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Ferrets have unique nutritional requirements to stay healthy and active. Your pet requires a high calorie, high protein diet. Much of this protein must be derived from animal sources because the ferret’s digestive system prevents them from getting adequate proteins from vegetable sources. However, older ferrets can suffer from kidney disease from too much protein. Because of this, owners must be careful not to feed older animals growth foods that contain higher amounts of protein. Many ferret owners feed their pets cat food because the nutritional values it contains are close to those required by ferrets. Check the labels to make sure that much of the protein in the cat food is not derived from corn because your ferret will not get enough protein to stay healthy. Soft cat foods are not good for ferrets however, because the protein content in these foods is much lower than in dry varieties. Also, dry food helps the animal to keep its teeth clean.
A dog food diet is dangerous to the ferret because it lacks taurine, an amino acid. Ferrets love ice cream and milk. However, it causes diarrhea and can dehydrate the animal. Goat’s milk is safe, as is soy milk. Cottage cheese can be given to the ferret if the animal will eat it. Chocolate can be harmful to ferrets because it contains theobromine, which can increase the heart rate and cause death. Chocolate also can upset the digestive tract and cause vomiting and diarrhea, as well as affect the nervous system and cause convulsions. It also can act as a diuretic, causing dehydration. Licorice can also be dangerous, especially if the ferret has a heart condition.
While ferrets enjoy eating snacks, care should be given when preparing a treat for the animal. Cooked meat and eggs are great treats. Because ferrets do not digest fiber well, small pieces that have been chopped well should be given, and only a teaspoon or so each day Included in this category are fruits, broccoli and cucumber. Corn should not be fed to a ferret because it can cause the rectum of the animal to become prolapsed. Unshelled nuts are dangerous to ferrets because pieces of the shells can be ingested and cause a blockage in the intestine. Shells can also cause the ferret to choke, as can all types of bones.
Onions are also dangerous to ferrets. Both raw and cooked onions contain disulphide. Disulphide will damage the animal’s red blood cells and cause too little oxygen to be carried through the ferret’s system, resulting in anemia. Symptoms of anemia include weight loss, panting, weakness and a rapid pulse.
Many common plants can make your ferret sick or even kill him. The castorbean plant seed is extremely toxic to ferrets and even a minute amount of this plant will kill the animal. Castorbean plants contain ricin, a poisonous protein that is dangerous to many animals and humans. Signs of poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, and intestinal pain. If your pet eats castorbean plant seeds, call your veterinarian immediately. Death will occur 24-36 hours after the seeds have been eaten.
Water Hemlock is another plant that can cause death in a ferret. While the root of this plant is the most toxic, all parts are dangerous to animals and humans alike. Water hemlock plants contain cicutoxin, and this substance will produce many symptoms in the animal. These include dilated pupils, convulsions, difficulty breathing and death. Poison Hemlock can also make the animal very sick or even cause death. Like water hemlock, this plant contains toxins. Symptoms of poison hemlock ingestion are a slow heart rate, slowed breathing, the body becomes cold and an odor may be emitted from the body.
Wild cherries are also poisonous to ferrets. While all parts of the plant are dangerous, the leaves pose the most threat. Damaged leaves contain cyanide, which prevents the body from utilizing the oxygen carried throughout the body. Symptoms of this poisoning are rapid breathing, anxiety, trembling and death.
The Rosary Pea bean is highly toxic and even one bean ingested by your pet can kill him. This plant contains the substances abrin and abric acid, which causes bloody diarrhea, vomiting, shock and death. Lupines can also be a health hazard for ferrets. The seeds are the most toxic, although all parts of the plant should be avoided. Lupines contain lupanine, a substance that causes birth defects, breathing changes and behavioral changes in the animal. Coma and death can also occur.
Milkweed contains cardiac glycosides and resins that can cause bloat, muscle spasms, difficulty breathing and death. Nightshade plants are poisonous to ferrets. They contain solanine, which causes damage to the animal’s central nervous system. Symptoms of this poisoning include depression, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty breathing and a loss of consciousness.
Other plants that can cause health risks to ferrets include pokeweed, wild barley, alsike clover and bull nettle.
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