Ferrets are wonderful pets to have. They are playful and energetic, quick to learn tricks and even be litter trained. What more could you want in a pet? Here, we will answer the question, “can ferrets eat whipped cream?”
Here is your answer to the question, “Can Ferrest Eat Whipped Cream.” No – Ferrets should not eat whipped cream!
Why is Whipped Cream not Good for Ferrets?
Ferrets are lactose intolerant. That means that their bodies cannot digest dairy products well. This includes milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, butter, sour cream, etc. If you feed them these foods, it may cause diarrhea or other digestive problems.
It’s best if you don’t give any of those things to your ferret at all. Whipped cream is made of milk, so that’s not good for your ferret.
Feeding your Ferret
Your furry friend is a strict meat eater (obligate carnivore), which means it needs a diet based on animal proteins. Ferrets, on average, eat 5-7% of their body weight in food every day. The amount depends on how active your ferret is, what age it has and more.
A ferret diet should consist of approximately 35% protein and around 18% of fat. Ferrets depend 100% on animal-based proteins and fats. Do not feed our ferret plant protein! Ferrets need meat!
Meat
Your furry friend is not limited to any specific kind of meat. Ferrets love chicken, turkey, beef, and salmon. There are even products made specifically for feeding ferrets.
Here are some examples:
- beef
- rabbit
- chicken breast
- chicken wings
- turkey
- turkey necks
- lamb
- game birds
- offal
- organs such as liver
- bones (uncooked)
- salmon / tuna
- eggs
- feeder mice / chicks
- …
Every once in a while, you can give them tuna or salmon too. I would not feed fish too often. Your ferrets’ skin glands will secrete the fishy smell, it would add to the musky ferret smell, and some people don’t like it.
Ferrets also love whole prey, such as feeder mice. Many pet stores are selling feeder mice or chicks. You can buy them pre-killed and put them into your freezer. Make sure to thaw before feeding – room temperature is what you are aiming for.
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Ferrets need to eat food that is high in animal protein and fat. Plant foods do not provide enough of either for your ferret to be healthy. Feeding your ferret on a plant-based diet will lead to malnutrition.
Kibble or Dry Food
Additionally, you can feed your ferret kibble, dry food, or a combination of both. Food for ferrets is sold in pet stores in different forms: as a “kibble” or dehydrated (which is very convenient). There are foods specially designed for ferrets that contain high-quality ingredients and are properly balanced to their specific needs.
Kibble has some advantages. It is easy to store, has a very long shelf life, and is ideal for offering your ferrets when you are away for a few hours. There is little risk of salmonella or other bacterial infections with dry food. The disadvantages are that kibble is not as filling as fresh meat.
Ferrets do love “kibble,” though, and a combination of fresh meat and kibble is always a good idea.
What about Vegetables?
Ferrets do not need vegetables. In fact, the fiber in vegetables could cause digestive problems for your ferret. Ferrets do not digest vegetables very well, and that fiber can cause constipation or even intestinal blockages.
When you are buying commercial ferret food, look out for the percentage of fiber. Food with less than 5% fiber is ideal.
What about Fruits?
Fruits contain sugar. Sugar is bad for ferrets! Ferrets are prone to developing insulinomas, and it’s believed that sugar could trigger them. Do not feed your ferret any fruit.
Insulinomas are a cancer of the pancreatic cells. Your furry friend could develop diabetes, suffer from hyperglycemia, and get kidney failure.
Just like vegetables, fruits are not good for your ferret. Some people might tell you that fruits are safe to feed to your ferret, but in reality, it is not worth the risk. As a rule of thumb, no source of sugar is safe for your ferrets. This includes things like orange juice and honey.
Diary Products
As mentioned above. Ferrets are lactose intolerant. They should not eat products based on milk or dairy, such as whipped cream and ice cream.
Summary
Ferret relies on a meat-based diet. For your ferret to live a long and healthy life, stick to meat, kibble, and other ferret-approved food when you are feeding it. There are several options available. How do I know what my ferret likes? This question has been asked many times before.
There’s no one answer to this question because every ferret is different. Some like raw meat, while others don’t care much about kibble at all. The best way to find out what your ferret likes is by trial and error.
So, can your ferret eat whipped cream? No! We hope you learned a thing or two about feeding your little furry buddy.
