Ferret Care Guide

Ferrets are fast and furry little animals believed to be somehow related to weasels, skunks, minks, weasels, and otters. However, unlike their aforementioned kin, ferrets has become among the top choices for furry pets nowadays after the dog and the cat.

Ferrets could live for as long as up to ten years, given that they do not suffer any kind of disease. These animals thrive in dry and temperate climate with the help of their coats that are suitable for moderately hot and cold temperatures.

Their most popular color variations for these adorable creatures are usually a combination of grey and black, varying shades of brown, and white or pale yellow matched with black eyes. It is also not uncommon to see albino ferrets, usually white in color, with pink eyes.

Female ferrets could weigh as much as two pounds while males could reach up to double the weight. One of the most important ferret facts that you must remember is that the Blackfooted ferret is not one of them. It is an endangered species that is only related distantly.

Ferret Origins and Other Ferret Facts

Man is believed to have regarded ferrets as pets for as long they have cats. Ferret ancestors may have been allowed to reside in granaries some 2,500 years ago before they were tamed to help with hunting and pest control.

Ferrets could only inter-breed with the European polecat and the Steppe polecat, wild relatives that live in the Eastern European forests.  It is highly recommended for ferrets, like cats, to be neutered or spayed early in their life. Female ferrets could suffer from aplastic anemia or a painful death is it is either not spayed or was not able to mate.

Veterinarians also stress this among all ferret facts: altering and descenting your per ferret will help it live longer. The process involves altering or reducing a ferret’s odor to make it more attractive as a companion. Ferret owners should also remember to have their pets checked up at least twice a year and inoculated annually.

Ferret Facts and Characteristics

Ferrets are active and playful creatures. They make good companions if their needs are well met. Do not commit the mistake of putting them in cages unless you could implement the idea of the cage as a “safe sanctuary” for them.

Ferrets are happier if they live with another one or more of their kind. These animals are curious and territorial. Ferrets are not recommended pets for households with children because both are highly energetic and that might cause trouble. Ferrets are curious and investigative. Most of them sleep up to twenty hours a day, waking up on several occasions to eat. Their most active period is usually two hours before sunrise and sunset, when they play nonstop.

Of all ferret facts, we should of course not forget, ferret food. What do they eat? Ferrets need to be fed dry ferret or kitten food. They also like vegetables and fruits. Avoid giving them grains, nuts, or dairy products. They have very high metabolism and are more vulnerable to diseases.

Remember to do your research if you are planning to get a pet ferret. Interview owners and read books to make sure that a ferret is suitable for you.

Ferrets are fun and energetic pets that will surely provide delight to any household. They could be tiring because of their enthusiasm but this doesn’t mean that they are exempted from ferret diseases.

It is highly recommended for ferrets to undergo neutering or spaying surgeries before they reach puberty or at about six to eight months old. These help in reducing unpleasant odor and unwanted babies while eliminating chances for female ferrets to die of aplastic anemia, caused by being unable to mate with the opposite sex while going into extended heat.

Ferret Health Problems

Ferrets also suffer from cancer most commonly in the pancreas, the adrenal glands, and the lymphatic system. Others claimed that neutering the animals way before they reach sexual maturity could cause cancers.

A genetic defect called the Waardenburg syndrome could also be brought about by genetic defects. Most ferret diseases lead to extreme weight loss. This is a big problem because ferrets are very active. If your ferret starts losing weight or shows symptoms of a digestive problem, feed him “duck soup,” which is a mixture of whole chicken innards, high-grade kitten food, fat drippings, Ferretone, Nutrical, and other ingredients, depending on the variety. This is rich in fat and protein to balance your ferret’s weight gain and weight loss properly.

Ferrets could also suffer from dehydration. If this is so, give them Pedialyte.

Ferret Adrenal Disease

Symptoms often include hair loss, aggression, urinating or defecating difficulties, or an enlarged vulva for females. This could come in the form of cancer of hyperplasia due to a growth of the adrenaline glands. The disease is usually detected during fall or springtime. The disease could be treated but must be acted upon quickly by the veterinarian.

