What types of fruits and veggies can be givin to a ferret?

They are not really what you want to feed.

As others have pointed out you should concentrate on higher protein foods for treats and supplementation: meats, poultry, eggs, etc.

Some Food Cautions:

raw egg whites can cause two types of nutrient deficiencies, and for the most part eggs are safer cooked, anyway

too much of certain marine fish or of squid can cause nutritional steatis (Yellow fat disease) but some fish oil (not cod liver oil) is actually a great high omega 3 fatty acid treat

hard foods such as piece of carrots, dried banana, piece of nuts, etc. can cause life threatening GI tract blockages

foods high in carbohydrates can increase the risk of dental problems and there is a hypothesis that they might increase the risk of insulinoma. That is hypothetical but most ferrets do best on a high protein diet, anyway, so... (Exceptions are ferrets who need to not have high protein levels due to chronic kidney disease or due to an inherited propensity for developing cystine uroliths (one of the several forms of urinary tract stones) BTW: just for your notes complete mice are about 50% protein so high protein does not mean higher than that.

raisins and grapes in sufficient numbers have been known to cause sudden (acute) kidney failure in cats, dogs and ferrets. Best avoided. Yes, you can limit the number --usually -- but ferrets stash things and what if one does that and then eats the stash all at once?

I can't think of the name off-hand but the is an artificial sweetner which is fine for humans but which can be fatal to members of Carnivora, Oh, yes: Xylitol is that sweetener.

etc.

There are some excellent ferret kibbles out there, there are recipes for made at home foods (since muscle meat alone is very low in some nutrients including minerals like copper and calcium), and there are those who chose to feed whole raw animals (if baby mice and chicks are used exclusively then calcium supplementation is needed since they are too low in that)

We personally use kibbles such as Totally Ferret, but each of the choices has its good factors and its bad ones, for examples: dental wear with kibble, increased risk of infection with raw, and the chance of an imbalanced diet with home-provided foods. For the most part, though. each of those 3 options can be done safely enough for the majority of ferrets and provide wonderful nutrition.

Fruits and veggies you shouldn't give your ferret - Well, all of them. Ferrets don't digest fruits and veggies well and they basically come out the other end undigested (if a banana goes in, a banana comes out). They could lead to blockages. Most (if not all) fruits and veggies are high in sugar and/or other carbs, which can help contribute to insulinoma, which is why it's best to not give them to your ferret.

Having said that, I realize that some people are still going to feed their ferret(s) fruits and/or veggies no matter what anyone else says, so at least stick to these "rules" - only non-acidic fruits (melons, berries, and bananas); only teeny, tiny amounts (no more than 1/2 teaspoon once a week); give it to them mashed up (the harder stuff is what can cause the blockages). Before I get a thumbs down for this - I do NOT recommend giving a ferret any fruits or veggies, but for those that are going to, at least stick to the "rules" I mentioned above. Grapes and raisins should be avoided as they can lead to acute renal failure in your pets (not just ferrets). Here's a little more info on that: http://www.clocktowervets.com/faq_viewfaq.php?id=1 and http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/toxicology/f/grape... (both refer to dogs, but the same goes for cats and ferrets).

The ironic thing about all of this - Those of us that say no to fruits and veggies are probably feeding a kibble that has some of both. I know EVO has potatoes, apples, tomatoes, carrots, and cranberries. Wysong Archetype diets have some fruits in it, too. Also, natural fed ferrets are getting small amounts of fruits and veggies when they eat whole prey (the fruits and/or veggies are partially digested in the prey's stomach when the ferret eats it).

The basic point is, ferrets are carnivores and there are better things to treat your ferret to, but if you do give any fruits or vegetables, then at least keep it to a very minimal amount so not to cause any problems for your ferret.

Wow. Contradiction after Contradiction here. I've said it time and time again...fruits and veggies will NOT kill, cause insulinoma (we are talking extreme amounts of sugar to do this, not the amount found in a piece of banana or raisin.), or block up your ferret.

And yes, good 'ol Innova Evo Ferret Food. Salads worth of fruits and veggies in there. lol

As some other people have mentioned you would want to steer clear of any fruits and veggies that are very hard, like apples and carrots. However if you boil them down into mush they would be completely suitable. And why on earth would you be able to give fruits and not veggies?? Someone that answered typed that. Oy Veigh. My own personal rule of thumb is nothing, treat wise, should exceed the size of your pinkie nail.

EDIT: Tripple...the last thing YOU should tell anyone is to do their research. I am more then capable, if not more then you, to do so.

Actually these are Innova's ferret food ingredients: Ingredients minus the cranberries you claim:

Chicken, Turkey, Chicken Meal, Herring Meal, Potato, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, a natural source of Vitamin E), Eggs, Turkey Meal, Natural Flavors, Apples, Tomatoes, Carrots, Cottage Cheese, Dried Chicory Root, Taurine, Herring Oil, DL-Methionine, Lecithin, Rosemary Extract, Vitamins [Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Riboflavin, Beta Carotene, Vitamin B12

5% is an admiral 'guess', but the way you talk anything but meat kills ferrets. You wouldn't want that 5% (where is the fact here by the way) causing a pancreatic tumor that would kill your ferret would you. lol I'm sorry honey but feeding your ferret a raisin or piece of banana from time to time is just not enough to cause insulinoma. The 'sugar causes insulinoma thing' is just a 'theory' by the way. And let me state again that your ferrets would have to eat a lot OR have a diet 'rich' in sugars for the 'theory' to even be plausable. In fact, scientifically speaking, its more plausable that the prevelance of insulinoma is due to gene pool defects and irresponsible breeding rather then sugar consumption. Where sugar consumption becomes an issue is when the ferret actually has insulinoma...that is when you must worry about what sweet treats are being offered.

http://www.2ndchance.info/insulinoma.htm

I have owned ferrets for 10 + years and have never had a ferret with insulinoma or a blockage...EVER. They have all had mashed fruits and veggies as well as raisins from time to time.

