2. General Information
Order Carnivora, Family Mustelidae
Three species European polecat, Siberian
polecat and black footed ferret
Related to
martens, fishers, otters, wolverines, weasels, mi
nk, 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
3. Digestive Anatomy and
Physiology
Designed for hunting, killing and eating
prey
Primary carnivore
Digestive physiology matches their
required diet
4. Salivary Secretions
Unlike herbivores and omnivores they do
not have enzymes in their saliva
Ferret saliva is used primarily as a lubricant
5. 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
6. 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
7.
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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
13. 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
14. 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
15. 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
16. 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
17. 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)
18. 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
19. 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
23. 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
24. 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
26. 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
27. 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
28. 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)
