10 Human Foods You Should Never Feed to Ferrets

Ferrets’ diet requires them to eat 5 to 7% of their weight to maintain a robust and healthy body. Additionally, their diet requires a balanced protein and high-fat content to function properly. In this article, you will discover ten human foods you should never feed to ferrets.

How Much Food Do I Feed My Ferret?

Deciding how much food your ferret will require for adequate health can be complicated. Factors that will determine how much food to feed your ferret include:

• Age
• Weight
• Physical activity
• Reproductive health
• Base health of your ferret

Leaving food for access at their disposal is typically a recommended part of their diet. However, if they are gaining a lot of weight, you may need to halt free-for-all access to food. Additionally, you should consult with your local exotic vet to determine what your ferret will need in nutrients.

How Many Times a Day Should Your Ferret Eat?

Your ferret should consume food around 6-8 times per day. Additionally, they have a speedy metabolism and a digestive tract that absorbs food fast. Plus, leaving out pellets with 32 to 38% protein, such as duck or chicken, is highly recommended.

Additionally, kitten kibble is highly recommended for ferrets to feed during the day. It is inexpensive and can give them the baseline of nutrients that they need. However, you will still need to add some pieces of poultry or mice to ensure the right amount of protein.

Can My Ferret Eat Dog Kibble?

In short, the answer is no. Dog food is not recommended to feed your ferrets due to the complex carbohydrates in the food. Therefore, a ferret cannot handle these complex carbs due to their digestive tract.

Can I Cook Fresh Food For My Ferret?

Yes! In fact, freshly cooked meat is a great way to ensure that your ferret gets the appropriate amount of protein. In addition, you will want to make sure that you cook the meat at the right temperature to prevent your cat snake from gaining a disease.

Are Eggs Okay to Feed Ferrets?

Eggs are safe to feed ferrets. However, they should be fed no more than a few times a week. You can provide raw eggs or scrambled eggs without seasonings.

10 Human Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Ferret

1. Veggies

Vegetables may be beneficial to your well-being. However, it is not recommended to give to ferrets. Carrots are tough for their tummies to digest, while avocado is poisonous to fuzzy noodles.

2. Fruit

Fruit is not a good food for your ferret due to the sugar content. Additionally, it can put your ferret at risk of developing insulin, which can act as a poison within your ferret’s body. 

3. Chocolate

Not only does it contain sugar, but chocolate also has toxic components to fur snakes.

4. Dairy

Dairy products also have sugar in them. Not only is the sugar found in dairy a threat to your ferrets, but their tummies cannot break down most dairy products.

5. Snacks Such as Crackers, Cakes, and Cookies

Sugary snacks are not recommended for human consumption in large quantities. In addition, your ferret cannot break down the carbs or sugars. Plus, most treats have chocolate in them, which also is not recommended for catsnakes.

6. Cooked Bones

Contrary to popular belief, cooked bones are not a good food to give your ferret. Tiny shards of bone can break off and become trapped in their teeth or gums. Plus, they can cause major damage to their stomach.

7. Dog and Cat Food

As mentioned in the paragraphs above, dog and cat food is not recommended for sensitive ferret tummies. Dog and cat food do not contain enough protein, either.

8. Xylitol

Xylitol is a popular sugar additive in sugar-free or low-sugar snacks. However, it is a toxic chemical that can cause fatality in ferrets if consumed.

9. Plants 

Most houseplants are good for humans, although they are not food for ferrets. In addition, you should never let curious cat snakes play in areas where plants can be accessed easily by them.

10. Bread

Breads contain carbs that are not easily digested by your ferret’s tummy.

What Is Ferret Insulinoma?

Ferret insulinoma is a disease that causes tumors to develop in the pancreas. It releases toxic amounts of insulin in your ferret’s body. When these insulin levels increase, it causes their blood sugar to crash. Blood sugar is required for the brain and muscles to work appropriately.

Ferret insulinoma is commonly found in older ferrets. However, consumption of sugar and carbs can also increase the risk of developing insulinoma. Additionally, improper nutrition can increase the risk as well.

Insulinoma Signs in Ferrets

• Pawing at the mouth
• Excessively drooling
• Seizures
• Weakness in the back legs
• Losing weight unexpectedly
• Times of lethargy, then periods of normal behavior (this is often why insulinoma is missed in ferrets)

Diagnosis

Ferret insulinoma is diagnosed by blood tests, ultrasound, and other laboratory tests that check blood glucose levels and for scoping out any tumors.

Treatment

Unfortunately, there is no treatment for ferret insulinoma. However, there are treatments designed to slow down the progression of tumors and prevent insulinoma from spreading. 

• Prednisone Injections

One treatment that is an option is prednisone treatment. These steroidal treatments will improve blood glucose levels. In addition, prednisone treatments will also reduce the speed of the tumor growth. Prednisone treatments can donate another 6 months to 18 months of life for your ferrets.

• Surgery

Another option to slow the insulinoma down is to have surgery done to remove tumors. However, it is important to remember that even successful tumor surgeries may not fully remove the cancer cells. Surgery also helps to remove the symptoms associated with insulinoma. Typically, surgery can provide another 1 to 3 years of life for your ferret.

• Chemotherapy

In recent years, the option of chemo for ferrets has been on the rise. Additionally, chemo treatments are given every 3 weeks via IV insertion. Chemotherapy has not been able to measure how much longer life it can provide. However, it has been proven that many patients greatly improve their well-being after chemotherapy.

Recap: 10 Human Foods You Should Never Feed to Ferrets

Remember to feed your ferret a high-protein diet. Additionally, avoid these 10 human foods you should never feed to ferrets.