You can't give any. Ferrets are carnivores this means they can only digest meat. Example....you got a Cheetah and they are also carnivores and they eat what.....meat....what else do they eat? Nothing.

Fruits and vegetables cause Insulinoma and intestinal blockages. Lots of people thing insulinoma is just caused from sugars but carbs (vegetables are loaded with carbs) are also a contributing factor.

I will quote from a FAQ list on the American Ferret Association website.

"9. What are the best treats to feed a ferret?

Ferrets are obligate carnivores; therefore, the best treats to feed a ferret are meat-based. Most store-bought treats are not healthy for ferrets. Acceptable food treats include a small amount of Gerbers or Beech Nut® chicken, beef, or turkey baby food (with no vegetables or starches; gravy is okay), cooked chicken breast (or other cooked meats), and freeze-dried 100% meat products"

As for raisins those are particularly deadly. I feel like even one raisin a day could be deadly for 2 reasons. Raisins are nothing more than dried super sugary grapes. When eaten they swell up in the gut which could cause a blockage from just one. And 2 over time 1 raisin a day adds up. Think about it. 365 raisins a year is A LOT. And for sure increases their chance of getting Insulinoma and dying from acute renal failure.

Here is a post with some links included about the harm in raisins

http://holisticferret.proboards80.com/index.cgi?bo...

Now remember ferrets don't even need treats. If you want to give them anything treat like give what they suggested in the quote or do what I do and hand feed them their regular food as a "treat" they seriousy do not know the difference and think it is 1 million times more special because you are handing it to them.

EDIT: EVO food only has 5% fruit and vegetables and that is to give the food SOME carbs so that it has form to it. Do your research....It only has apples, tomatoes and cranberries as fruits and as vegies it only has carrots and potatoes.

And YES feeding fruits in small ammounts and anything in small ammounts with sugar will eventually cause insulinoma, And yes one raisin CAN cause a blockage. And they can kill your pet.

Ferrets are obligate carnivores--this means that the only fruit/veg they get or even need is what is in the bellies of their prey. Ferrets really shouldn't have sugary things anyway, and they cannot derive nutrients from plants (when food is plant-based, ferrets get 'seedy poop' which is undigested nutrients and isn't good for them).

That being said, some people feed chopped raisins as a very rare treat. When I first got mine, so did I. Until I had to take my male to the vet. The raisin actually scraped his throat raw. Others say tiny bits of banana and sometimes bits of apple. But only very rarely, and in tiny amounts. Veggies shouldn't be given at all. If you do give fruit, stay away from any citrus. This is the worst for them.

Think about giving scraps of raw/cooked meat, or hardboiled eggs (crush the shell with it), you can even boil a knuckle or ham bone and give it to them (it's so big that the bone won't splinter when cooked). Or even give them a raw chicken wing or feet as a treat. You never go wrong with animal proteins :) These are great sources of protein and calcium. Hope this helps and good luck!

I talked to a ferret breeder of 35 years. He said his are fed a natural diet ( raw meat, mice, live prey) he only feeds his a TREAT of minced apples and carrots once in a blue moon. Ours do not get any fruit / veggies unless it happnes to be in the brand of ferret treat. There are many foods good for your ferret. You want to give them a good treat scrable an egg, or boil a piece of boneless skinless chicken. Petstore ferrets ( if thats what you have) they may not eat a treat until they get a taste for it. I've had to scruff all of ours with the egg and chicken and pretty much shove a piece onto their tongue ( not in their mouth so they choke just so the taste it). Some ferrets will not eat anything they don't recogonize the smell of.

Personally if you want to give them a good treat thats GOOD for them give them eggs, or chicken. Ours love it and they are obligate carnivores meaning they eat meat only. Their digestive systems are not designed for corn or veggies. Give them a high protein treat if you give them anything.

I have a ferret too so I got Ferrets for Dummies, being a first time ferret owner. Let me get it... ok!

Can Feed: eggs (hard-boiled, raw, or scrambled), little bit of raw or cooked meat (avoid processed meats ie lunch meat or salami), insects, small prey animals, chicken baby foods, melon, banana, papaya.

Remember to only feed in small doses.

Not to Feed: alcohol and other high-sugar drinks, coffee/ tea, dried fruits like raisons, cereals unless they are low salt and sugar like Cheerios, veggies, dairy products, seeds and nuts, chocolate, salty foods, and FINGERS!!

Use common sense and don't over do anything.

;)

They're carnivores, less than 5% of their diet should be fruit or veggies.

A slice of banana or small chunk of cantelope would be ok, or a few raisins, but I wouldn't give any other fruits. Veggies aren't usually liked.

ferrets are carnivores they're not supposed to eat fruits or veggies

potatoes and pineapples and squash and pomegranates and corn