry, crunchy kibble food. Easy to find, you can usually even get it at a grocery store - always at KMart.  There are NO other cat or kitten foods that will meet a ferret's nutritional needs and even Iams Kitten is the very minimum.

Now, on to other questions that I hope your friend is asking by now - and if not now, then very very soon.  She will need to know how to "ferretproof" her house - in other words, make it safe for her ferret; how to litterbox train the ferret if he's not already using the box regularly; what toys are safe (NO rubber toys, no styrofoam, no baby bottle nipples or pacifiers or anything that type of rubber &ferrets LOVE it, but if they eat it, it causes intestinal blockages, which will kill the ferret if not removed surgically - and that's expensive).  So, your friend can SAVE A LOT OF MONEY by studying the things that are and are not safe for her ferret to have around, to play with, etc. She *can* use a clay cat litter, but NOT EVER the 'clumping' type, as it gets caught in their paws and again can cause intestinal blockages.

Ferrets need warm cozy, dry beds of baby blankets, sweatshirts or sweatpants, flannel - just nothing he/she can get a claw stuck in (and don't forget to clip those nails about every week or so, so he/she doesn't get them caught on something and pull a toe off - yes, that happens :-(  

Ferrets need rabies and distemper shots - be sure you get a veterinarian who is familiar with ferrets and knows to give a shot of benadryl first. Then stay at the vet's office after the shot for at least half an hour, as deadly reactions are not unusual and if the ferret has a reaction, he/she could die in less than a minute...that's why you want to stay at the vet's, so the vet can give emergency shots and oxygen to try to save the ferret.

There are just SO MANY things your friend needs to know as a new ferret parent!  There is a LOT of information online.  You can check http://www.ferretcentral.org and find a LOT of information.  Also at http://www.miamiferret.org has a lot of information.

Best of luck with that new ferret.  I hope I've answered a few questions and led you in the right direction towards even more help.  A ferret owner needs to learn so much!  There is a GREAT book out there that has everything in it you could possibly ever need to know. The book is pretty cheap if you get it at http://www.half.com .  The book is called "FERRETS FOR DUMMIES" and is by Kim Schilling.  I highly recommend it for all ferret owners.  Your friend will save a LOT of money and vet visits by educating herself about things that are dangerous to ferrets, general care needs, safe toys, bedding, litter, etc.  SO many things are dangerous to ferrets - you really need to know about those things to protect that new baby!

Don't ever hesitate to write again if you have further questions.  Again, congratulations to your friend on her new ferret - may it have a long life and know nothing but love!

sincerely,
jacquie rodgers