0
Can a ferret be fed dog food? Do you feed cat food to a dog? of course not!
Do not feed your ferret any kind of cat or dog food, they will suffer from improper nutrition and will become ill and could possibly cause death. (note: if your ferret has eaten some of your dog's foods it will not hurt him.)
It is highly recommended that you do NOT feed a ferret any kind of dog food or cat food. Dog food is nutritionally insufficient, and I think a study was done feeding ferrets dog food and the ferrets eventually died. Adult cat food is not suitable, but a high quality kitten food can be substituted as an alternative, if ferret food in not available.
Feed ferrets a high quality ferret food which enables them to digest properly, but not cat or dog food. The first few ingredients should be meat based - chicken, beef, lamb, poultry.
Some people with ferrets who have stomach problems with chicken (allergy to chicken and/or IBD) do give their ferrets a HIGH QUALITY dog food called Evo red meat small bites as part of their food mix. Many ferret owners mix different brands of food together, in case they run out of one or the company changes/discontinues the food, so that their ferrets will continue to accept the food. You can give cat good but again only the highest quality, that means reading the ingredients and food nutritional chart and doing research online or joining a ferret group/message board to stay on top of the best brands and finding out what to look for. The only dog and cat food I'd even consider is Innova Evo which is 50% protein and doesn't contain any corn or wheat, both are VERY bad for ferrets as they can't digest plant matter. (note: Innova Evo makes a food especially for ferrets, so I don't know why you would feed Evo dog food?)
Always consult your veterinarian about ferret diets
Ferrets are absolute carnivores while dogs are omnivores. Dog food contains too many ingredients that your ferret cannot digest and can cause health problems like blockages, kidney problems,... If your ferret steals one kibble from your dog every now and then you won't have to worry (unless your dog is protective of his food that is). But giving dog food as a meal should be avoided at all cost.
Edit: Innova Evo kitten and ferret foods contain the exact same nutritional values and the exact same ingredients in the same proportions, but the kitten food is generally cheaper than the ferret food. The dog food is almost exactly the same with a little less protein (42% compared to 50%), but is cheaper than both.
Ferret and kitten formula:
Protein50.2 %Fat22.53 %Fiber1.39 %Arginine3.62 %Histidine1.10 %Isoleucine2.04 %Leucine3.68 %Lysine3.4 %Met-Cysteine1.82 %Methionine1.27 %Phe-Tyrosine3.73 %Phenylalanine2.13 %Threonine2.06 %Tryptophan0.52 %Valine2.47 %Linoleic Acid4.23 %Arachidonic Acid0.23 %Ash9.87 %Calcium2.59 %Phosphorous1.67 %Potassium0.67 %Sodium0.38 %Chloride0.61 %Magnesium0.1 %Iron230.53 mg/kgCopper21.85 mg/kgManganese21.18 mg/kgZinc185.65 mg/kgIodine3.98 mg/kgSelenium1.40 mg/kgVitamin A24931.02 IU/kgVitamin D2391.60 IU/kgVitamin E318.39 IU/kgVitamin K0.78 mg/kgVitamin B1 (Thiamine)15.01 mg/kgVitamin B2 (Riboflavin)6.91 mg/kgVitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)17.08 mg/kgNiacin67.52 mg/kgVitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)4.15 mg/kgFolic Acid0.98 mg/kgBiotin0.15 mg/kgVitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin)8.97 mg/kgCholine2482.23 mg/kgTaurine0.25 %Omega 30.48 %Omega 64.40 %Linolenic Acid0.22 %EPA + DHA0.25 %Carbohydrates6.64 %Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)514.56 mg/kg
*Calculated amounts may differ from packaging as some packaging values are based on available feeding trial data.
Dog Formula:
Protein43.43 %Fat22.74 %Fiber1.43 %Arginine3.09 %Histidine0.90 %Isoleucine1.68 %Carbohydrates11.42 %Leucine2.97 %Lysine2.77 %Methionine0.96 %Phe-Tyrosine3.01 %Phenylalanine1.72 %Threonine1.71 %Tryptophan0.41 %Valine2.03 %Linoleic Acid4.46 %Arachidonic Acid0.16 %Ash11.69 %Calcium2.55 %Phosphorous1.57 %Potassium0.95 %Sodium0.39 %Chloride0.74 %Magnesium0.12 %Iron254.84 mg/kgCopper19.51 mg/kgManganese23.43 mg/kgMet-Cysteine1.35 %Zinc260.08 mg/kgIodine3.79 mg/kgSelenium1.13 mg/kgVitamin A23894.42 IU/kgVitamin D2329.55 IU/kgVitamin E324.74 IU/kgVitamin K0.73 mg/kgVitamin B1 (Thiamine)5.03 mg/kgVitamin B2 (Riboflavin)4.45 mg/kgVitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)20.87 mg/kgNiacin37.8 mg/kgVitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)4.77 mg/kgFolic Acid0.79 mg/kgBiotin0.11 mg/kgVitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin)10.21 mg/kgCholine1979.31 mg/kgTaurine0.30 %Omega 30.54 %Omega 64.6 %Linolenic Acid47.0 %EPA + DHA0.19 %Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)541.24 mg/kg
*Calculated amounts may differ from packaging as some packaging values are based on available feeding trial data.
