Care of Ferret

Question
We just bought a ferret that is approx 1 year old.  I was wondering how you can tell the age if it is uncertain. (like a dog you look at the teeth)?...  I also would like to know what to feed him, I have heard that cat food has some bad effects on them if given long term.  Also do they like fruit.  And are there any necessary supplements they need.. (we had a guinea pig and it died after 2 years.. No one told us it needed extra vitamin C.) So I don't think my daughter could handle that again.  This ferret is very gentle and will fall asleep in your arms if you storke his belly or head is that normal.  I have had the impression that they are very hyper this one is Very calm.  I mean I guess he has little spurts he is by no mean lethargic or anything but he just seems so much like a big lazy cat to me more then the stereotype I have heard of ferrets.  If you could just infom me of any things you may think are crucial in the upbrining of this ferret and what good ideas for activities to keep him happy and well adjusted we would appreciate it very much.  He seems like he is going to be a great pet.  Also what is good to wash them with and should I blow dry him after a bath?  I think he may have been around cats and could possibly have some fleas so I would like to wash him as soon as possible to avoid any fleas in our home.  Also I have a 16 month old that is really nosey about this little guy are there any diseases that they carry that I should worry about her contact with it.  I mean I would not make my kids wash their hands everytime they touched a cat if we had one, so should it be any different with a ferret.

Thank you for you help and hope to hear from you soon.

Thank you,
Tracy Permuy

Answer
Hello Tracy!


First, I must apologize that I did not reply sooner. To make a long story short, about two weeks ago, we had to help our dear Golden Retriever, Dusty, cross over to Rainbow Bridge. He was almost 13 years old, and we miss him dearly. Honestly, I have been "out of sorts" .... and my email piled up, as I did not even sign my computer on for days. I am catching up, now, and truly apologize for the delay!!

Okay ..... Now to get to you questions!  :-)

First, congratulations on the new Fuzzie! Yes,  it is possible to tell a ferrets approximate age by it's teeth .... but it is still somewhat of a guessing game. I personally have not learned how to tell this, and really only know of two people, personally, who are "good" at it. They are very experienced breeders, and operate a Rescue Shelter as well. So unfortunately, I can not help you with the age thing (well, unless you live in Ohio, so you could take the Fuzzie to the "experts") :-).

You are right about cat food .... it is not the best thing for you ferrets diet. However, some KITTEN foods fit into the requirements for a ferrets diet. The best way to tell if a food is "good or bad" for your ferret is by checking the ingredients/nutrition label.

Ferrets require 32% to 38% protein, mid range being the best. A protein content of over 38% could actually be harmful for the kidneys of an older ferret. The protein should come from animal sources, products, or by-products, not plant or vegetable sources.

Your Fuzzie also requires a high fat content of 20% to 22%, and this should also should come from animal sources. Ash content should be no more than 7% to try to avoid the formation of kidney stones. And remember, ferrets cannot process fiber, so the fiber content should be 3% or lower. It is also good if the food contains taurine ... this helps keep their eyes and heart healthy.

The quality of the ingredients is also very important. Look at the first 3 ingredients in the list. {Ingredients are listed in order of quantity. } The first ingredient should always be a form of meat, and preferably something other than fish. Ideally all 3 would be meat, although there are very few that are. The reason that fish should be avoided is because foods that include fish high on the list of ingredients are most likely designed with minks in mind not ferrets. Another reason you may want to avoid fish is that ferrets that eat foods with a high fish base tend to have more smelly "poo"! Corn should not be one of the first 3 ingredients. It is best to avoid corn in all forms, if possible. Corn is hard for the ferret to digest. You will also want to look at what form the meat is listed. Plain meat is better than a meat by-product. "Meat By-products" is meat that has been rejected for human consumption ... and may include things like bones, hooves and feathers. Although these things do all contribute to the protein content. Plain meat just happens to be a better source of protein.

Whew!! I know that sounds like a lot ... but it really isn't to hard to compare the foods when you know what to look for. Some high quality kitten foods actually meet these requirements. I currently am using a mixture of Zupreem, Mazuri, The Ferret Store Superior Blend, and Pro Plan Kitten. They all love it.

Yes, some ferrets like fruits, and other snack items, but, of course, it has little or no nutritional value. However, giving you ferret a small bite will not harm him. Only one or two bite size pieces a day, at most. Avoid any dried fruit, however. I know of Fuzzies that ended up with intestinal blockages due to dried fruit, and one had to have surgery. :-(    

A ferret does not HAVE to have any additional supplements if he is feed the proper diet. However, there is a great supplement that almost all ferrets go crazy for, and it benefits them in many ways. Ferretone. Not only does it provide extra nutrition, it helps to keep their coat more soft, and is good for their skin too. Its an oil like substance, looks kind of like Olive Oil, actually, and most ferrets lick it up as fast at you give it to them!! It will come in very useful to distract the ferret during nail trimming time too!

There are ferret shampoos that most pet stores carry. Kitten safe shampoos are also acceptable. If you can not find anything at a local pet store, a great place to order supplies from on-line is PetExpo.net .... I order from them ALL the time, and have had no problems. With 10 Fuzzies, I go through a lot of Ferretone!!! LOL. This place has GREAT prices!!    

I would not recommend blow drying a ferret after it's bath. ferrets skin tend to dry out easily, and they are  a somewhat 'Itchy, scratchy" creature to begin with. Blow drying may actually dry the skin more. If it is necessary though, do so on the coolest setting. Also, the noise of a blow dryer may scare some fuzzies. The vacuum cleaner is also something that can sent them running!!

I can understand your concern about a new critter carrying a disease that can be transmitted to humans. Ferrets are NOT one of them. Just like a cat or dog, you do not need to "scrub down" after contact, like you would want to do with lizards and turtles. One thing to be aware of, however, is that, a human can spread the cold virus to a ferret, and vice-versa, just like with human family members!

Now, as far as ideas to keep a Fuzzie happy ..... there are many!!! They love jingly toys, rattle balls .... anything hard plastic that they can not get a chunk out of with their teeth. Never give them the soft, latex type toys!  I buy many of my toys from the cat & dog section of the pet store, and from the baby section in toy stores!!!
A FAVORITE 'toy" is their "Rice Dig Box"  .... I have a web site with tons of photos of the Fuzzies playing .... it may be easier for you to look at a few pages, and get some ideas that way.

Here is a link to the Rice Box Page: http://ferretfanatic1.homestead.com/Madness.html

Well, I hope this will help you get started!! There is always something new to learn about ferrets!! Don't hesitate to contact me at anytime if you have further questions!!!  :-)


Terri

FerretFanatic@Wideopenwest.com


Here is my Home Page Link to my web site:
http://ferretfanatic1.homestead.com/1.html