Is it safe to feed ferrets raw meat and frozen mice? What has your experience been like?

Question

I just received two ferrets and id like to feed them a more alternative natural diet. Is it safe to feed them raw beef and chicken from the supermarket? Please tell me what your experience has been like by trying this diet. Thank You

Answer 1

I would NOT recommend feeding the ferrets anything except the dry ferret food you buy at the pet stores. Your ferrets will pretty much decide what they want to eat beyond that. Our little Toto loved cat food and would steal and stash it in his hidey place. He also swiped the milk bones from the dogs and hid them. If you want a truly great pet, don't cage them beyond a few days while they get used to your place. I made Toto a cardboard box home with a blanket inside, and cut an opening just his big in one end. He loved it. Watch to make sure they use their kitty litter.

Answer 2

Ferrets are not spiders and don't eat frozen mice. They eat ferret food and only high in protein food. Marshall Diet for ferrets is the best out there. Do not ever consider feeding your ferret raw meat of any type or frozen anything. They eat very little.

Better yet, just dont' get one... They are high maintenence animals, and are susceptible to infections in their lungs. Vet bills can be astronomical.
Look into getting a chinchilla or something of that nature.

Answer 3

I am quite experienced with ferrets and have cared for 7 of them in the past few years. I have heard you can teach them to eat meat like that if they are rasied from babies on it. But I've never seen it done myself. Ferrets require a VERY particular diet. The best food for them that is highly recommended is Totally Ferret. It is expensive but www.theferretstore.com sells a generic version that is quite reasonable in price and just as good. They need a precise balance of nutrients and this food is best for it. Mine won't even eat meat. I've tried to give it to them cooked. Raw may be dangerous. Especially with the risk of salmonella. Remember, in the wild they would have killed the animal then ate it, so processed meat wouldn't be all that natural for them. They won't eat frozen mice, I promise that. No feeding them anything sweet. they will beg for it, but don't give in. Just give them food and a few high quality treats with meat protein as the first ingredient listed. Sugary foods can lead to insulinoma (see below).

Since you are a new ferret mom/dad there are some things you really need to know. They MUST be vaccinated for distemper every year with a formula that is safe for ferrets. Any ferret experienced vet can do this. They can't use the version made for dogs. You can transfer this disease from dogs to your ferret on your clothing or hands if you don't vaccinate them. Rabies vaccines are optional but recommended if you think your ferret will be around people you don't know well and could bite.

Ferrets often come down with a variety of serious illnesses. Most common is adrenal disease which occurs in 80% of ferrets. It usually requires surgery which can be 400-600 dollars and it may happen more than once. They also often come down with insulinoma which causes problems in blood sugar and can be difficult to treat. Cancer is common in these guys too and it also can be a pricey thing to treat. The bottom line is keep money saved up in case of emergency. If you are lucky enough for them not to get sick then they will end up eating something they aren't supposed to or hurting themselves on something. I've been to the animal hospital at 3 am for a broken ferret foot when mine got her paw caught in the bottom of a recliner chair. I've lost 2 to lymphoma (cancer), one to lymphoma and insulinoma (she also had adrenal disease but she had surgery). I currently have 4. If you cannot financially afford them, give them to someone who can!

Some other random important things: they can't use regular cat litter. It hurts their respiratory systems. Use either Yesterday's News or my favorite Feline Pine. Clean their litter box daily. They HATE dirty litter boxes. It needs to be dust free litter. They cannot be around rubbery things. They will eat a piece of it and it will get stuck in their intestines. They are drawn to rubbery things. They cannot live in a home where people smoke. They must be out of their cage at a minimum of 4 hours a day in a SAFE ferret proofed environment. They are not cage animals. They need tons of human affection and attention!

One last thing: HAVE THEM TESTED FOR ADV. It is a fatal virus that is highly contagious. You could pet another ferret and come home and give it to them or vice versa. It's incurable but it is testable. If they have it you can quarantine them from other ferrets until they pass. This also means no playing with untested ferrets then coming home and playing with them. It can last on your clothes or hands for 4 hours or more.

That's the rundown of ferret essentials. A good book is "Ferrets for Dummies" which is easy to order or buy at a book store. Sorry for so much info but people often have misconceptions about ferrets and don't give them the care they deserve. If you need more help please email me at [e-mail] any time! Have fun!