How to Keep a Ferret Healthy

Опубликовал Admin
24-09-2016, 14:15
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Ferrets can make great pets but are prone to developing health problems in their old age and sometimes even in their youth, especially if not cared for properly. This article will help you to try to prevent some of these health problems and also help you keep your ferret in overall good health.

Feeding your ferret

  1. Provide a healthy ferret diet. The kibble you provide should have a least 35% to 45% protein, 18% to 20% fat and no more than 3% fiber. The kibble has to be meat based because ferrets are obligate carnivores (just like cats). It would be best to get a grain free all natural ferret food like Evo ferret food or Zupreem grain free ferret food. If these types of ferret food are hard to find, you can get Wellness Core kitten food, Wellness Core original cat food or Felidae grain-free Pure Elements cat food.
  2. Offer fresh foods at least twice a month. Choose foods such as egg yolk or scrambled egg and boiled or raw chicken.
  3. Avoid ferret treats. Most of them are high in sugar. Ferret N Bones appear to be fine as occasional treats though.
  4. Give your ferret only purified water. Tap water contains too many minerals for the ferret to handle, which can cause health problems.
  5. Give your ferrets food and water every day. Even if it looks like they have some already, they need fresh food and water. Remove uneaten food after 24 hours.

Keeping your ferret medically healthy

  1. Vaccinate your ferret only if you live in an area where distemper is common. Let your veterinarian check its immunity every year instead of overloading the ferret with annual vaccinations. If it still has immunity to distemper, it will not need a vaccine. By doing this you prevent your ferret from being over-vaccinated, which can cause health problems.
    • Try to avoid the rabies vaccine. It can be harmful to your ferret and the chances of your ferret catching rabies is very rare unless rabid bats, foxes, raccoons, coyotes and other wild animals are very common where you live and can find their way into your house.
  2. Provide a flea and/or heartworm prevention for your ferret if you live in an area where fleas and/or mosquitoes are common. Advantage flea protection for cats and Heartguard heartworm prevention for cats can be used. Interceptor for cats is another heartworm prevention you can use. Revolution for kittens or cats can be used to prevent fleas, heartworms, ear mites and certain intestinal parasites. Be sure to talk with your vet on what dosage of flea and/or heartworm prevention is safe for your ferret.

Exercising your ferret

  1. Let your ferret out of its cage for 3 or more hours a day. If your ferrets are especially hyperactive, let them run around twice a day, about 3 to 4 hours at a time. The safest place to walk your ferret is probably in your yard.
    • Make sure the room your ferret is in is safe.
    • You can take the ferret for walks during fine, cool weather. Walking your ferret is optional.
    • If you don't have a yard, look for a safe place where dogs are not too common. If you live in an area where large birds are common be careful - it might want to make your ferret its next meal!
  2. Spend time with your ferret. Play with it and provide toys. Rotate toys to help keep boredom at bay.

Grooming your ferret

  1. Clip the ferret's nails at least twice a month.
  2. Clean the ferret's ears at least every two months.
  3. Bathe the ferret no more than twice a year.
    • If you don't want your ferret to smell, change its bedding once a week and clean the cage and litter box daily.
  4. Clean the ferret's teeth. Use a ferret teeth gel or water and a baby toothbrush, at least once a week.
  5. To help prevent hairballs, brush your ferret's coat daily. Use a flea comb, slicker brush or bristle brush to brush its coat for a few minutes and give it no more than a teaspoon of olive oil twice a week. Olive oil helps move hairballs.

Caring for your ferret's environment

  1. Use natural cleaning products when cleaning your ferret's cage. White vinegar with water is all natural and safe for your ferret. It is good at killing bacteria and odors.
  2. Clean your ferret's bedding with baking soda.
  3. Clean the bowls and feeding containers with gentle dish washing soap. It's okay to use dish liquid to wash your ferrets food and water bowls.
  4. Don't use detergent or bleach to wash any thing that belongs to your ferret. Be cautious about what you use to clean your floor.
  5. Keep the ferret's cage soft and warm in the winter/fall. If necessary, put a little heater on to low (optional).

Tips

  • Bathing a ferret too often will dry out its coat and skin and make it smell more.
  • Save some money for vet bills. If you save $100 or $50 a month by the time your ferret needs tartar removed from its teeth, has to go to the vet for a cold or flu, or needs a surgery you will most likely have enough money.
  • Give your ferret Gerber stage 2 chicken baby food at least 3 times a month, so whenever it is sick and does not have an appetite you can feed it that with a small amount of its kibble crushed and mixed with it. Baby food is best served warm. Make sure it isn't hot.
  • You can use paper towel to replace litter in your ferret's litter box if its not the type that likes to eat paper. You have to change the paper towel at least twice a day; more if you have more than one ferret. Clean the litter box before you put fresh paper towel.
  • You can use a toenail clip to clip your ferret's nails but it must be in good condition(not dull or worn out). Be careful not to cut the pink part of your ferrets nail.

Warnings

  • Do not clean your ferret's ears with Q Tips unless you are sure of what you are doing. Instead, you can wet a cotton ball with water or ferret ear cleaner and clean your ferret's ears with that. Do not push the cotton ball in your ferret's ears.
  • Never use any animal or human shampoo that is not approved for ferrets, unless it is hypoallergenic baby shampoo.
  • Be careful when giving your ferret the distemper or rabies vaccine; some ferrets have had adverse reactions to it.
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