Can Ferrets Eat Goldfish Crackers5 min read

Ferrets are domesticated animals, which means that they thrive in household environments. As with any other animal, ferrets need to eat certain foods for their health and well-being.

Ferrets are strict meat-eaters, which means they need meat to survive.

Are Goldfish Crackers Bad for Ferrets?

Can ferrets eat goldfish crackers? Goldfish crackers are not an appropriate food item for your ferret because they do not provide the nutrients required by your pet.

So here is your answer: No, ferrets can NOT eat Goldfish Crackers!

Ferrets love to taste new foods, but the first rule of ferret food is that you must not give your ferret any food that has one of the following ingredients:

• Wheat
• Plant-based proteins
• Starch
• Sugar
• Salt
• Dairy products
• Any kind of seeds
• Xylitol, or any artificial sweetener

Any kind of flour, seeds, salt, sugar, or starch can be harmful to ferrets

Ferrets cannot digest flour because they are obligate carnivores. Their digestive systems are not made to digest any of the foods mentioned above, leading to long-term severe malabsorption problems.

Q: Can ferrets eat goldfish crackers?
A: No, you should not give your ferret goldfish crackers.

Ferrets need Meat for Survival

Ferrets are obligate carnivores. But what does that mean? Well, basically, it means that they can and should only eat meat. In other words, they have the digestive system of a carnivore and cannot digest any different type of food.

Ferrets love what they shouldn’t – they should never be fed anything that includes wheat, seeds, sugars, or other plant-based proteins.

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If you feed your ferret something that contains any of these ingredients, you will be doing more harm than good!

Ferrets are strict carnivores, which means that they cannot eat anything other than meat. They require meat to survive and digest. Wheat is bad for ferrets because it is a plant-based food that will not contribute to your ferret’s health.

Good Food for your Ferret

• beef
• chicken
• chicken wings
• turkey
• turkey necks
• chicken liver
• game birds
• lamb
• tuna (sometimes)
• …

Actually, your furry friend can eat a wide variety of meats. They must be fresh and of good quality.

Ferrets also love eggs. So every once in a while, you could give them a boiled or raw egg. Fish such as tuna or salmon (raw!) are also lovely treats – but should only be fed every now and then.

A side-effect of feeding fish is that .. well, your ferret will smell like fish.

Dry Foods: Kibble

Alternatively or in addition, you can feed your ferret kibble. It is easy to store and clean up.

Make sure that the kibble is not too hard and sharp for a ferret’s delicate mouth. Treats or kibble with sharp corners can lead to dental problems and even pain in the mouth or jaw.

However, there are soft kibbles available on the market that could be a solution for your little furball.

Read the ingredients list and make sure that it is ferret-approved. If you are unsure, you should always ask your vet for advice.

Ferrets need a high-quality protein source. Special ferret kibble is an excellent way to give them exactly what they need.

No Dog or Cat Treats

Due to their specific diet, ferrets can’t digest dog treats or most cat food due to a lack of a particular enzyme in their stomach. And because those treats contain starch, fillers, wheat, or other ingredients that are bad for ferrets.

There are exceptions to cat food – some wet cat foods could be given to your ferret as an occasional treat. But never to replace their diet completely.

No Fruits, No Vegetables

Due to the fruit sugars in fruits, ferrets should not eat any fruits at all. Sugar is very bad for your furry friend because it may potentially cause diabetes and insulinomas. And even though fruits are good for humans, they are not suitable for ferrets.

Vegetables are not suitable for ferrets because they are too fiber-rich. If a ferret eats vegetables, it may get diarrhea.

Vegetables hold no nutritional value for a ferret, so avoid giving it any. In some cases, feeding vegetables can lead to a blockage of the intestines.

This could potentially be life-threatening!

Again, if you are unsure, you should always ask your vet for advice. But generally speaking, fruits and vegetables should never be a part of your ferrets’ diet.

Insulinoma Because of Sugar

The sugar in fruits is dangerous for your ferret! It may cause insulinomas.

Insulinomas are cancer in the pancreatic cells of your ferret. The only way for treatment is to remove this cancer. But even if the procedure is successful, it will lower the life expectancy of your ferret massively.

Sadly, most ferrets die shortly after an insulinoma-induced treatment.

Ferrets are Picky Eaters

Yes and no. Ferrets should be exposed to a variety of foods, especially when they’re young. By the age of approximately 6 months, they have developed a taste for a particular food, so in fact, they are pretty picky at an older age.

read.. can ferrets eat Cheez Its

To introduce older ferrets to new foods may take some time and patience, but a properly balanced ferret diet can be achieved.

Why would you want to feed your ferret a balanced diet? Simple: so that he is less likely to develop health problems down the road.

Obesity and other systemic illnesses are more prevalent in undernourished pets due to the strain placed on their metabolism and immune system. It strives to keep its host functioning adequately.

Summary

There is no reason for giving your ferret goldfish crackers. They hold no nutritional value. Ferrets should be fed various foods and should never be given wheat, flour, fruits, and vegetables.

Ferrets are strict meat-eaters. They can not digest plant-based foods and develop significant health issues when eating sugar-rich foods such as fruits.

Your ferret should eat a balanced diet that includes a high-quality protein source and good fats. That’s why goldfish crackers are bad for ferrets.