What is a good ferret food like?
Ferrets are obligate carnivores (eat only meat), so anything containing fruits, vegetables or significant amount of corn is not suitable for them. Ferrets cannot digest these items and can lead into blockages and other serious health issues.
Most cat/kitten foods do not contain necessary level of nutrients that ferrets need, dog food is absolutely not suitable for ferrets.
Do not feed only one food. Pick 2 or 3 foods and mix them. This will provide a more balanced diet, Also, when you are feeding only one kind of kibble if the formula changes or you can't buy this food your ferret go on a hunger strike. If you mix several foods, you can change or add ingredients easily.
Whole prey or raw meat is the best diet for ferrets, always choose it over kibble.
Good ferret food will have:
- only meat products as first five ingredients. There should be no fruit or vegetables, if corn appears it should be no higher than fifth ingredient;
- high protein (no less than 40%)
One more advantage of a healthy diet is that helps reduce ferret body odor dramatically and makes their litter box smell much less. Ferrets that are fed high quality kibble smell much less than ferrets who are fed cheap grocery store brands. Raw fed ferrets' smell is almost undetectable.
- only meat products as first five ingredients. There should be no fruit or vegetables, if corn appears it should be no higher than fifth ingredient;
- high protein (no less than 40%)
- moderate fat (18 - 40% )
- low fiber (approx max 3%)
- low carbohydrates (no more than 25%, but the lower the better - a high count contributes to a life-threatening condition "insulinoma")
- no peas (they cause bladder stones in ferrets)
Look at the ingredients list and nutrition facts of the food you feed.
- no peas (they cause bladder stones in ferrets)
Look at the ingredients list and nutrition facts of the food you feed.
One more advantage of a healthy diet is that helps reduce ferret body odor dramatically and makes their litter box smell much less. Ferrets that are fed high quality kibble smell much less than ferrets who are fed cheap grocery store brands. Raw fed ferrets' smell is almost undetectable.
Check food charts below to see nutrition facts of different foods or to see your ferret food ranking.
Any tips on getting a ferret to eat a prey diet? We just got our first ferret and our dogs eat raw so we would like the ferret too as well. We are having a hard time getting her to even try it...
ReplyDeleteAny tips on getting a ferret to eat a prey diet? We just got our first ferret and our dogs eat raw so we would like the ferret too as well. We are having a hard time getting her to even try it...
ReplyDeleteThis is how I switch ferrets: http://www.ferret-farm.com/2015/12/switchingtoraw.html
Delete