Can ferrets eat Alfalfa?5 min read

Ferrets are becoming more popular pets due to their small size, unique features, and hilarious antics. They are also among the most popular animals for animal lovers who wish to adopt a furry friend. But what if you wanted to adopt a ferret and were wondering whether or not they would eat Alfalfa? You’ve come to the right place!

So, without further due, here is your answer. Can ferrets eat Alfalfa? NO – Ferrets are strict meat-eaters and should not eat Alfalfa.

Why should Ferrets not eat Alfalfa?

Native to southwestern Asia, Alfalfa has clover-like leaves and bluish flowers. The plant is widely cultivated as a fodder crop. The leaves are a common ingredient in herbal teas.

Alfalfa is generally considered safe to eat for humans. Still, it has been known to cause digestive tract upset in carnivores. In the wild, ferrets would only eat meat, so they should be strictly fed meat-based foods like raw chicken, rabbit, or fish. Alfalfa could possibly cause vomiting and diarrhea if introduced to the Ferret’s diet.

In general, ferrets shouldn’t be fed complex carbohydrates or fiber. Due to Ferrets’ inability to digest fiber, Alfalfa is not very nutritious and could cause intestinal blockages. 

Safe Foods for Ferrets

As mentioned above. Ferrets are obligate carnivores. Ferrets should be fed meats such as chicken, rabbit, and beef.

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Ferrets should consume 32 – 38% protein and 15 – 20% fat in their diet. Soy protein and other vegetable proteins are not suitable for ferrets. Commercially canned ferret food is one way to supply ferrets with protein and other appropriate nutrients.

Chicken is the most commonly used meat as it’s inexpensive and easily obtainable. When feeding ferrets canned and packaged foods, make sure they are labeled for ferrets.

Meat

Meat is safe to feed you ferret. You should try to provide your ferret meat at least twice a week. It will help Ferrets to satisfy calorie requirements and will prevent them from becoming overweight.

• chicken
• chicken wings
• turkey
• organs (liver)
• beef
• turkey necks
• whole prey (feeder mice)
• kibble
• ground beef
• …

Basically, ferrets need a lot of protein (animal-based) in their diet, so you should try to feed your Ferret as many different meat sources as you can.

Many ferrets that are bred and sold in larger pet stores are not used to eating raw meat. To get a ferret used to eating raw meat, you should start out by feeding them small amounts every day.

read.. can ferrets eat onions?

Doing this gradually will help ferrets get used to the taste. Once they are used to the taste, you can start feeding them more. If you have a ferret not accustomed to eating raw meat, it may take longer for them to get used to it.

The meat quality is also an essential factor, so try to find the best quality meat possible, such as a butcher or supermarket. Going to a regular grocery store can be difficult because it is not easy to tell if it’s good or not.

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The cost of feeding your Ferret raw meat is much more economical than providing them commercial brands.

This may sound like a con, but it really isn’t. Raw meats contain everything your furry friend needs to stay healthy.

Dry Kibble

There are special kibbles for ferrets available. Do not feed them any kibble that is not exclusively made for ferrets.

Kibble can be an excellent alternative to raw meat. Ferrets are obligate carnivores. They need to consume animal proteins to survive. Dry kibble is an easily obtained source of animal protein for ferrets. It can be a good substitute for feeding them raw meat.

read.. why dog food is bad for ferrets

One of the benefits of feeding dry kibble is that you don’t need to worry about whether or not your Ferret will get sick from consuming contaminated meat.

How often Should your Ferret eat?

Ferrets have small stomachs and high metabolisms, so they need to be fed every 3-4 hours if you want them to stay satisfied. This means that once provided, a ferret will usually want to eat again within a few hours.

They typically eat what they need to survive and not much more and will not become obese even if allowed constant access to food.

Foods that are bad for your Ferret

Fruits and vegetables are not suitable for ferrets.

Fruits

Fruits contain sugar. And sugar in the Ferret’s body may lead to insulin imbalances, obesity, and/or diabetes mellitus. If fed on a constant diet, sugar will lead to cancer of the pancreatic cells, called Insulinoma. That is why you should not give any fruits to your ferret!

Vegetables

I have mentioned it above. Vegetables contain fiber. And fiber will accumulate in the Ferret’s digestive system. This may cause an intestinal blockage which can be fatal.

Summary

Alfalfa is not suitable for your Ferret. Ferrets need meat in their diet as they are strict meat-eaters. They consume all kinds of meat. Even fish can be included in their diet. Alfalfa contains too much fiber, which is not suitable for them.

It may cause severe health issues to your ferrets. Some people might think of the Alfalfa as a means to control their Ferret’s diarrhea. But that’s not going to work well because Alfalfa contains too much fiber.

Always consult with your vet if you think that your furry friend has health issues. Do not rely solemnly on the information you find on the internet!