Signs of discomfort/pain include reluctance to move, weight loss, anorexia, trembling, collapse, crying, whimpering, and teeth grinding. – Signs of stress/fear can include fleeing, hissing, over grooming, biting, and hiding. Stressed ferrets are more likely to become ill.

Signs of insulinoma in a ferret are usually excessive sleeping and lethargy. A simple blood sugar test at the vet’s office typically diagnoses this tumor of the pancreas and steroids are usually prescribed.

Ferrets play hard and sleep hard. They will sleep 12-18 hours a day. A dark, enclosed sleep area is critical. They will sleep in an old T-shirt, towel, blanket, cloth bag or a commercial product like a ferret hammock or a ferret tent.

Pet ferrets usually become obese due to a combination of insufficient physical activity and an increased intake of calories. For example, overeating may occur if owners leave food out continuously or if ferrets are given too many sugary treats (such as raisins).

Excessive weight in ferrets is termed obesity in the world of veterinary medicine and is used to define a pet that has accumulated 20 percent or more above the normal body weight.

Like any animals, ferrets can put on weight if they eat too much and don’t get enough exercise….The ideal diet for your ferret will include:

1. Commercial ferret nuggets.
2. You could also feed your ferret a raw food diet.
3. Vitamin pastes and oils.

Causes and solution? Your ferret might be malnourished or not getting the right amount of protein. It may be suffering from an underlying sickness as glaucoma or insulinoma. The best way to fatten up your ferret is to first visit the vet to identify the problem.

Can you feed a ferret eggs? Yes, you can feed your ferret cooked or raw eggs as a treat. Limit them to once or twice a week, as more than this could cause constipation.

A gentle misting with water can cool down your ferrets. Put some ice cubes in a dish; your ferrets can play and keep cool too.

Ferrets are strict carnivores. In the wild they prey upon and eat whole animals that consist of raw meat, raw bones, other tissue and digested vegetable matter. They require a diet of meat/animal products that are typically high in protein and fat and low in carbohydrates and fibre.

Ferrets have a very high metabolic rate, and a short digestive tract. This means they process their food very quickly, and need to eat little and often. Ideally ferrets will eat 6-8 times per day.