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Zerachiel
Another factor with ferrets, is that many, MANY sources are wrong about how to take care of ferrets, especially relating to FOOD. Many ferret books recommend feeding raisins and fruit as "variety" in their diet, and many treats have sugars and plant/fruit proteins in them, which is a big no-no. Ferrets are *carnivores*, and the two most important things they need are MEAT-based protein and fat. Another concern is that you probably shouldn't have a food with too much filler. Dog/Cat food is not for ferrets. They have different needs, even as carnivores, despite what some owners may tell you. Innova Evo is the best food you can get, but it's difficult to find, and can get really expensive buying it for more than two ferrets.
Ferrets are prone to three major illnesses that *kill* them, and those are cancer, adrenal disease, and *insulinoma*. Insulinoma is like ferret diabetes, and by feeding them sugars all the time (like the raisins and treats so often recommended), can easily lead to that. As a treat, get Ferretone; it's a liquid dietary supplement that is oil-based, not sugar-based. Most ferrets love it.
My vet recommends feeding whole mice, as nothing replaces the nutrients they'd get from eating prey. My ferret seemed disgusted at the idea, and wouldn't even taste a dead pinky covered in Ferretone. I tried forcing him to taste it, and he made a gagging face, and I didn't bother trying again. Interesting to note that ferrets in the wild often take down rabbits as prey. I suppose that ferrets have been domesticated for so long (even longer than cats) that many need to be coaxed into the idea, and I'm not sure I'm ready to do that.
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