Taking Care Of A Ferret – Important Procedures
If you are going to get a ferret you should know a little bit about them and how to take care of them. Taking care of ferrets, although not easy, is definitely a joy for ferret lovers. It is extremely important to prepare a schedule so that you may take care of them well. A well-planned schedule will allow for proper feeding, grooming and sanitary conditions for their living space.
The ferret is commonly misunderstood to be part of the rodent family when instead they are really belonging to the “Mustelid Family.” Other members of the Mustelids are the weasel, badger, mink, otter and wolverine. Ferrets are ultradian animals, which means they are extremely active for short periods of time and then they require long periods of rest.
The basic daily care that you will need to give your ferret is crucial. Below is a list of items that need daily attention:
• Cleaning of the litter box at least once a day
• Make time to play with your ferret: it may sound like a lot but you should let your ferret out of it’s cage and play with them 2 to 4 hours a day.
• Change their food and water daily: food should be of high quality that is high in protein and fat, but low in fiber.
• Wash their litter boxes with a proper scrub down every week
• Provide a cage large enough for exercise: your ferret should be kept in a cage unless it is supervised. Keep the cage in a temperature-controlled environment and out of direct sunlight. Temperature over 80 degrees can be harmful.
Here are a few grooming tips for your ferret:
• Nails: Ferrets nails grow very quickly and should be trimmed every couple of weeks. The time frame for their nails to grow could vary depending on your ferret. When clipping their nails, make sure that you do not clip to close to the visible red vein that you see on their nail. You need to leave a little space after the vein. Invest in a pair of special ferret clippers for their nails; this will make it easier to clip them properly. If it’s your first time, make sure you talk to your vet to know the proper way to clip them. If you are not confident of clipping their nails then it is advised to get someone properly trained to do them for you.
• Brushing: Your ferret needs regular brushing especially when they are in their shedding season. If you fail to brush your ferret you will soon find a ball of hair. Ferret brushes can be easily bought from pet stores and investing in one is a wise decision.
• Tooth Brushing: Although brushing your ferret’s teeth could be a bit difficult, you should try using a bit of cat toothpaste that is flavored. You will have to use your finger to brush their teeth. Brushing their teeth will help, however it is very difficult to do a perfect job. Give it a try and stay with it.
• Ears: Make sure that you get your ferret’s ears cleaned every week. However the schedule could be different for every ferret. You can do this with a special ferret ear cleaner solution.
• Another hygiene factor that you need to take care of is washing their bedding & hammocks at least once a week. Using towels for bedding can make this process much easier since they can easily be wash and dried quickly.
As you can see, it is a bit of a task taking care of our furry little friends. It is advisable to consult your vet before you set up a particular scheduled. Your vet may have some good advice on when and how to perform these tasks. These daily and weekly ferret care issues are very important for the health and happiness of your pet.
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