Ferret Care

Tips for Ferret Owners

• Ferret owners should bring in their pets annually for examination including vaccinations. Vaccination against canine distemper virus, which is highly contagious and always a fatal disease, should begin when the ferret is 6-8 weeks old, repeated at 3-4 week intervals and then annually. Rabies vaccinations are given at 4-6 months of age and repeated annually.
• Ferrets are susceptible to the same dental diseases as are cats and dogs (e.g. tartar accumulation, gingivitis, fractures, and teeth discoloration). 
• Ear Mites are common in ferrets and cause the ears to be itchy and have a black discharge (which must be differentiated from the normal ceruminous discharge). 
• Unaltered male ferrets are called “hobs”, altered males are “gibs”.  Unaltered female ferrets are called “jills”, altered females are “sprites”. All ferrets, unless used for breeding, should be spayed or neutered by 6 months of age.  Once a jill comes into heat, unless bred, she will remain in heat, which ultimately leads to a severe anemia and death.  Ferrets that are purchased from pet shops have already been spayed or neutered, and descented.
• The domestic ferret is not a “tamed wild animal” any more than a Poodle or Persian cat.  The ferret is a separate species from it s wild cousins. The ferret has been domesticated, according to some scholars, for over 2500 years.  As a result the ferret has lost most of its ability to survive in the wild and depends totally on humans for its survival.  If released outside, he would very likely starve to death within a week, if not first killed by a neighbor’s dog or a hawk, or run over by a car.
• Nutrition is extremely important for the health of ferrets.  Make sure the food you select is formulated for ferrets and not a multi-animal food.  Two recommended brands are EVO for Ferrets and Pretty Bird Natural Gold for Ferrets.
• Ferrets are intensely curious about everything.  They can fit through very small openings.  Unfortunately not every place they wish to explore is hospitable to small furry animals – the underside of refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, stoves and ovens, the inside of walls and floors.  Make sure to seal any holes and ferret proof your house.  You cannot ferret-proof a recliner or a pullout sofa bed.  They are deathtraps for ferrets.  They will climb in the mechanisms and be crushed.  Either do not have these furniture pieces or bind the mechanisms.    For the animal’s safety, it is often best to confine your pet to a cage during the night and when no one will be able to supervise. However, remember that a ferret is a companion animal, and not a cage animal; therefore, most of the time your ferret should be out of the cage and interacting with you and your family.
• Try to introduce your ferret to a new food, and he will probably turn his nose up at it.  However, leave a piece of Styrofoam, foam rubber, a small button, a rubber band, or vinyl rubber lying about, and he will eat it.  These types of materials can block ferrets’ digestive systems and require emergency surgery to save their life.  Keeping a watch on your ferret at all times, and confining him when you are not able to watch him, it the best preventative medicine.
• Hidden dangers - Because ferrets are so curious, they often find themselves in situations that are life threatening.  The empty cardboard tubes from toilet paper and paper towels are just large enough for the ferret to get his head stuck inside.  If you are not around to remove it, the ferret will panic, often to the point of severely lacerating his tongue, or rupturing his larynx.  Take a few seconds to tear such tubes lengthwise before discarding them.  Be cautious of anything that is just big enough for a ferret’s head to squeeze into.  Ferrets like to “tunnel” under things.  Throw rugs or small area rugs are great places to play, until someone steps on the rug.  Be very cautious where you step.  A ferret makes a small “bump” under a rug that is very difficult to see.   When you open the refrigerator make sure you ever-curious ferret has not decided to climb inside to see what’s new.  Same goes for washers, dryers, and dishwashers.  (Dishwasher detergent is highly caustic.  Even the residue sometimes left behind will quickly kill a curious ferret if he ingests even a tiny amount).  When you do the laundry, make sure that the dirty clothes do not include a sleeping ferret.  Before you empty your trash, make sure that the trash bag does not include your ferret.