FERRET CARE!

There is much involved in properly caring for your pet ferret. Nutrition, and guardianship play the most pivotal parts in caring for ferrets. Whether you are ferret-proofing your home, or just learning to know how to care for ferrets, there's no end to how much you can do to be the best "ferrent" ever. This page is intended to answer a few of the most common questions on ferret care. These are only a few of the basic guidelines to follow to insure that your ferret is getting the care he/she needs:

Like any other domestic pet, ferrets need annual vaccinations and vet check-ups. Kits (baby ferrets) should receive their first rabies shot at about 3 months old and should be given a booster shot annually thereafter. A 4 series Canine Distemper shot should be given to kits at ages 6-8, 10-12, and 14-16 weeks and at 1 year old and a booster shot should be given annually thereafter.

It is not recommended that you bathe your pet ferret often as it will strip the ferret’s skin of its natural oils causing the ferret’s skin to be dry and itchy. This can also amplify their body odor. Bathing about once a month with a ferret shampoo is more than sufficient. If your ferret likes waterplay, clear water bathing without shampoo is safe.

Although there are several schools of thoughts about what a ferret should eat; a premium quality, dry food is sufficient to meet your ferret’s daily nutritional needs. You should choose a food with a high meat protein value (approximately 32%) and the right proportion of fat content (approximately 18%). It is important to make sure that your pet ferret has food and water at all times as they have very high metabolism rates. It is also a good idea to feed at least two different types of food so that your babies will be used to more than one. This will help should your usual brand become unavailable at some point in your ferret’s lifetime. OCF recommends the use of Totally Ferret by Performance Foods. They offer a category for three stages of ferret life cycles from baby to adult and senior formulas.

You should brush your ferret’s teeth daily using a gel designed specifically for ferrets and a very small, soft toothbrush or pre-moistened swabs designed for ferret tooth care. It is also acceptable to use a cat toothbrush which is made of rubber and fits over your finger but use caution as ferrets are intrigued by new objects and may inadvertently bite your finger while trying to explore this unfamiliar gadget. *Do NOT use human toothpaste on ferrets.

You should clip your ferret’s toenails so that he/she will not snag them. When doing so, it is best to do this as a team. Scruff your baby and be sure to support his/her feet while the other person holds his/her paw and clips the nails. Be careful not to cut the quick (pink part of the nail). The quick is very sensitive and will bleed profusely if cut, and will hurt the ferret. You can use human clippers if you choose but be careful not to snip past the quick. It is also a good idea to keep styptic powder on hand to stop bleeding caused by inadvertently cutting a nail too short.

It is a good idea to check your ferret's ears weekly, and clean your ferret's ears about once a month. To do this, you will need ferret ear wash solution, a cotton ball and cotton swabs. You will need to scruff your ferret to put a couple drops of wash in his/her ear. Use the cotton swap to wipe inside the ear canal but be careful not to push any ear buildup down into the canal. Use the cotton ball to wipe up any leftover ear wash or wax from around the outside of the ear. Repeat on other ear.

Frontline is a spray that is available from your veterinarian and is a good option to kill fleas and keep them off your ferret. Spray Frontline on your hands and rub the product on your ferret once a month against the way that the fur grows to kill fleas and ticks.

When ferret-proofing your home, you must remember that if your ferrety can fit his/her head through an opening, the rest of his/her body will fit as well. Be sure to block off any spaces around appliances and holes under cupboards.

If there are any cords that ferret can get to - spray them with bitter apple or cover them with a protective shield to keep them safe from the current within them.

Rocking chairs, recliners and sofa beds are very dangerous for ferrets as they can get caught and squashed in the mechanisms. It is best not to have this type of furniture in your home at all, but if you do -be sure not to have such items in your pet’s play area.

Another good bit of advice is to make sure that there is nothing within your ferret's reach (or jumping distance ability) that is made from rubber (i.e.. weatherstripping, foam peanuts, dog toys made of rubber, tennis shoes, etc.) that might be chewed and ingested, possibly causing a blockage. Intestinal blockages can cause serious issues in ferrets, even death.

Use caution around washing machines, clothes dryers, refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, air conditioning unit, microwaves, cupboards, fireplaces and any other appliance or machine that your ferret might be able to sneak into while you’re not looking. If your ferret gets trapped in any of these, the results could be fatal. Use caution when taking your clothes from the laundry basket to the washer, you never know who might be sleeping in there!

Baths, showers, pools, spas, and even toilets are drowning hazards; never leave your ferret alone in any area that contains a possible drowning hazard. Believe it or not, you have to watch out for drains too. Ferrets are curious and can easily fit in a drain and can get stuck.

Paper towels and toilet paper rolls look like a lot of fun, but as it turns out, they’re dangerous to ferrets. A ferret’s head can get stuck causing stress and possible suffocation.

If you have stairs, do not let ferrets climb them. They do not have good depth perception and could walk over the edge of a drop off, not realizing the distance - and they could fall and be seriously injured. As with any baby, keep all medications, chemicals, cleaning solutions, and any other potentially harmful fluids out of reach. Remember that your babies have the ability to chew through plastic bottle caps and if ingested these items can be fatal.

These are just a few of the important steps to take when caring for ferrets. Be sure to fully research and educate yourself on the proper care and always be dilligent in the care and protection of your ferret to ensure his long, safe and happy life!