9 questions you should ask before deciding to bring a ferret home. Illustrations: PetePop
Ferrets (also known as ferrets) can be the perfect pet for those seeking a fun, playful, and energetic companion.
All they require is food, water, care (including veterinary care), and some space to run. With that, they can live up to ten years. In other words, it’s a long-term relationship. Therefore, before deciding to have one, check out these nine basic questions for anyone interested in living with this little creature. The answers were developed by Dr. Laurie Hess, one of the leading experts in birds and exotic pets in the U.S.
1. Am I patient and understanding?
Ferrets dig, burrow, and chew on everything, especially when they’re young. They often swipe items and hide them in closets, under beds, or in any secret place they can find. If it’s not covered, any object can end up in the animal’s mouth, especially if it’s made of rubber or foam.
When swallowed, these items can block the little one’s gastrointestinal system, leading to a rush to the vet. Electrical wires are also a potential threat. If you’re thinking about having a ferret, be prepared to monitor it every time it’s out of the cage.
Your home needs to have an area where the animal can run and play safely without damaging your belongings. Keep this area free of shoes, socks, slippers, and other items that might attract the little one’s interest.
2. Am I willing to play with the pet?
Although they love to take several naps, ferrets use the time between them to run, roll, and slide across the floor. When young, they enjoy hunting toys, nibbling on fingers, and staying under human feet.
If they spend too much time inside their cages, they tend to overeat and become obese. When you have one at home, make sure you’re willing to play with it.
3. Is the idea of having more than one interesting?
Generally, ferrets are social creatures that seek the company of their human family or other ferrets. For this reason, some owners choose to have more than one of these animals.
Like all other pets, not all ferrets enjoy the company of another ferret. If you decide to have more than one, you should closely monitor them for several days and gradually increase the time they spend alone.
Ensure that each animal has equal access to food, toys, and places to hide or sleep. This way, at least these resources won’t be a reason for them to start a fight.
4. Will I have time and money for so many vaccinations?
Ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies. They are also susceptible to distemper, which can be fatal. Therefore, they need to be protected against the virus that causes the disease.
Like puppy dogs, ferrets need to receive a series of three distemper vaccinations, with a three-week interval between each shot starting from the second month of age. The first rabies vaccination should be given at four months.
After that, they should receive an annual vaccination against distemper and rabies for their entire lives, even if they don’t go outside. This is because the distemper virus can enter the home via shoes and clothing.
5. Will I not panic if cancer or heart problems arise?
Since many breeders manage many individuals from the same family, ferrets can develop a tendency to contract certain types of diseases. These include tumors in the adrenal gland and insulinoma (a type of pancreatic tumor). These ailments can occur in animals younger than one year.
Older ferrets can develop heart diseases. Therefore, owners of these animals must be prepared to deal with heart problems and cancer at some point in the animal’s life.
6. Do I have issues with odors?
Ferrets are born with scent glands at the base of their tails. Some breeders remove this gland when the animals are very young, before selling them. When the gland is not removed, the little one emits a musky smell that can be bothersome to people with more sensitive noses.
7. Can I find specific food for the animal?
In the wild, ferrets hunt and eat rodents and rabbits. They are exclusively carnivorous and have difficulty digesting plants. Some sellers ignore this fact and recommend giving fruits and vegetables to the little ones.
Instead, they should be fed with meat-based products that are high in protein, moderate in fat, and low in carbohydrates. Look for specific foods for this type of animal.
Many owners give cat food to ferrets, which is not recommended. Others offer a diet based on raw meat, which can expose the little one to salmonella contamination. This can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and even death.
8. Can I groom the little one several times a week?
Ferrets shed a lot of fur and risk ingesting a good amount of it. This fur can accumulate in the gastrointestinal system and lead to potentially fatal blockages. In cases of tumors in the glands, ferrets lose even more fur due to the hormones released by the disease.
To prevent the formation of these hairballs, the animals should be brushed several times a week. And in cases of excessive fur loss, it’s necessary to administer laxatives once or twice a week.
9. Do I mind going to the vet frequently?
Like dogs and cats, ferrets should have an annual checkup at the vet. This increases the likelihood of diagnosing any disease early, which improves treatment conditions so that the little one can have a longer, happier, and healthier life.
Animals over three years old should have an annual blood test. This ensures that their sugar levels and kidney and liver functions are in order. After five years, it’s ideal to have checkups every six months because the older they get, the greater the chances of contracting one of the diseases they are prone to.
Illustrations: PetePop. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
