Ferret Tip Sheet Flashcards
Ferret knowledge
Ferrets were bred domestically, as pets, for hundreds of years.
Originally, from Europe, ferrets are often called “fetch ferrets” or “polecats.”
Ferret Proof Your Home- can and will get into anything. Electrical cords and some house plants can be a danger.
5-8 years
Do ferrets have an odour?
A Petland ferret will have little musk scent for you to worry about.
All Petland ferrets are neutered or spayed, which eliminates most of their musky scent.
For female ferrets, spaying eliminates health problems associated with going into heat.
Our Ferret Care Program
Our consulting store veterinarian serves as each kit’s (baby ferret) pediatrician.
Our pet technician is in regular contact with the store veterinarian to ensure that each kit receives optimum care.
We recommend a visit to your veterinarian to discuss continued care.
If you do not have a veterinarian, we would be happy to recommend one.
Annual vaccinations are necessary to help ensure your ferrets continued good health.
When ferrets arrive at Petland, their lifetime ferret care begins. We examine them, bathe them, and put them on a nourishing diet.
We monitor weight gain, activity levels and litter box contents, and keep this information on their health chart.
Grooming care, such as brushing, clipping nails, and cleaning ears are part of our daily routine, so it will not be a surprise to your kit when you continue this program at home.
Biting
Your new baby will need to learn the rules of your household for the relationship to be enjoyable for you both.
When kits play with each other, they nip hard, but it doesn’t bother them, since they have such thick skin.
When a kit nips at his owner, he does not realize that your skin is not as thick as his own.
Ask your pet counsellor for tips on how to gently let your new kit know that biting is not acceptable.
The time you spend with him, in the first few weeks home, will be returned to you as years of delightful companionship.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Cage
All babies need lots of sleep and they need a safe, secure place for resting.
Give your kit a place of his own. Metal cages designed specifically for ferrets are best.
The wiring should be close enough to prevent the escape artist from squeezing through.
Avoid using aquariums, since they limit the necessary smells and sounds a kit needs to form lasting impressions of his new home.
Spot clean his home daily and strip his home once a week.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Cage Cleaner
There are pet safe stain and odour removers available for small pets.
Many are enzyme-based formulas that work naturally to permanently break down stains and odours.
Once a week, you should clean his cage with a pet safe cleaner, or hot water and mild soap, rinse well and dry.
Do not use bleach, or other household cleaners, which will irritate your ferret’s respiratory system, or even cause worse problems.
ENVIRONMENTAL
About Bedding
We do not recommend bedding material, such as corn cob or pine shavings in the cage.
Your ferret may try to eat them and this can lead to medical emergencies.
Absorbent bedding throughout his home will only confuse him about where he should relieve himself.
ENVIRONMENTAL
A hammock
attached to the top of the cage, makes a suspended sleep and play area.
At first your kit probably cannot reach it, but soon he will be swinging, playing and sleeping in his own hanging loft.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Couch pouches
are a cozy sleeping area that you place at the floor of your kit’s home for him to snuggle into.
NUTRITIONAL
Food
We are what we eat! Feed your ferret the same food we fed him at Petland.
A change in diet combined with a move to a new home may result in diarrhea and illness.
Your ferret has specific dietary needs.
His food should be high in protein and fat, specifically made for ferrets.
Your ferret’s metabolism is high, so efficient digestion demands a food that he can assimilate into his body quickly.
Ferrets are usually free-fed, by keeping the bowl filled and allowing them to eat as they please.
Always provide clean, fresh water for him.
NUTRITIONAL
Moss Hollow Adapt
Using Moss Hollow Adapt, while minimizing stress, can help your new pet adapt to their new home by promoting relaxation from stress caused by the
environment (Echinacea), offering a prebiotic for building gut flora (Burdock Root), easing diarrhea (Psyllium Husk), increasing palatability (Wheatgrass), providing a natural dewormer (Diatomaceous Earth), and nutrient rich clay (Bentonite).
This veterinary health product uses natural ingredients which can aid all small animals betore symptoms emerge.
NUTRITIONAL
Skin and Coat Supplement
Any ferret owner will tell you that once their ferret tastes this supplement, they love it!
You will love the result too, which is a soft, shiny coat.
MAINTENANCE
Litter Box and Litter
Your Petland ferret will have had a start to his litter training habits before he goes home with you.
It is now up to you to continue the process.
It is crucial that you realize that ferrets, unlike cats, do not have the desire to bury their waste.
They will go anywhere there happens to be a convenient corner.
We recommend that you purchase multiple litter boxes if you plan for your ferret to have the full run of your home.
Typically, we will recommend a triangular ferret litter pan with high sides.
MAINTENANCE
Recycled newspaper litter
is a very good choice for ferrets. It is dust free and not as much fun to play in as other litters.
If you are unable to use this, then clay litter is an acceptable second choice.
Do not use clumping litter, as it will scatter easily and may get into your ferret’s eyes and nose causing health problems.
Spot clean your ferret pan daily with a litter scoop.
We recommend leaving a small amount of fecal material in the pan to serve as a reminder.
MAINTENANCE
Dishes and Bottles
Ferrets love to play in water dishes!
Their water dish will always be a source of fun.
When your ferret is outside his cage, give him water from a crock dish.
When he is in his cage, offer an easily accessible water bottle.
Clean, fresh water should always be available.
For food, select a heavy crock-style dish that is hard to flip over.
