Pets411care Basic Ferret Care

PET411CARE Basic Ferret Care
Love your ferret with proper care.

A ferret is a long time comment. It is very important to take real good care of your ferret. Ferrets are carnivorous mammals known as mustelids. Ferrets will need a good amount of care, so reseach everything about ferrets before getting one. Ferrets live from 8 to 10 years, some have lived longer. Baby ferrets are called "kits". Ferrets are domestic animals and cousins of weasels, skunks, otters, and the mink.

Always remember that your veterinarian is your best source of information on your animal’s health care.

FOOD AND WATER:

Ferrets need proper food and fresh water daily.

Your ferret will need fresh clean water everyday. It is also very important to wash the water bowl or bottle out because bacteria and algae can grow in a water bowl or bottle. Bacteria and algae can lead to health problems which can lead to a huge medical bill. Just by taking the time and providing your ferret with a clean bowl or bottle of fresh water you will help keep him or her healthy. Water is the most important thing in any animal’s life. Use distilled water if you are unsure of the bacteria or chlorine levels in your tap water.

Wild ferrets are hunters; they hunted snakes, rabbits, rodents, and birds. Their whole diet is based around small mammals and reptiles. Ferrets need a variety of meat to keep them healthy.

Ferrets are carnivores and can not digest plant products properly. Ferrets require a lot of protein in their diet, no less then 34%. They do make ferret food but make sure it has no filler like corn meal or mineral oil. Some of the health problems ferrets have come from the plant products in ferret food. Ferrets can have high quality cat food but the best ferret food has everything your little ferret really needs. There are some cat foods that are not good for cats let alone ferrets. Ferrets like cats need taurine, which is found naturally in poultry. Feeding your ferret good healthy food will provide him or her with shiny coat. They can be picky eats just like cats.

Your ferret can get extra nutrition from supplements like ferretone and linatone, but make sure you don’t give your ferret too many. Please talk to your Veterinarian about supplements.

You can give your ferret meat treats like chicken or freeze dried liver. These treats are healthy treats for your ferret.

Do not over feed your ferret; overweight ferrets do have health problems. So watch how many treats you give your little friend. Two treats a day should be find.

Day old food that was not eaten should be removed from the cage to prevent any illness.

DO NOT FEED YOUR FERRET:
Down the road they will have health problems.
No coffee
No junk food
No plant products of any kind.
No chocolate
No dog food
No Milk

BEDDING AND HOUSING:

You will need to get a 3/4 to 1 inch wire mesh cage about 3x3 feet or bigger, bigger the cage the better, galvanized steel mesh. Ferrets do really well in large cages. Ferrets can squeeze through the smallest of holes so the door of the cage needs to be secure.
You will also need to put something at the bottom of the cage so that the ferret can’t hurt its foot. Some ferrets have broken a foot by getting it caught in the mesh.
Do not get an aquarium. Aquariums have poor ventilation and most animals end up very ill from them.

Your ferret will need a place to sleep in the cage. There are ferret hammocks, ferret sleeping sacks and nesting boxs to choose from. You can put a cardboard box or a basket in the cage for your ferret. Their bedding should be small blankets, pillow cases, t-shirt, sweet shirts, or towels. Do not put any kind of wood chips in the cage. Most wood chips like cedar cause health problems.

Ferrets love to climb so it’s a good to put climbing stuff in the cage. Put tubes like PVC pipe in the cage your little ferret will love playing or sleeping in the tube. Ferrets love to play with water so having a pan of water in the cage is messy but the ferrets love it, but keep a water bottle for their drinking water. Your ferret will need things to chew on. Do not but the cage close to things you don’t want to be chewed up. When ferrets get bored they will reach through the cage for things to chew on.

You will want to put a small litter box in the cage. Some people use small pans.

Ferrets do knock over their bowls so get really heave bowls or bowls that wire to the cage.

You will need to wash the cage and bedding once a week. It is very import to clean your ferret’s cage because many ferrets get real sick from dirty cages and bedding.

Ferrets need a place to play, some people set up one whole room for them. You will need to ferret proof your house. Ferrets will chew on things like wires. They take things and hide them. They also can squeeze through a hole three to four time smaller then their body. They find every little gap in your house so you will need to get down low and look around and find all things they can get into. Ferrets can and love to climb.

LITTER BOX:

Yes they can be litter box train and people keep the litter box in the ferret’s cage. Keep showing the ferret the litter box over again. When they go in the litter box give them a meat treat. Don’t give them a treat very time they go in the litter box or your will have a fat ferret with health problems. With a little time and patients he or she will use the little box.

VETERINARIAN, SHOTS AND HEALTH:

One of the first things you should do when you first get a ferret is set a veterinarian appointment and give the ferret a complete check-up. Make sure your veterinarian has taken care of ferrets before. there are some Vets who don't know much about ferrets.
Talk to your veterinarian about a ferret’s nutritional needs.

Ferrets do need their vaccination shots. Ferret can get rabies and other dog and cat deceases.

Ferrets need regular check-ups too.
Ferrets also get hairballs just like cats
Ferrets get flea and mites so talk to your veterinarian about what works for ferrets.

If your pet is showing any signs of distress or you suspect your pet is seriously ill, CONTACT YOUR VETERINARIAN immediately.

