The Ferret Store Official Blog - Ferret News & Info

Keeping your ferret's cage clean is just as important to controlling odors as washing bedding and scooping litter boxes is. Wiping down the cage base and bars will remove deposited oils that contribute to the unpleasant smell that can come from an improperly cleaned habitat. It will also eliminate odors caused by the buildup and biological decomposition of organic ferret by-products. Super Pet Clean Cage Products are perfect for this purpose.

Super Pet Clean Cage Wipes and Spray are convenient, nontoxic cleaners that are ideal for cleaning ferret cages. The spray acts quickly to neutralize odors and easily removes debris stuck to the cage, while the wipes are great for quick clean ups between full cleanings.

If you're tired of smelling your ferret's cage, Super Pet Clean Cage ferret sanitation products, available individually or in a kit, are sure to do the trick.

Posted by ferretstore at 12:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Taking your ferrets outside can be a very enriching experience for them, but it's important to always keep safety first. The following is a list of outdoor hazards for our fuzzy friends and what you can do to keep your ferret safe.

Hazard: Disease, including canine distemper, rabies, and parasitic infection
Solution: Keep your ferret up to date on his vaccinations. Wash his feet when you come inside from a walk, and carry alcohol wipes so you can clean his feet immediately if he steps in another animal's stool.

Hazard: Fleas & Ticks
Solution: Use a flea and tick preventive or spray your ferret with a flea and tick spray before going for a walk.

Hazard: Heartworm
Solution: Check with your veterinarian to see if heartworm is a problem in your area, and if it is, use a heartworm preventive such as Ivermectin, Revolution, or Heartgard for Cats. Your veterinarian will be able to tell you what the proper dosage is.

Hazard: Predators such as dogs, cats, wild animals, and birds of prey
Solution: Always be on guard when taking your ferret out, and pick him up immediately if another animal approaches.

Hazard: Heatstroke
Solution: Never take your ferret outside when it is warmer than 78° F, and always bring a carrier to provide shelter from the sun and heat and water.

Hazard: Escape
Solution: Always use a harness and lead when taking your ferrets outdoors. If you play on staying in one area, consider using a playpen. You may think you can catch your ferret if he starts to run away, but it just isn't worth the risk. Many ferret owners lose their ferrets every year because of this misconception.

Hazard: Injury from being stepped on or kicked by a human
Solution: Pick your ferret up and carry him in areas of heavy foot traffic such as crosswalks, sidewalks, and any other areas with lots of people.

Hazard: Contact with fertilizers and weed killers
Solution: The best way to avoid this issue is to keep your ferret in your yard where you known fertilizers and weed killers haven't been used. Another option is to take him to a park where they must post if these items are put down.

Posted by ferretstore at 01:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

How often you bathe your ferret is a personal preference. Some people do it monthly, others a few times a year, and still others only once a year or as needed. But when you do go to bathe your ferret, you want a shampoo that will clean your ferret's coat and make it smell good without drying it out. 8 in 1 FerretSheen Shampoo for ferrets does the trick!

8 in 1 FerretSheen Shampoo contains natural enzymes and powerful micro-deodorizers to control odors. Aloe Vera and jojoba oil are added to the product to condition your ferret's skin and coat and give it a beautiful shine. With its fresh cucumber melon scent, it leaves your ferret smelling great.

But what can you use between baths to combat odors? Ferrets should be bathed no more than once a month, and sometimes they can get a little pungent! 8 in 1 FerretSheen Deodorizing & Conditioning Spray is the answer to that problem. It will keep your ferret smelling fresh between baths without drying out his coat. Simply spray your ferret from head to tail and comb or massage his coat thoroughly to work the spray in.

8 in 1 FerretSheen Shampoo and FerretSheen Deodorizing Spray are great for keeping your ferret smelling clean and looking great all the time!

Posted by ferretstore at 09:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you try to find information about what kind of treats you can feed your ferrets, you are bound to come up with all sorts of conflicting information. Some people feed their ferrets all sorts of sugary treats, while others wouldn't ever touch them. So what is the ultimate truth about sugary ferret treats? Are they good or bad?

While it hasn't been definitively proven that a diet high in carbohydrates causes insulinoma, it is just common sense that a ferret's body cannot handle a lot of sugar. They are obligate carnivores, and they get their nutrition from animal fats and proteins. Constantly feeding a high sugar diet overworks the beta cells in the pancreas, which affects insulin production. Regardless of whether or not this causes insulinoma, it is unhealthy as well as unnecessary, given how many healthy ferret treats and foods are available.

So does this mean that sugary treats should never be given to ferrets? If your ferret is on a diet high in animal fats and proteins and low in carbohydrates, giving him a special sugary treat a few times a year or even once a month isn't going to kill him. Of course, by this we don't mean that you should dump an entire canister of Yogies in front of him and let him eat as many as he wants. But a couple every now and again aren't going to be fatal. Plus, if you always feed healthy, meat based treats, you may find that your ferret turns his nose up at sugary treats anyway!

Some sugary treats that can be given in very strict moderation are:

• Yogurt treats
• Peanut butter treats
• Nonacidic fruits such as melons, bananas, and papaya
• Low salt, low sugar cereals like Kix or Cheerios

If you do give your ferrets any of the above treats, it should only be a couple very small pieces.

There is one situation where sugary treats should never be given, and that is if your ferret has insulinoma. Ferrets with insulinoma absolutely must have a sugar free diet to prevent dangerous fluctuations in blood glucose levels. Never give your insulinomic ferret a sugary treat, no matter how cute he looks when he begs!

If you are at all concerned that giving your ferret a sugary treat may hurt him, don't do it! The point of this post is not to encourage you to feed sugary treats. There are many healthy treats available that are a much better alternative for our ferrets. But if you feed a couple sugary treats once in a while, you are not a bad ferret owner, and you are not going to kill your ferret. Just make sure that your ferret's kibble and treats that are given daily meet all of his nutritional requirements, and feed any sugar treats in only the strictest moderation.

To read more about choosing a healthy ferret diet, check out the following articles:
Making Healthy Choices
Don't Shortchange Your Ferret's Nutrition: The Importance of Quality Ferret Food
Ferret Treats: Compare Ingredients by Brand
Healthy Treats for Your Favorite Ferret

Posted by ferretstore at 10:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Though ferrets are not the stinky pets that many people think they are, they are going to have the same odors associated with them that other pets such as cats and dogs do. Proper care of their environment will serve to eliminate many of these odors, but there is also a product you can use to combat ferret odors - G-Whiz for Ferrets.

G-Whiz for Ferrets is made from natural ingredients, and it works to create good bacterial colonization in your ferret's digestive tract. The colonies it creates neutralizes odors where they begin - inside your ferret. Made from the Yucca plant, G-Whiz helps to eliminate waste, breath, and gas odors. Many odor products only mask noxious odors, but G-Whiz actually eradicates them completely. Simply add G-Whiz to your ferret's water bowl daily, and within a short amount of time, you will find there is a noticeable difference in the smell of your ferret's urine and feces.

Because it is made from natural ingredients, G-Whiz is completely safe for your ferrets. It will not noticeably change the taste of the drinking water, and it will even aid in even more effective digestion, so it's beneficial to your ferret as well as to you.

If you clean your cage daily and you're tired of still being able to smell the litter box, try G-Whiz for ferrets today!

Posted by ferretstore at 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)