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Care of Ferrets
Ferrets were first tamed by the Ancient Egyptians for food and clothing. Today, they are playful weasel-like companions that depend on us for love! This category contains questions about ferret health, history, and needs.
1,047 Questions
What is the most common color for a ferret?
Sable or polecat color - Browns, black, off-white with dark tail and legs and dark face mask
The most common color for ferrets is sable or polecat color- Mixed Brown, black fur with off-white or cream guard hairs, dark tail and legs and a dark face mask
Ferrets come in many colors and patterns. Here is a list of what you might find on a ferret:
Sable:The guard hairs are dark in color, ranging from darkest brown to black. The undercoat on the neck, belly, back is cream colored, and it may show through. The tail and legs are the same color as the body, but with no undercoat. The mask is a full band across their eyes.
Silver: There are several different silver patterns. Some silvers have guard hairs that are white and silvery everywhere on the body, and some silvers are sometimes confused with DEWS because some silvers have all white guard hairs everywhere except their tail, which has only a few silver guard hairs. The silver ferret lacks a full mask and usually only has a few smudges of silver around the eyes.
Dark Eyed White (DEW): the guard hairs are all white and the eyes are brown or black.
Albino: Lacks pigmentation and are totally white and the eyes are red or pink.
They aren't. Some states have made them illegal to own, so that may be the reason you think this. Currently the ferret is the #3 most popular pet in America behind dogs and cats. If you took a look online and visited your local ferret shelter you would see that they are indeed over-populated.
How much imodium can you give a ferret?
Imodium is intended for use by humans and may be extremely toxic to other species - many common household medicines will kill pets. As a result, it would be an extremely bad idea to give a ferret Imodium. If it seems to be having problems passing stools, seek veterinary advice.
Is Revolution for cats safe to use on ferrets?
Revolution is safe and effective against fleas. One tube of the cat sized per ferret once a month. Revolution is also called Stronghold in Europe. Revolution will also kill ticks, ear mites, prevent heart worms, and deworms each month
What is a severe condition due to excess production of estrogen in ferrets?
The female ferret is an induced ovulator, meaning she must mate to terminate estrus. If she is not bred, she will remain in estrus which in time will result in excess estrogen in her body leading to a disorder know as estrogen-induced anemia, which can lead to leukemia and finally death.
What should a ferret stools look like?
Ferrets stools should be soft and well formed. It should not be watery (diarrhea), or have the appearance of birdseed (malasorption) or black and tarry (bleeding in the GI tract)
i have 2 ferrets and i feed them can of cat food but they are not aloud seafood
eg: fish
for a little treat they love fruit like sultanas an dried fruit also...
EDIT:
Ferrets are obligate carnivores and cannot digest fruits, vegetables, grains, milk, and sugar. Feeding these items is unhealthy and can lead to disease later in life. Raisins and grapes are actually toxic to ferrets.
Kibble should have at least 35% protein, 20% fat, and have less than 3% fiber. At least 4 of the first 6 ingredients should be meat. They can eat fish like whitefish and salmon but avoid varieties high in Mercury such as tuna. Feeding fish does make their poo smellier so give it sparingly.
Cat/kitten food can be fed providing it meets the criteria above. Dog food does not contain taurine and is not good for ferrets
Good treats are meat based: cooked/raw meats (chicken, turkey, rabbit, beef), scrambled or raw eggs, meat baby food. Most ferret love Ferretone or olive oil.
How do you get the glue off your ferret?
It depends on what type of glue it is. Bathe your ferret with mild baby shampoo or ferret shampoo
What cedar can you use for ferrets?
Cedar is not recommended. You may see pet stores using cedar or pine shavings as bedding for ferrets. Cedar shavings harbor bacteria and can cause allergies and respiratory problems in ferrets, also pine and other woods produce dust. Wood shavings are completely unnecessary for ferrets, you can use clean towels or old T-shirt for sleeping. Cedar shavings, white and yellow pines, release volatile hydrocarbons which can affect animals. Plicatic acid, a volatile hydrocarbon, results in asthma in humans and rabbits. Other hydrocarbons result in changes in the liver, which may impair its ability to detoxify certain drugs, including various anesthetic agents. Scientists over the years have alluded to possible carcinogenicity in cedar shavings.
What is the ferrets name in the book Inkheart?
I've not read it, but brief research reveals that his name is Gwin. It also seems that he is a marten rather than a ferret, but the two animals are related and look similar.
