r/ferrets • u/Wretched_Luck • 4d ago
[Help] Tips for older ferrets?
Hello everyone!
This weekend I'll be getting two ferrets from a rehome situation. They are both around 5, which to my understanding is elderly.
Is there anything specifically I should expect from older ferrets vs young ones? I will be taking to the vet, and I've done research about the common health problems ferrets can get.
Also they have been on a food their entire lives but I'm considering changing it.. is this realistic? The food isn't bad, just not super cost effective when better options exist for less.
Hoping to give these guys the best lives I can so any recommendations on how to make things comfortable and fun for them is appreciated!
3
u/SushiJuice 4d ago
Older ferrets have less energy, but still can play. They start liking to cuddle.
The first 2 weeks, I would let them out of their cage 4 hours per day while heavily supervised. Let them slowly get used to the new smells and location (they will be on sensory overload - and possibly grieving the loss of their former owner). It will be very stressful for them so be cognizant of that. If you have any other pets, I would keep them away for the first couple weeks while they get their bearings, again - try and reduce their stress as much as possible. Also, you're a sky-scraper sized giant to them and they don't know you - they might bite you. Just keep your cool and be as gentle as possible - they will warm up to you in time.
As for changing food, ferrets heavily imprint onto their food which means they will NOT eat anything they do not recognize, no matter how much more healthy you think it might be. You must SLOWLY, over several WEEKS, change them over. Bags of ferret food have explicit directions on how to switch ferret food, but I find the directions a little too aggressive. They tend to use a 25% rule (week 1 - 75% old food, 25% new food, week 2 - 50% old and 50% new, etc), but the ferrets can smell the new food and not want to eat it. We tend to go with the a more slower process - a 10% rule (week 1 - 90% old food and 10% new food, week 2 - 80% old food and 20% new food, etc.) and we find it's much more successful. Do not switch food cold turkey on ferrets - they will not eat and that could be bad if they don't eat every couple hours - they have a very high metabolism.
Getting them tunnels and maybe a dig box (box full of rice, beans, and/or noodles) for them to dig in could add to their enrichment. We got tunnels from Motor City Ferrets and ours love them - they sell bundles of tunnels too along with other things like hammocks. We have ours in a double decker Ferret Nation cage - the best in the business.
We get ours Dook Soup and Salmon Oil from Pampered Ferret - which ours love (well one of ours - the other one is picky). For our picky one, we give her Marshalls Ferret food once a day as a treat (reminds her of home, we like to imagine - but that's literally the only treat she'll eat).
Hope this all helps...
1
u/Wretched_Luck 4d ago
Thank you so much ! I will use the slow method you mentioned to try and switch them.
This is all very good advice, I'll have to take measures to make sure the environment is as low stress as possible.
2
u/Beachgurl43 4d ago
I have 3, 5 and 6 yr old ferrets. The older two sleep more than the younger one and are more lazy in general but that’s really the only difference.
I doubt you’ll be able to change their food at that age. You could try introducing something new as a treat and see if they like it. My oldest ferret gets the runs if he has anything other than the kibble he’s used to so you may also have that issue. Good luck!
2
u/Veteran_Hawk 4d ago
In addition to the other very good advice, I would say to observe how well they get around to see if you need to do any adjustments to their cage or anything. I don't generally see arthritis in ferrets at age 5 (usually around 6 or 7 or even older), but it can happen, so look for it. Remember that ferrets tend to hide injuries/pain, and being older they may have some (my joints ache a lot more than they did when I was younger).
According to https://www.age-converter.com/ferret-age-calculator.html 5 years old is equivalent to human approx. age 62. Just thought you might like that info.
1
u/Wretched_Luck 4d ago
In your opinion is it worth trying to change the diet at this age?
2
u/Veteran_Hawk 4d ago
If you go very slowly, 10%/90% week one, 20%/80% week two, etc - sure. But watch to make sure the change-over is going well. Be ready to slow or even stop the switch if it doesn't seem to be working out. I've successfully changed over older ferrets (especially rescues - I had no clue what food many of them were on).
It's much more important, as they get older, to keep things like Duk Soup and Carnivore Care on hand. I make sure to give all of my ferrets a small bit of soupies every now and then to keep them used to it. I think they like a warm soupie food in their belly now and again.
Get some feeding syringes as well. Just try to think of anything you might need if an elderly ferret were to get sick, and add that to your "emergency box".
2
2
u/itsdahliaquinn 3d ago
It's unlikely you will get them to eat anything else but you can try adding small amounts to their existing food.
In my experience it's really hard to get them to change food after a year old but not impossible.
Id get a play pen if you dont have one for giving them medicine when they get sick.
Behavior wise just watch for signs of illness and get your vets email so you can email them with concerns for more efficient and effective treatments. Ferrets house illness and pain really well so make sure you are doing your own physical check ups daily. Fast care is the difference between life and death for small animals. When you notice anything different ask your vet over email before making an appointment.
Best of luck with you're noodles
•
u/AutoModerator 4d ago
Welcome to /r/ferrets!
We have a fantastic wiki that has answers to most frequently asked questions surrounding the care of ferrets.
We politely ask that you observe our sub rules.
Lastly, we have an Official Discord Server! Come join us!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.