What to feed an underweight ferret?

When my ferrets are ill or looking a bit thin, I usually mix a bit of Gerber stage two turkey dinner baby food into their food. One of the ferret-luvin-ladies on here suggested that about two years ago for when you accidentally give your fuzzy a cold or when they're feeling down. You can also get the ferret-vite paste stuff to suppliment their diets, but since that's about 15$ per 12 oz tube, at least around here, and knowing that you're a shelter with limited funding, you may be able to get a discount or some donated from the local petstores.

Chris K is right about switching them slowly- high quality ferret foods have high protein levels, and can upset a ferret belly used to low protein. Petco does not have good ferret food typically. The only food I would feed from there is Totally Ferret BABY (can be fed their entire life) and possibly Zupreem if I had to. Evo is what I suggest you feed.

To put some weight on them, please do not use things like FerretVite. The only way that stuff helps to put weight on is by increasing appetite, a.k.a. by adding LOTS AND LOTS of sugar. Things like pure meat baby food is a really good treat to put on weight. Soak some of the new kibble in hot water for an hour, then blend it until smooth. Add water to the desired consistency (probably thinner if it's their first time eating soup.) then add 1-3 tablespoons of Powdered Kitten Replacement milk, goats milk, OR heavy whipping cream. Heavy whipping cream will get the job done quicker, but can upset some ferret's stomachs, so go easy on the cream. Eggs are also great, but make sure to only feed one a week, as they can cause constipation, and if you feed it raw, do not feed both the yolk and white, only one or the other. (The yolk has more fat.)

The ferrets won't eat the kibble soup or meat baby food at first, but put a glob on your finger and rub it on their gums a few times each day, and eventually they'll learn to like it.

If your ferrets are older, they are not going to want to switch diets, so you might have to go out and buy more of the same brand rabbit food (sorry :( ) and mix it with a high quality ferret food, Such as Innova Evo (best on the market).

One of the things you could do is crack an egg (raw) into their food bowl, for protein. Also try feeding them some ferretone (vitamen tube stuff) that will help them put on some ounces.

When you get them switched over to a high quality ferret food, you wouldn't have to supplement food anymore, they will be all set.

Yep sorry forgot about the baby food, its been a while since Its been used around here.

There's this paste we used to give our senior girls; ferret-vite high calorie vitamin paste.

Take it slow though, too much rich (appropriate) food too quickly will upset their stomachs.

When they are healthy, the love treats like bits of meat, raisins and cheerios. Be careful though, if you aren't watching they'll stash their snacks (and your car keys, and loose change, and perhaps even a shoe, lol) in the strangest places!

They may have some undesirable behavior, such as biting; should they do this, don't jerk away. They'll only hold on tighter and can really hurt you. If they nip, take them by the scruff and wipe them across the floor; this is what the boss ferret does to usurpers and tells them to not bite. Well mannered ferrets are much more adoptable than nasty nipping tyrants.

I may be wrong as I dont know much about ferrets,but I imagine a little high quality kitten food would help,or eggs,things with protein chicken,I might be wrong but I know they give pregnant and thin dogs puppy food to keep weight on them,so it makes sense,but the kitten food must be high quality so that there is less grain.

You need to feed your ferret a HIGH PROTEIN diet. One of the best I found is Totally Ferret, sold at good pet stores. Also try vitamins such as ferretvite (tube) let hime lick just a little of your finger. He should like it.

Good luck and enjoy your pet.

Don

A lot of food. feed them more often and give them extra food.if you want it fast mix a lot of canned food in every meal. give them a LOT of treats too.Extra protein too.