Content
- ferret feeding
- exclude underlying diseases
- Doesn't my ferret eat because it's sick?
- Most common causes for a ferret not wanting to eat pet food
- Solutions and recommendations for your ferret to eat feed
When we talk about pets, we always associate dogs and cats with this concept, as they are considered companion animals par excellence. However, the pattern of companion animals has changed a lot nowadays, and the even ferret is no longer a hunting mammal to become a highly esteemed pet.
It is obvious that its organism, its behavior and its needs are very different from those of a dog or a cat, as it requires specific care. With regard to veterinary control, it is also necessary to resort to a clinic specializing in exotic animals.
The feeding of this animal directly intervenes in its state of health and well-being, so in this article we show the solutions and recommendations to use when a ferret does not want to eat pet food, in order to avoid any complications.
ferret feeding
This animal has specific nutritional needs, so check first what it should be like to feed a ferret:
- It must contain more animal than vegetable protein, constituting between 30 and 38% of your diet
- The composition of your food must contain a percentage of fat that varies between 18 and 20%
- Fiber is very important to prevent gastrointestinal complications, a daily intake of 4% is recommended.
- Ferret food should also contain vitamin A, C, E and taurine.
The food that should be used to ensure that the ferret receives all the nutrients it needs is the ferret-specific feed, and it is recommended to use a dry feed as it reduces the amount of tartar that accumulates on the animal's teeth.
exclude underlying diseases
Anorexia or lack of appetite can be symptoms that indicate a disease and, if your ferret does not want to eat pet food, this may be due to one of the following conditions:
- Infectious Diseases Affecting the Digestive System
- Bacterial or viral infections
- Cardiac insufficiency
- Allergies
- metabolic problems
- neurological disorders
- Ingestion of toxic substances
As a lack of appetite can be an indication of serious illness, it is important consult the veterinarian first. If he suspects an underlying disease, he or she will have a complete physical exam, a dental exam, and tests such as ultrasounds or urinalysis to check for any abnormalities.
Doesn't my ferret eat because it's sick?
As discussed later, the most common causes for a ferret not wanting to eat pet food they are not serious, but that is not always the case. If your ferret does not eat feed and, in addition, also observes the presence of any of the following symptoms, it may be sick:
- vomiting
- Diarrhea
- hair loss
- difficulty breathing
- disorientation
- motor discoordination
- stiffness in limbs
Some of these symptoms, combined with a lack of appetite, may indicate that something serious is going on and the cause of anorexia is an underlying condition. See the veterinarian urgently!
Most common causes for a ferret not wanting to eat pet food
In the absence of any serious underlying disease, ferrets haveend to refuse feed for the following reasons:
- Have difficulty adapting to your taste
- They have difficulty adapting to its texture (in the case of dry feed)
- Are used to a diet based on meat and eggs
- They have developed gingivitis due to tartar accumulation and are unable to eat comfortably
- The feed provided is not of good quality or is it feed intended for other types of animals
Solving these causes and getting your ferret to eat properly is not difficult, but it does require a great deal of patience on the part of the tutors.
Solutions and recommendations for your ferret to eat feed
If your ferret does not eat, it is necessary to apply one (or, in some cases, several) of the following measures until you get your food intake to gradually normalize:
- Give the animal chew toys, this will reduce the accumulation of tartar on the teeth, preventing and treating gingivitis
- Do not offer cat food, it needs a suitable food for ferrets
- As a basic measure, it is recommended that you change the feed type. Ferrets have an exquisite taste and are not used to any flavor.
- In order to adapt to the texture of the dry feed, it can be administered in the form of porridge, previously soaking for about 10 - 15 minutes
- If the problem is that your ferret is used to a meat-based diet, you should start by adding a little meat to the ration and make a moist mixture and gradually reduce the amount of meat used.
- If porridge with meat and feed does not work, you should start with a meat-only porridge to which feed will be added gradually.
As mentioned earlier, these measures are usually very effective whenever the tutor has enough constancy and patience.