ferret food is high in protein needed for ferrets. dogs need different scale of nutrition which is found in dog food. If a dog eats ferret food it will not harm him, but to feed a dog soley a ferret food diet is not advised,
NO! And I say this from experience. Now I've always bought my ferrets ferret food, and in the last 15 years the food manufacturers have really been taking advantage of the popularity of ferrets, back in the mid-90's you could get an 8 lb bag of food for around $3. Now that same bag of food costs $25-30! I know the price of things rise, but come on. Anyway, I recently tried giving the one I have now a little dog food to ease the cost, and it almost killed him. He loved it, but I noticed him having trouble walking and keeping his balance. Thought it might be due to age, but decided to stop the dog food and feed only ferret food. Within 2 weeks his balance is back, he looks more alert, and though he is older and sleeps much more than he used to, he has gone back to getting out of bed and asking to be let out to run around, before I would get him out and he would just lay there on the floor like he was half out of it. So either feed ferret food or don't have one. Unfortunately, this is probably the last one I will have. :-(
Absolutely not a ferret is similar in digestion to a cat. They require high proteins; dog food has much lower amounts of protein then cat food. Dogs are closer to omnivores than carnivores where as the opposite applies to cats. Dog food does not contain taurine, a necessary nutrient for ferrets and cats.
For ferret's if you can afford ferret food (quite expensive) a healthy alternative is kitten food.
Foods should be at least 35% protein, 20% fat, and have less than 3% fiber. At least 4 of the first 6 ingredients should be meat.
Hope this helps.
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What can be done if a ferret is is fed dog food?
As long as the ferret ate a little, it will be okay. A ferret fed dog food continually will die. Ferrets need to be fed ferret food only.
Can a ferret be fed dog or cat food?
Ferrets should be fed ferret food. Ferrets can eat a high quality kitten food but is has to be high in protein content. Dog food does not meet a ferret's nutritional needs. None of the above ferrets can not eat dog food or treats same with cat food and treats this can cause a stomach blockage for your ferret
Can ferrets eat dry dog food?
NO Your ferret will die it's DOG FOOD not ferret food
What happens if your ferret started eating your dogs food and won't eat his own food Should you give him dog food?
Ferrets can not live on dog food, it does not have the right nutrients. Continued feeding could cause your ferret to die. You will have to put the dogs food in another area away from your ferret.
What allows ferrets to compete for food?
There are no ferret food competitions. Ferrets are free fed with food from it's owner, so there's no need to compete
Does it harm a dog if it eats ferret pellets?
Changing any pets food might cause sickness, but specifically I don't ferret food would unless you feed it to your dog continuously. Ferret food is nutritionally made for ferrets only, which is different from dogs nutritional needs. Very high protein food (like high-end cat food) can and will cause kidney damage in your pooch. Ferret food, not so much, as it's not the same but does contain a lot of meat products as does quality dog food. However, it can certainly make the pooch feel terrible, just like suddenly changing dog food. There is a process to switch foods, and as above, optimum ferret diet is not the same as an optimum dog diet. In a few words, "Yes, it can make your dog sick." Monitor his fluid and normal food intake. Keep him away from the ferret food. If all doesn't return to normal in 24-36 hours, take him/her in to your primary Vet.
how to fed my dog?
feed it 1 scoop of dog food daily
What do you give a ferret to fatten it?
A ferret should always be fed a diet appropriate for their nutritional needs like a dry kibble ferret food. If your ferret is not eating the correct diet, they will suffer from malnutrition. If your ferret is just not eating, it may be caused by an underlying medical condition that needs attention. Your ferret needs an examination by a veterinarian.
What is a ferrets food source?
Ferrets are obligate carnivores meaning they are meat eaters, and must be fed a high quality ferret food that is primarily meat based.
What kind of vegetarian food can be fed to a Labrador?
Your dog is not a cow
How does the color of my ferret's teeth tell its age?
The age of a ferret may be determined by the teeth, they start to become translucent at the tip of the canines, and as they get older, more of each tooth is translucent. But this may not always be true if the ferret was fed improper food or malnourished.
Is dog food okay for a snack for a ferret?
No, dog food is not acceptable to feed ferrets. Dog food is mainly grain and vegetable based which ferrets cannot properly digest and could cause stomach blockage