What type of soap can you wash a ferret?
Use shampoos made specifically for ferrets. Do not use any shampoos made for dogs, cats, or people unless it is recommended by your veterinarian. Ferrets can easily have toxic reactions from products not made for ferrets. Do you shampoo your hair with dog shampoo? Why not? Because it is a product made specifically for dogs. That why it says dog shampoo on the bottle.
Bathing is not a necessity for ferrets, but if you choose the bathe your ferret, it should not be more than once a month.
They make ferret shampoo available at most pet stores. If you can't find it and really have to wash him/her. A very, very mild hand soap. One with a moisturizer. Baby shampoo can be an alternative with infrequent use.
As an alternative there's also a dry shampoo powder for ferrets that has a good fragrance, you sprinkle and rub it into the ferrets fur, and then brush it out. And then there's a spray mist that you spray on helps condition the skin, and you don't have to rinse off.
You don't necessarily have to bathe a ferret, they are pretty clean animals, and do groom themselves. Bathing strips oils from their skin causing dryness, and itching. They will start to produce more oil and odors. To bathe a ferret - it's best to use a product made for ferrets. their body temperature is at about 101 degrees, the bath water will be warmer than the temperature that you normally bathe in, in other words what feels warm to you may feel cold to a ferret. You can either use the tub or sink. Get the ferret wet, shampoo, rinse well and towel dry. When you're done, put a dry towel on the floor, put your ferret down, he'll be a little hyper, and will start running around.
Why cant ferrets live in the wild?
Domestic ferrets have been domesticated for so long they have lost their natural instinct to survive on their own and totally depend on humans for their care.
When do pregnant ferrets usually start to show in their abdomen?
A female ferret's abdomen will enlarge and she will act pregnant in either a true or false pregnancy. About 3 weeks after mating, a veterinarian will be able to feel fetuses growing within the abdomen. During the sixth and last week of a true pregnancy in ferrets, if you rest your fingers lightly on the side of the abdomen and exercise great patience, you should be able to feel the unborn kits moving inside the mother and you will know for certain that your ferret is pregnant.
Unaltered male ferrets that come into season will fight and may seriously injure one another. However altered or neutered males are usually not aggressive and will socialize with other ferrets
Ferrets with a fever and cough?
a ferret that has a fever and a cough could be caused by one of several illnesses. contact your veterinarian
Can ferrets eat guinea pig food?
Do not feed ferrets any guinea pig food or any other pet food. Feed ferrets food made especially for ferrets. They are strict carnivores (meat eater) and cannot properly digest any vegetables, fruits or grains.
How long can a ferret live with lymphoma?
I don't know.. But you should really get your ferret checked out by a Vet As soon as Possible.
As a Ferret onwer i would say Totaly Ferret is the best but when you live in a small town walmart dont carry it so top line cat food is ok no Cheap Food it will and has killed mant Ferrets and if you have young ferrets kitten food can be used but it cant be cheap...
It depends on the particular brand of food but high quality ferret foods contain a high percentage of animal protein (meat), fats, vitamins and minerals as well as a small percentage of grains. They higher the meat content and lower the grain content the better.
How hungry should a ferret be to hunt?
A ferret shouldn't be hungry to hunt. If your ferreting (hunting rabbits), the ferret needs to flush the rabbit out of it's hole, not kill it. If a ferret is hungry, he might kill the rabbit and lay up with it.
When a ferret sleeps more than usual does that mean they are sick?
Whenever a ferrets acts different from their usual self, it could be an illness. But as they get older, they do tend to sleep more. You might want to have an veterinarian check your ferret, as they do hide their illness.
They bounce with both front legs together, and both back legs together. While doing a running walk they "slide" their feet; the left side moves together as does the right. All ferrets are different though and may prefer to run/ walk differently; especially if they are older.
Your ferrets cage mate died recently and he doesn't want to do much anymore what can you do for him?
Domestic ferrets bond strongly to their cage mates and when one dies, severe depression can develop to the point were they will quit eating and die withing a matter of days. What your ferrets need in plenty of attention from you and plenty of time out of their cage. Distract your ferret and try to get him interested in playing, ferrets like to play in tunnel, box, plastic sacks, even a tray of something they can dig in (I use puzzle pieces). If your ferret does not eat you may have to hand feed him a mixture of "duck soup" (do a Google search for duck soup ferret for recipes) because they can quickly lose weight and become very weak to the point of death.
