8 | F E R R E T S Q U A R T E R LY
Ask the VET Over the next few months we will be celebrating a number of holidays. Traditional foods, decorations and plants can sometimes be harmful to your pets. Make sure your space is safe when your ferrets free roam with these timely reminders. As always, keep your ferrets in a ferret-proof cage when you have guests over. People that are unfamiliar with your pets may not know how to handle them or forget they are even around. When the numbers climb in your house, it may become more difficult to keep track of your ferret. A few safety measures will ensure your ferret stays happy and healthy. Happy holidays and merry New Year!
THANKSGIVING
HALLOWEEN Costumes
Food
Whether you are dressing you or your ferret, make sure that all embelishments are well attached. Ferrets are known for gnawing off gems, buttons and charms.
While it is very tempting to share your holiday meal with your little buddy, we highly recommend you do not. People food isn’t created for the delicate digestive system of the ferret.
• •
Dressing your ferret can be lots of fun, but do so carefully. Getting those wiggly, fuzzy noodles into a costume can be a challenge. Patience will ensure you are not hurting your ferret as you dress them.
•
The fitting of the ferret costume is important. Make sure that there are no pieces of the costume that are too restrictive or could cause a problem with your ferret getting stuck.
Candy
• The more candy you can get the better! But make sure it is properly put out of your ferret’s reach. Sugar can be very dangerous ingested in large quantities. Chocolate and nuts could cause a variety of medical issues, and the wrappers could cause blockage.
•
A ferret-proof cabinet would be best for your sweet haul. Stash it as they would their little treasures, where they could never get it.
• You may be opening and closing your door a lot to happy trick-or-treaters this year. Make sure your ferret is safely put away so the curious fuzz-butts don’t make a run for it.
•
While they should ideally never be left unsupervised wearing their costume or with your candy, taking the extra measure to make sure that your ferrets are safe and secure could make all the difference.
•
•
Yes, even turkey can be harmful to your ferret if it is cooked with certain spices or vegetables.
•
If you’d like to include your ferret in your holiday meal, we suggest creating a Thanksgiving meal for your ferret with our Premium Diet topped with our new canned diets in Original Chicken, Chicken with Lamb, and Chicken with Turkey.
DECEMBER HOLIDAYS The end of the year celebrates traditions from all cultures. Be aware of the foods, plants and decorations that can be harmful to your ferrets.
Food
•
Again, sharing with your ferrets should only be done with a ferretfriendly meal. Many spices and vegetables could cause serious medical issues for your ferrets.
Plants
•
Lilies, poinsettias, mistletoe and cactuses of all kinds can be dangerous if ingested. While pretty to display during the holiday season, make sure that they are high enough away from your ferret’s reach.
Decorations
•
Gift wrapping and tree trimmings are hazardous to your ferret! They love to climb the tree and steal the treasures from the branches. Glass bulbs and small pieces can be dangerous to your ferrets if ingested. Not to mention the problem that small, sharp pieces could cause for them if the decorations broke.
•
DID YOU KNOW?
Ferrets have a very in-tune emotional intelligence. That is why they come to comfort you when you are sad. They know and care.
Don’t use tinsel! For the same reasons you don’t want your cats and dogs to ingest the tinsel, you don’t want your ferret to do it either. The medical bills and harm caused to your ferret isn’t worth it.
