Ferrets
DIET (part 3)

SUPPLEMENTS

Ferrets do not need supplements of any kind if they being fed a balanced raw, freeze-dried or whole prey diet. If the ferret is being fed a high quality dry ferret diet, it is unlikely he/she will need routine supplements.
• Fatty Acid Supplements – Occasionally ferrets can develop a dry haircoat or dry skin and may benefit from the use of an oral fatty acid supplement. Coat or skin dryness can be due to a lack of sufficient fat in the diet (seen with some dry diets) or a very dry environment. However, overuse of fatty acid supplements can lead to obesity. Dry itchy skin can also be a sign of adrenal disease. Please consult your veterinarian if your ferret for the proper use of a fatty acid supplement.

• Treat Foods - Humans, not ferrets, have an emotional need for treat foods, so it is not necessary to feed ferrets any treats. But if you must give a treat, how about a nice piece of raw liver or heart, a bit of raw muscle meat or raw egg? Cooked meat or egg products can be given, but they are more difficult to digest than the raw form. Dog or cat treats that are composed of freeze dried muscle or organ meat are appropriate to use. Also pieces of a freeze-dried carnivore diet can also be offered in the dry form. As mentioned, most commercial ferret treats are completely inappropriate and actually can create a health risk. Please read labels before you feed a commercial product to your pet. Avoid getting your pet hooked on any high carbohydrate treat, which includes cookies, breads, crackers, cereal, ice cream and cake. These foods can potentially lead to disease of the pancreas. Use raw fruit or vegetable treats very sparingly and cut them into pieces 1/4”sqarre or smaller. If these high fiber treats are overfed or given in pieces that are too large, it could result in serious health problems.

• Hairball Laxative – Hairball laxatives are generally composed of a petroleum product such as Vaseline and a sweetener such as molasses. It would be best if we could avoid using sweeteners in the ferret’s diet for reasons already mentioned under the general diet section. However, hairballs do develop in some ferrets over one year of age and this is most likely related to a diet that does not contain the normal bone, skin and fur of a prey animal that would help to move the ferrets own hair through the intestinal tract. Since most ferrets are not eating a whole prey diet, it may be beneficial to provide some sort of lubricating agent to help remove the hair from the stomach before it forms a compact mass. Try using only Vaseline, thereby avoiding the sweetener in hairball products. You can put a pea-sized amount on the ferret’s food every third day. If that doesn’t work, try putting the Vaseline on the ferret’s front paw and he/she will naturally lick it off to keep clean. You can try to flavor the Vaseline with an oily substance such as fatty acid supplement, fish oil or vegetable oil and feed it off a spoon. It may be difficult to mix the Vaseline and oil together.
© 2004 Midwest Bird and Exotic Animal Hospital