From:
Mike Janke
Date: 2001-11-07 18:15:00 UTC
Subject: Re: New ferret - need help and advice!
Ferrets are obligate carnivores which means they need a meat based
diet. Whole prey is probably the best diet, but in some cases, this
may not be practical. Stay away from the fruit and/or vegetables.
Ferrets don't need them and don't digest them well at all. Ferrets
need a high protein and fat content, so I don't see that staying away
from fatty foods is necessarily a good thing.
I don't know if freezing would kill any parasites or bacteria in the
meat, though I think not. Cooking the meat thoroughly would be the
best way to insure there is nothing harmful in it.
I never heard of a ferret that used a wheel like a hamster (or
squirrel). Given their body structure, it seems like it would be
very difficult for them to use one. It would be interesting to hear
if she actually does use it.
Ferrets are not aquatic by nature. Some enjoy playing in water,
others hate it. It might be an acquired taste. :-) Never leave your
ferret unattended in a container full of water! They're not strong
swimmers, if at all, and could quickly get in trouble in water deeper
than what they can stand up in.
I can't answer you questions about bringing her into other
countries. I'm sure that at the very least, you would need to have a
current certificate of health and be up to date on vaccinations.
mike
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Robert Rose" <robert-rose@r...>
wrote:
> Hello everyone,
> I have a young ferret, this is the first one I've ever owned. I
feed her cod liver pate, a type of sardine, and raw eggs. And
occasionally persimmon and grapes. Does anyone have suggestions about
diet? I live in Moscow, Russia, and the people who bred her advise me
to feed her raw meat (beef or lamb), fish, but not pork. And nothing
fatty. Plus a few fruits now and then. Should meat be frozen, then
thawed? I'm a little worried about worms, trichinosis, and so on, if
the meat was fresh. What would you suggest about bathing a ferret?
Are they aquatic in any way? I have a squirrel cage, with high walls
(about a meter), and a big wheel for exercise, but I let her roam
about the apartment here. She looks like a "wild type", dark, with
the characteristic "mask". I'll send digital pic's if anyone would be
interested? And what certificates and so on will I need if I take her
to the US and back? Or Turkey, Egypt, and Greece (Cyprus)?
>
> Thank you,
> Rob Rose