| Ferrets are wonderful creatures to keep as pets. | | | | Are the whiskers brittle and dirty? Does it walk |
| Therefore, it is necessary to check their health | | | | crookedly and with so much difficulty? If all is yes, |
| status before bringing them home. A healthy | | | | this is not a healthy ferret. |
| ferret is what makes a good pet. A sickly ferret, | | | | 4. Check behavioral signs. Is it too shy when |
| on the other hand, is depressing to take care of, | | | | faced with a moving rattle? Does it take too long |
| added by the expenses on medicines and | | | | for the ferret to respond? Is it too lazy while the |
| veterinary care. | | | | other ferrets are playing and jumping and climbing |
| Here are some tips to consider in choosing a | | | | and running around? Oftentimes there is |
| healthy ferret for adoption: | | | | something wrong with the health of the ferret if |
| 1. Sables (the common brown ones) are usually | | | | these signs are present. Does it respond too |
| the best breed of ferrets to take care of, second | | | | scared when cuddled or scuffed? This can mean |
| of which are albinos. Never prioritize the beauty of | | | | that the ferret is being subjected to animal |
| the coat in choosing a healthy ferret. Sable | | | | cruelty. |
| ferrets have the most stable genetic diversity | | | | 5. Lastly, interview the breeder about the history |
| while interbred ones, have lesser genetic diversity | | | | of the ferret and its care providers. How long has |
| which is prone to deafness, early death, and other | | | | been the breeder in business? Does he have the |
| behavioral and medical problems in the future | | | | appropriate licenses? Too often, sickly ferrets |
| while the ferret ages. | | | | come from inexperienced breeders and pet store |
| 2. Check the medical records before buying from | | | | owners without valid licenses. They are not |
| the breeder or pet store. It is important to take | | | | equipped with the proper know-how to take care |
| out a baby ferret at least eight weeks old, and | | | | of the ferret or breed them at the most. What |
| never less then eight. First shots of distemper | | | | kind of food does the breeder or pet store |
| must have been administered as shown in the | | | | owner provide for the ferret? Is he giving cat |
| medical records, and if you can get any | | | | food to ferrets? If he does, this is a bad sign and |
| veterinary assurance, the better. You do not | | | | it is time to look for another ferret seller who |
| want a sickly ferret in your home. | | | | knows exactly how to take care of them. Ferrets |
| 3. Check physical signs. Does the ferret have a lot | | | | are not supposed to be given cat food because |
| of mucus dripping from its nose? Are the eyes | | | | the calorie content required by a ferret differs |
| too cloudy and Is it weak compared from other | | | | greatly from that of a cat. Ferrets need more |
| lively and hyperactive ferrets? Does it smell | | | | protein from poultry sources and lesser |
| alarmingly bad compared from the others? If you | | | | carbohydrates while cats need the reverse. |
| answered all yeses, consider choosing another pet | | | | Breeders and pet store owners with valid licenses |
| store or breeder since these are bad signs of | | | | and appropriate experience do not feed milk, ice |
| ferret health and is therefore unadvisable to bring | | | | cream, and yoghurts to ferrets since this will |
| home. Check the fur and the skin beneath the fur: | | | | cause diarrhea. |
| is the skin in poor and overly-scratched condition? | | | | |