Get more info on Wound Dr. to speed healing of pet wounds

Get More Info on PetAlive Natural Moves for Pet Constipation and Digestive Health

Get more info on PetAlive Ear Dr. for Ear Infections and Ear Mites.

SPAYED OR NEUTERED:

Please spayed or neuter your ferret because there are a lot of homeless ferrets that do get put down.

Other reason for getting your ferret fixed is less odor, better behavior and better health. You will need to get your female ferret spayed before her first heat so there are no health risks. Some females end up with health problems if they are spayed after they have been through their first heat.

Getting your ferret spayed or neutered is a real good idea.

DANGERS
Safeguard your Household

Ferret poof your house by finding all the holes in your house and have them covered.
Ferrets can and will find ways to get out of the house.
Dogs can harm a ferret so make sure your dog is trained to not hurt your ferret.
Ferrets love to climb everything and can fall.
Ferrets are very curious which can get them into trouble.

Keep dangerous substances locked away, Phenol can cause serious liver damage in ferrets. Phenol is found in most cleaning products. Companies do use very toxic chemicals in their cleaning products that are highly dangerous to both animals and humans.

Ferrets will chew on electrical cords.

Pick up every little thing, ferrets have been known to choke on or get things stuck in the intestines.

Ferrets will chew on plants and there are a lot of plants out there that are toxic to ferrets. Make sure that your plants are non-toxic to ferrets.

BATHING AND GROOMING:

Have your ferret’s teeth cleaned by a veterinarian when they have their check-up. Yes, you should brush your ferret’s teeth to keep their teeth healthy.

You can have a veterinarian trim your ferret’s nails or trim them yourself. Have the vet or groomer to show you how.

Brush your ferret’s coat every other day. Grooming your ferret is a great opportunity to check your ferret over to see if their lumps, fleas, mite, or if their hurt somewhere. Grooming also helps in getting a ferret use to being handled and is more likely not to bite.

You can put your ferret in the tub with warm water for their bath. There are shampoo that can make your ferret sick, so you need to get shampoo for ferrets or talk to your veterinarian.

COLLARS:

Pet companies make harnesses and leashes for ferrets. Yes, take your ferret for a walk every day to keep him or her fit. A fit ferret is a healthy ferret.

HOLDING AND HANDLING:

Hold your ferret with both hands. Put both hands under your ferret’s feet and hold him or her close to you.
There will be times where you will need to hold your ferret by the scruff of the neck to check their ears for mites or to take care of a medical problem. Hold your ferret firm but gentle to keep him or her from squirming too much. You should have a veterinarian show you the proper way to hold your ferret when checking ears or giving treatments.

PLAYTIME AND TOYS:

Getting toys for your ferret will help with his or her mental health. Toys are a must because ferret can become bored and when they are bored they get into trouble. Boredom leads to stress and stress can lead to health problems.

Ferrets love to climb, chew, chase, and hind things.
Here is a list of toys that your ferret will love:
Boxes, paper bags, cloth bags, card board tubs, PVC pipes, balls, parrot toys, stuff animals, cat toys or dog toys. Make your own toys.
Put a mirror next to your ferret’s cage.
Put water in the tub and your ferret will have a blast.
Playing with your ferret gives him or her exercise to keep them fit and healthy. Just as it is important to keep your ferret fit; it is important to keep them mentally healthy.
Ferrets need 3 to 4 hours of playtime a day. You don't have to always be playing with just things set up for them to play. But you will find it hard to not join in on the fun. I get a blast just watching them.
Take your ferret for a one hour walk every other day. That can be part of their playtime.

TRAIN YOUR FERRET:

Treats help train your ferret.
You need to teach your ferret not to bite. Blowing in their face or use a squirt bottle will help train your ferret not to bite. But first you will need to know why your ferret is biting in the first place. Your ferret might be biting because you’re handling him or her the wrong way. Maybe your ferret has never been handled at all.

You will need to teach your ferret to come by his or her name.

Litter-train your ferret; Keep showing the ferret the litter box over again. When they go in the litter box give them a meat treat. Don’t give them a treat very time they go in the litter box. With a little time and patients he or she will use the little box.
Train your ferret will take time and patients.

COMPAIONSHIP:

Ferrets in the wild do not live in family groups they live solitary lives and can be territorial. You can have just one ferret, but they do like company. Getting your ferret a friend is a good idea if you work or are gone a lot.

Ferrets do get along well with other ferrets, but they have been known to fight with each other. Most of the fights happen between males who are not neutered, a good reason to get your ferret fixed. Ferrets who are fixed do better with each other then ferrets that are not.

BEFORE GETTING YOUR FERRET
make sure that you have everything your ferret needs first.

Shopping list:

Food and water (good ferret food)
Bowls and water bottle
Cage
Nest box
Bedding (cloth, hammock, paper)
Meat treats
Toys
Harness and leash
Check up (find a vet that has worked with ferrets before)
FERRET PROOF YOUR HOUSE BEFORE YOU BRING THE FERRET HOME.

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ONE LAST TIP…
The whole family should help in the care of a ferret.

There are many great books that give more detail on the proper care of ferrets. This web page only gives the basic on ferret care. You will need a book on ferrets that provides more detail information.

Here are two informative Ebooks.

Find out about Ferrets!

Amazing Ferret Secrets Exposed!

Do you have some great ferret tips or stories to share? Just fill out the below.

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