The Basics of Good Ferret Care
All new ferret owners should learn the basics of ferret care. Caring for your ferret starts with understanding your pet. You will need to learn about feeding your ferret, bathing it, playing with it and providing a safe home for it. Here are the basics of good ferret care to get you started!
Baby ferrets need distemper inoculations at eight weeks of age, a booster at 11-12 weeks of age and a final (initial) vaccination at the age of 14-16 weeks. Thereafter they need annual vaccinations as part of regular ferret care.
A yearly rabies shot should be given at 12-13 weeks about two weeks between the distemper shots. Never skip these injections as they are a necessary aspect of good ferret care and can prevent your pet from becoming very ill or even dying.
Female ferrets weigh 1 - 2 lbs, while males are a little heavier at 2- 4 lbs. Your ferret should live for about 9 years and will be pretty active for most of that time. However, as they get older they may become more vulnerable to illnesses for example Adrenal Disease and Insulinoma. Be prepared for dealing with any medical costs as a basic aspect of good ferret care.
Good ferret care means protecting your ferret from harm. Ferrets may be in danger from your children, other pets like cats and dogs or even humans. Don't forget that ferrets are not cage pets. They will need about two hours of free play a day to keep them healthy and happy. If small children are around you may want to keep your ferret in his cage for both his and their protection.
Bathing your ferret is also part of good ferret care but don't overdo it. Too much bathing can remove the oils from the skin and fur. When you bathe a ferret excessively his skin will produce more oil and he will become even more smelly! To avoid odors keep your ferret's bedding clean and washed. When you bath your ferret use a soap-free preparation to avoid drying the skin.
Playing with your ferret is an essential aspect of ferret care. These fuzzies love to play but they can get pretty rough. They may not understand that human fingers and toes are sensitive. If your ferret gets out of hand - walk away. If he bites you during play NEVER smack him, he doesn't mean it. Give him chance to calm down and he'll be fine.
If you decide to introduce a new ferret into your home, don't assume that they will all get along. Some ferrets just don't take to one another. You may have to cage them separately and structure their free time apart as well. Ferret care needs to be flexible as each ferret has his or her own personality.
Ferret care is a big responsibility but it's also a lot of fun to interact with your ferret in a healthy way. Take the time to bond with your ferret, it will do both of you the world of good!