Ferret Insulinoma

Insulinoma is the cancer of the pancreas. Its cause is also unknown. Essentially, it is the overproduction of insulin that causes a drop in blood sugar. Symptoms include drooling, lethargy, seizures, and sudden deaths. Ferrets suffering from insulinoma might also utter high-pitched screams or give blank stares into space.

Ferret Lymphoma

Lymphoma or lymphosarcoma is the most common ferret disease. The latter comes in two forms, which affect young and adult ferrets. Basically, the disease results in the lymph nodes in either the abdominal cavity, limbs, liver or spleen. It could be treated with radiation or chemotherapy.

Ferret Viral Diseases

Ferrets can also get infected by viruses, including the ECE (epizootic catarrhal enteritis) virus, which cause intestinal inflammation. There is also the ADV (Aleutian disease virus), and the CD (canine distemper) viruses.

Most veterinarians would recommend having your ferret checked up annually. These furry creatures have extremely high metabolism thus, allowing the faster spread of diseases, especially cancer, in their bodies. Ferrets do not easily show symptoms of illnesses so any unusual behavior should not be taken for granted. If your ferret behaves in an unusual way, take it to the immediately to the veterinarian. Remember, the best way to prevent or cure ferret diseases is still through early detection.

Welcome to your friendliest and most up-to-date ferret care sheet. Ferrets are active and curious animals that could make good companions if their needs are well taken care of. These mammals are still being used to hunt for rabbits in some areas worldwide but they are increasingly becoming a favorite household pet.

This ferret care sheet will provide you with guidelines as to how to take care of your ferret or ferrets in terms of diet, housing, grooming, health, and playing among others.

Ferret Care Home

Ferrets are animals that need regular exercise. Make sure that their cage is large enough for them to move about. If you should allow them to roam around freely, make sure to cover or seal all holes, containers, and cabinets. Ferrets love to investigate, often resulting in premature ferret deaths. They could squeeze in to holes as small as two inches wide and two inches high.

A spacious cage would be a good choice but make sure it has a solid floor. Take away spongy objects that could choke them if swallowed. Adding multilevel platforms and tiny ferret houses are guaranteed to satisfy your hyperactive ferret. Place a pelleted cat litter, a food bowl, and a water bottle inside the cage.

In choosing beddings, pine, aspen, corn cob, or newspaper beddings will serve you will until your ferret is litter trained. It is recommended to change the beddings of your pet ferrets every week. Same goes for their litter boxes, food bowls, and cage floor. Rinse and dry the cage well before putting the ferrets inside. Change soiled litter boxes every day.

Ferret Food

If there is anything you should remember in this ferret care sheet, it is that you should not feed them bread and other grains and food high in mineral oil and dairy products. Choose a high-quality dry ferret food for your pet and give them fresh water. They also enjoy fruits and vegetables so it would be good if you have them at hand.

Ferret Cleaning and Ferret Grooming

You cold bathe your ferrets once in every few weeks in lukewarm water. Use a ferret shampoo or a mild animal shampoo for its fur. Dry it thoroughly after bathing and keep it warm. You could brush their coat and trim their nails once in a while. Do not over-bathe your ferrets.

Ferret Health Care

As you will often encounter in all ferret care sheets, these mammals are extremely prone to diseases because they have high metabolism. It would help if you have them spayed or neutered before they reach adolescence to stop them from breeding. Aside from this, the mentioned surgeries reduce their unpleasant odor and their aggressiveness. Take your ferret to the veterinarian twice a year and have them inoculated yearly.

Ferrets Playing

Playing is practically a requirement for the very energetic ferrets. Let them out of their cage to play once in a while. The best toys for your ferrets include simple household items such as socks, boxes, tubes, tennis balls, paper bags, and pieces of string. They are also fond of the cat’s tail. Ferrets are constantly looking for new toys so be careful with what you give them. Keep away dangerous objects.