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There are plenty of snacks and treats for ferrets available at most pet stores.
A good rule to follow is to give your ferrets treats sparingly...don't overdo it and don't feed treats in place of a balanced food.
Your ferret does not need treats every day, unless a treat is offered while training your ferret or modifying his behavior.
Even in training, treats should be broken down into several smaller pieces.
[enough for a few chews and a swallow.]
Ferrets enjoy treats, and we like to give them treats, but that does not mean they should have them.
Treats have their place as training aids or to encourage a ferret to come out from hiding, but they can cause serious health problems, especially if the wrong type of treat is given.
Health problems associated with inappropriate treats
Sugary snacks, such as raisins, may cause obesity, tooth decay, and aggravation of hypoglycemia caused by insulinomas.
High carbohydrate treats, such as cookies, cereal, and bread may lead to diseases of the pancreas.
Some researchers believe that the high carbohydrate diets fed to the ferrets in the U.S. are the reason for the high incidence of insulinomas in this country, and may contribute to the development of diabetes mellitus as well.
Dairy products, though enjoyed by many ferrets can cause diarrhea.
Foods high in cereal grains, especially corn, may contribute to the formation of bladder stones.
Too many treats of any kind can cause malnutrition.
Remember that a ferret is a very small animal, so even a few treats can quickly make up a large portion of her food for a day.
The total amount of supplements and snacks should not be more than 10% of the daily caloric intake.
If you want to give your ferret a treat, consider one from the following list:
Meat
Eggs or egg products
Freeze dried muscle or organ meat (available as cat and dog treats)
Baby food meats without any added carbohydrate
Raw fruit or vegetables (less than 1 tsp per day, cut into 1/4" squares or smaller)
Semi-moist meat or liver snacks (check the label carefully, some snacks contain large amounts of carbohydrates)
Ferrets love anything "you" have but there are things they should not have.
Things to avoid are hard veggies like raw carrots these can actually cause blockage.
Too much fiber can cause diarrhea and dehydration.
