5 Foods You Should Never Feed Your Ferret

Ferrets are mischievous and active pets that are easy to keep happy. As a responsible pet owner, you need to know your pet's dietary needs. Ferrets are obligate carnivores, so their digestive systems are built for a meat-based diet.

The wrong food can harm their health, especially foods high in fiber, sugar and carbohydrates. Safeguard your little pet by never feeding him the following foods:

Dairy

Cheese, ice cream and yogurt may tempt your pet when you are snacking. However, dairy can cause diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration.

The American Ferret Association advises a carnivorous diet for ferrets. Like other pets, ferrets lack much of the lactase enzyme needed to digest lactose, the sugar in milk, so dairy often causes diarrhea and digestive upset.

Dog and Cat Food

Dog food is not a substitute for ferret food. Your ferret belongs to a different species and has different nutritional needs.

Your ferret’s diet should be high in animal protein and fat. NC State's veterinary hospital recommends an adult ferret kibble with 30% to 35% crude protein and 15% to 20% fat, with minimal carbohydrates and fiber.

If you cannot find ferret food, ask your vet whether a high-quality kitten food is a suitable stopgap. Check that the first ingredients are animal-based, and do not add supplements unless your vet recommends them.

Cooked Bones

Never feed cooked bones. Cooking makes bones brittle, so they can splinter.

Sharp fragments can cause choking or puncture the throat, stomach or intestines. Raw bones also carry a risk of injury, blockage and bacteria, so talk to your vet before feeding any bones.

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables do not belong in a ferret's diet. As obligate carnivores, ferrets are designed to digest meat.

Ferrets cannot use carbohydrates and fiber well. Sugary, starchy foods are best avoided, and some vets link high-carbohydrate diets to insulinoma, a common pancreatic tumor in ferrets that causes low blood sugar.

Sugar

Cereals, honey, syrups and sweets have no place in a ferret's diet. NC State advises avoiding sugar-coated treats and grains.

Keep foods containing xylitol out of reach too. This sweetener is found in many sugar-free products, and it can trigger seizures and cause liver failure in ferrets and other animals.

Conclusion

Feed your ferret a complete, meat-based diet made for ferrets, and keep treats small. NC State lists a little high-quality canned cat food, cooked meat or cooked egg white as suitable treats.

If your ferret eats something toxic, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Sources

• Caring for Your Pet Ferret, NC State College of Veterinary Medicine
• People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets, ASPCA