We pet owners always want the best for our furry friends, and sometimes, it can be challenging to know everything they can eat and what’s best for their health.
Ferrets can live for 10-12 years with the right diet, and I will now explain why these cute ferrets should not eat guinea pig food and what they should eat instead for optimal health.
Can Ferrets Eat Guinea Pig Food?
No, ferrets can not eat guinea pig food. Strict carnivores like ferrets should only eat meat for optimal health and the best functionality of the digestive system. Guinea pig food contains a high amount of fiber and carbohydrates that their stomach can not digest, which will cause them a lot of health issues.
Ferrets might look similar to rodents but are actually in the marten family. The nearly 60 species in the marten (mustelids) family are carnivores and live off protein and animal fat.
So now that we know ferrets should not guinea pig food, what should they eat instead?
What Foods Should You Feed Your Ferret Instead?
Because ferrets are obligate carnivores, their diet must consist of only meat. It’s recommended that their diet should consist of around 38% protein and 15-20% fat. To meet these requirements, you can feed your ferret the following raw meat:
- Lamb.
- Chicken.
- Game birds.
- Raw animal bones (cow, lamb, or pig)
- Turkey.
- Rodent carcasses.
- Sheep.
- Mice & Rats.
Additional food you can feed your ferret is quality meat-based cat food and freeze-dried raw meat with high protein content. You can also ask your local butcher if they have by-products they don’t sell to humans and throw away.
The best diet for ferrets is raw meat because it keeps more of the nutrients, and if you look at ferrets in the wild, they digest anything they can get their hands on.
Eggs and frogs are also on their menu, but be a little careful with catching mice and rats for your ferret. They are very prone to diseases and parasites.
You can also feed your ferret some processed dry foods, which are more affordable for your pocket. Sadly, often, they don’t really ‘care’ about your ferret’s health and include some filler ingredients your ferrets should not digest.
This is Why You Should Not Feed Guinea Pig Food To a Ferret
Anything else but meat is a good rule for feeding your ferret. In addition, a ferret should not eat plant-based foods like vegetables, grains, and fruits, which contain complex carbohydrates.
Commercial guinea pig food is usually in a pellet form with many fruits, veggies & timothy hay. Hence, not suitable for a ferret’s stomach.
A high-fiber carbohydrate diet of vegetables and grains leads to elevated amounts of glucose in the ferret’s blood. And can cause trouble with the pet’s insulin.
You should also avoid feeding your ferret dairy-based products because of their lactose intolerance. They lack the enzyme that breaks down the sugar, which causes them to get diarrhea and bloating.
Now, we will look into the side effects of feeding the wrong food, like guinea pig food, to a ferret.
Side Effects of Feeding Ferrets Guinea Pig Food
Sometimes, these small animals don’t show many signs, and it can be difficult to see immediate signs of reaction to a specific wrong diet. However, here are some side effects that can occur if you feed guinea pig food to your ferret:
- Lethargy. The ferret will feel lethargic because of a lack of animal protein and low amounts of fat.
- Reduced bone growth. If a ferret eats guinea pig food, its bone growth will drastically reduce. This is because the ferret depends on calcium and protein to grow naturally, and the bone structure will weaken if these nutrients are not included in the diet.
- Digestive troubles. Guinea Pig food, usually high in fiber and complex carbohydrates, will give the ferret either constipation or diarrhea since the body doesn’t want it in the digestive tract.
- Death. Over time, the ferret’s health will decline if it only eats guinea pig food. Since their stomach can’t digest these kinds of plant fibers, they will suffer malnutrition in the long run. In addition, lack of water in their body because of constant diarrhea might cause dehydration and, unfortunately, death.
Conclusion
As you know by now, ferrets should not be fed any form of guinea pig food. These mammals are the complete opposite of each other, even though it is a common belief that they might share the same diet because of their looks.
A ferret should only be fed meat, either raw or commercial freeze-dried meat. Some processed dry foods are okay, but be wary of the brand and the ingredients. As you can see, the side effects of the wrong diet for ferrets are detrimental to their health, like guinea pig food.
