Ferrets thrive on a raw diet just as much as dogs and cats can. Ferrets are obligate carnivores, meaning they only require animal proteins, fats and taurine in the form of red muscle meat such as the heart, tongue or even a raw egg yolk. A raw diet closely mimics what a ferret would eat in the wild, meaning it may meet their nutritional needs better than dry food.
Here’s our advice for transitioning your ferret to a raw diet…
Start early
Like cats, ferrets imprint on their food at a young age – meaning it can be difficult to feed them anything other than what they were given as kits. Whilst it isn’t impossible to transition an adult ferret to raw, we’d suggest starting them off with raw food when they’re young.
If you are making the switch for an adult ferret, the raw soup method seems to be the most successful method. Blend raw boneless chicken, raw liver, raw chicken heart and chicken necks with water or bone broth to make a thick puree. A tablespoon or so of salmon oil will help make the soup more tempting. You can offer this on your finger or dab on their nose.
Feed the correct proportion and ratios
Feed adult ferrets 7% of their current or target body weight. You’ll want to increase this to 10% in the winter. It’s worth noting that ferrets are self-regulating animals and will often eat just what they need anyways.
If you’re feeding raw to a kit, feed up to 20% of their current body weight and free feed – meaning leave the quantity of food down for 12 hours so they can feed as they please.
As with cats and dogs, a ferret’s raw diet should consist of 70% muscle meat, 10% red muscle meat, 10% offal (including at least 5% liver) and 10% bone. This is just a rough guide – you don’t need to be too strict with these percentages. You can also offer wholefood prey such as rabbit, chicks or quail.
Consult your vet if your ferret has certain conditions
There are some cases where you’ll need to get in touch with your vet before transitioning a ferret to raw. If your ferret is pregnant or nursing, you shouldn’t attempt to switch them to a raw diet unless you have guidance from a vet.
If your ferret has insulinoma, remove kibble two to three hours before offering raw food and watch carefully for signs of hypoglycemia. If they do not eat a substantial raw meal after an hour’s trial, give them their kibble back.
If you have fed your ferret kibble for more than two years or has an unknown medical history, speak to your vet. They may be able to offer a blood glucose test before you start making the switch.
Healthy Pet Store in Totton is a pet food and accessories retailer, specialising in raw food diets for meat eating pets. If you are interested in transitioning your pet, our friendly in-store team will be happy to help you create a bespoke raw meal plan.