Ferrets have a digestive system adapted for a carnivorous diet. They produce little saliva for digestion and have teeth and a jaw designed to tear meat rather than chew. Their short intestines and lack of cecum indicate an inability to digest plant matter. A proper ferret diet consists of high protein and fat from animal sources, as well as limited fiber and carbohydrates. While dry kibble is common, it often contains too many grains and carbohydrates, which can cause health issues like insulinoma. A raw meat diet requires careful handling to avoid contamination. Overall ferrets require a nutrient-dense, low carbohydrate diet focused on animal proteins and fats to support their carnivorous physiology.

1. Ferrets

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

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

21. Treats/Supplements
 BAD
Most commercial treats
- They contain plant based ingredients as
well as sweeteners
- Raisins or excessive fruit

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

25. Health Issues
 Relatively free of health problems in early
years of life
 Live 6-10 years on average

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)

29. THE END