Ferrets and kids!

Sara East · Post by **Sara East** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 12:48 pm

We decided to get a pet and my husband was set on a ferret. I didn't know much about them but the ones I held were pretty cute and so I conceded. Guess who got to take care of Jack the ferret?? Having Jack around is like having another toddler! My oldest is 6, the middle child just turned 5, and the baby is 18 months. Jack gets into all the things the kids do including chewing electrical cords! He also has a special diet because he's a baby, I have to make up food just like formula...too bad I can't nurse him like I did the rest of my kids lol :) I have gotten attached to him because like people, ferrets are notorious for having GI issues including colitis! He seems to be having diarrhea so I can sympathize with him!

JLH · Post by **JLH** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:42 pm

How fun!

angy · Post by **angy** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 3:52 pm

awe poor little furball!!

Post by **tex** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 5:05 pm

What are you feeding the little varmint? You know, in the wild, they eat prairie dogs almost exclusively. If his diet contains any significant amount of things such as corn gluten, soy meal, rice gluten, and other vegetable or grain based proteins, (that are commonly added to commercial ferret rations to boost the protein content), those things are pretty much indigestible to ferrets, and will probably cause diarrhea. Meat and poultry by-products are not particularly digestible, either, so they may not be of much benefit to a ferret. Also watch out for added sugars, whether they be sucrose, fructose, corn syrup, sorbitol, (or any of the other sugar alcohols). Your new baby requires a pretty "high-octane" diet. LOL.

Tex

Sara East · Post by **Sara East** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:04 pm

Oh I had no idea they eat prairie dogs!! Poor things, I think prairie dogs are SO cute! I actually looked into getting one for a pet but prairie dogs are illegal to own privately in the US. You are right about ferrets diet. I started doing some research into their food and found out about the special proteins they need. I went to the pet store and looked at the ingredients in the ferret food and found one that has everything they need and no protein fillers. Of course it was the most expensive one lol :) Jack has been on it now for about 2 weeks and he hasn't had diarrhea since! I was starting to get worried because I could tell he was dehydrated and was loosing weight. He's about 12 weeks old and didn't weigh over a pound but now he's nice and fat and ready to play every second of the day! I'm having a problem with the sugars though. My youngest son still throws food off of his highchair and sometimes it ends up in places I don't see. Once in a while I see Jack run off with something in his mouth and I have to chase him down and get it from him. Most of the time it's a piece of cereal or potato chip that he's not supposed to have :D

Post by **tex** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:54 pm

Well, actually, the domesticated ferrets that are sold as pets, are descendants of the European polecat, (Mustela putorius). The only wild ferret in the U. S. is the black-footed ferret, which has been endangered for many decades, (mostly because of their dependence on prairie dogs as prey). To be honest, I don't have the foggiest idea what the European polecat eats, but presumably it is something similar.

It sounds like raising one is pretty similar to raising a kid, alright, if you have to run him down to keep him from eating something that he shouldn't. LOL. It sounds like he's got it made, now, though.

Tex

Sara East · Post by **Sara East** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:59 pm

My husband and I were just talking about that last night! I wondered if ferrets are native to the US and my husband said he thinks they are. That also explains why Jack acts like a cat a little bit. The way he play fights and chases things are similar to a cat.

CAMary · Post by **CAMary** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 4:24 pm

Hi Sara!

Nice to *meet* you - we just acquired a puppy 10 days ago - so I can so relate to the "toddler in the house" feelings! I'm also learning it's as much about training the kids as training the pet! My kids are a little older than yours, and pretty helpful thus far!

As far as the chewing - we've had good luck with a spray product called "bitter apple" - pet stores sell it - not sure if it would work with a ferret, but we've sprayed our electrical cords, hose reel, patio furniture and sprinkler lines - so far, so good!

Take care, Mary

crranch · Post by **crranch** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 7:32 pm

Ferrets are soooo cool, Rick and I had one that was rescued after a big flood. He was like having a toddler running amok in the house. The bitter apple idea works great or tabasco sauce will work also, to deter them from chewing on things. Be sure and have him castrated, it will cut down on the musk smell and nipping as he gets older.

Carrie