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Ferrets
General Information Order Carnivora, Family Mustelidae Three species European polecat, Siberian
polecat and black footed ferret Related to martens, fishers, otters,
wolverines, weasels, mink, badger and skunks Obligate carnivores designed to kill and eat
whole prey Tend to eat small meals throughout the day
and will hide “cache” excess food in their dens or other hiding places
Digestive Anatomy and Physiology
Designed for hunting, killing and eating prey
Primary carnivore Digestive physiology matches their
required diet
Salivary Secretions Unlike herbivores and omnivores they
do not have enzymes in their saliva Ferret saliva is used primarily as a
lubricant
Carbohydrates, Proteins and Fats
Ferrets have no dietary carbohydrate requirement
They have a very high need for dietary protein and fat
Taste buds on the ferrets tongue can detect ( taste) amino acids in proteins
They can also taste sweet, sour, salt and bitter
Teeth and Jaws Teeth and jaws are not designed to chew
food They are designed to cut chunks and saliva
is used to lubricate for swallowing Jaw is a hinge that prevents side to side
chewing Bottom teeth fit inside upper teeth ( like a
scissor) so they cannot move side to side Commonly fed extruded diets predispose
ferrets to dental disease
Ingestion of Food Binocular vision Broad auditory range, extremely
olfactory specialization Excellent predators Very large bite force Dental formula I3/3 C1/1 PM3/3 M1/2
Stomach Very simple stomach Special muscles can close the entrance
and exit of the stomach Powerful acids are secreted by the
stomach to digest the proteins and fats of their prey
Pancreas Large for their body size, makes
enzymes for digestion of animal tissue and buffers to neutralize the stomach acids
Insulinomas ( tumors) that secrete too much insulin are thought to be a result of the high carbohydrate kibble diet fed to many pet ferrets
Liver Very large ( proportionally much larger
than our liver per our body size) Large surface area of the liver is used to
convert proteins to sugars Also produces a large amount of bile
salts to help digest fats
Intestine Short and simple No ceacum Animal tissue liquifies as it is digested so the
intestine is not highly developed in this strict carnivore
Surrounded by a highly developed lymphatic system that protects from bacterial infection from the diet and helps transport digested fats
Meals go through the GI tract in about 4 hours
Digestive System Notes Very short intestinal tract, lacks a cecum and
ileocolic valve Under vagal and sacral innervation Gut flora is simple, GI upset or diarrhea after
antibiotic use is rare Do have ability to vomit but don’t usually vomit Prolonged fasting greater than 3-6 hours is not
required or recommended Ferrets with insulinomas become hypoglycemic
much faster, even less than 3 hours, and require special pre-operative care
Nutrition In the wild mostly small and medium sized
mammals, small amount of birds, reptile, amphibians, insects worms and fish
Due to their inefficient GI system, ferrets require a very concentrated diet high in protein and fat, low in fiber and carbohydrates
fat, when metabolized, releases twice as much energy as proteins and therefore should be the main source of calories in the ferrets diet
Dry Kibble for Ferrets Not the correct diet for ferrets but easier
for owners Majority contain a higher level of grains
which are required for kibble shape and stability
Heating and processing can potentially make them less digestible
The Perils of Dry Kibble Urolithiasis- due to diets high in plant
protein Insulinomas- related to carbohydrates in
dry kibble Excessive dental wear- dry kibble leads
to excessive dental wear and tartar
Feeding whole prey or raw diet
Potential risks of raw diets, such as bacterial ( Salmonella)
Parasitic contamination which can be zoonotic
Risk of breakdown of diet due to mishandling of diet, ( not refrigerated etc)
Keys to a Proper Ferret Diet
Kibble ( Dry or Semi Moist)- Crude protein of >35% on a dry matter basis- Crude fat> 20% on a dry matter basis- Limited amounts of fiber and carbohydrates- First 2-3 macro ingredient animal origin, ex
chicken, egg, fish meal- Limited grains, (small amounts which may
represent carbohydrates found in gut contents of prey species
Treats/Supplemental foods Good- Treats with animal proteins as primary
ingredients- Cooked or fresh raw organ and muscle
meat- Raw or cooked chicken- Crickets or mealworms from reliable
source- Prey items such as mice and small frogs
Treats/Supplements BADMost commercial treats- They contain plant based ingredients as
well as sweeteners- Raisins or excessive fruit
Water Unlimited, clean, fresh Require about three times as much
water as dry matter intake Use a bowl and sipper bottle May play in bowl so use heavy crockery Do not put supplements or additives in
water as it can reduce consumption
Fiber Small amounts are essential to the
health of the ferrets GI tract Helps flush hair out of the system and
prevent hairballs Firms up stool and helps with
elimination
Health Issues Relatively free of health problems in
early years of life Live 6-10 years on average
Aleutian Disease Virus Parvovirus Chronic, incurable Nervous system disorders, organ failure,
chronic wasting Infected ferrets must be quarantined May be misinterpreted as a dietary
problem
Dental Disease About 90% of pet ferrets, ranging from mild
gingivitis to extreme periodontal disease Can lead to organ disease and life
threatening infections Teeth are not penetrating tissue so they are
not being cleaned leading to tartar buildup Require tooth brushing and dental cleanings
Insulinoma Pancreatic tumor releasing too much
insulin Linked to consumption of carbohydrates
in extruded kibble diets Need to be surgically removed Symptoms result of hypoglycemia ( low
blood sugar)
THE END