Breed: Anglo pet ferret
Color: Long-haired ancient color
Color description: The entire head is white, the throat or neck is white, the feet may have gloves, other parts of the coat are light brown, brown, dark or have obvious silver reflection, without fluff, the nose is allowed to have nasal mucus.
In modern times, the domestication of pet ferrets began over two hundred years ago, but as early as 3000 BC, domesticated ferrets appeared in Egypt. They were raised together with European Persian cats. Later, during the Crusades in the 11th century, ferrets were brought to Europe as a species with practical value. In the 16th century, ferrets were shipped from Europe to America to control the growth of rodents. People released them from their cages to chase and catch hidden field mice.
Suggested for small pet lovers, the most distinctive feature of Anglo ferrets is curiosity and cheerfulness, and they like to play with people. Because of their endless curiosity and adventurous spirit, they are always active and often explore new things by crawling into the back or underneath furniture. They collect anything they like and hide it in hidden places, and they establish their own activity territory. They are affectionate, playful, and intelligent, and they easily get along with people, often wanting to play with them. They especially like to go in and out with people, so they can be put on a harness or placed in an outdoor cage and taken for a walk just like dogs.
Anglo ferrets are sociable animals. Although they like to be close to humans, they prefer to play with their companions. As long as there is enough space, it is not a big problem to keep multiple ferrets together. If the ferret is left alone for a long time and does not feel lonely, or if her activities are reduced leading to insufficient exercise, she will feel stressed and become obese or even sick. Therefore, do not keep the ferret in a cage all the time and let her out to play regularly. Because of their lively and active personality, there are also various ferret-specific toys available on the market to keep them entertained.
1. Heatstroke
When the temperature is around 30 degrees Celsius, pet ferrets will become tired, and at temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius, they are easily prone to heatstroke. High temperatures increase the likelihood of heatstroke. To avoid this problem, you should always ensure a fresh water source and place their cage in a well-ventilated area. Avoid drafts and try not to blow them with air conditioning. If your pet ferret shows signs of heatstroke, such as panting, red gums, tongue sticking out, weakness, trembling, lethargy, or unconscious twitching, you should immediately place their cage in a cool and ventilated area and place the ferret in lukewarm water (never use cold water), and contact a veterinarian immediately. Remember to regularly provide them with a bottle of mineral water with frozen water droplets in their cage.
2. Hairball Disease
Pet ferrets have some habits similar to cats, such as grooming themselves, which can lead to hairball disease. Using Marcella ferret grooming paste can solve this problem by lubricating and eliminating the hairballs in their stomach.
3. Intestinal Obstruction
Sometimes pet ferrets may swallow soft pet toys, shoe heels, erasers, chair cushions, hair accessories, rubber bands, and other rubber materials, leading to this rapidly fatal problem. Therefore, you should place small rubber products that are easily swallowed by pet ferrets out of their reach and always pay attention to their diet and chewing behavior to prevent it.
4. Ear Mites
If you find your furry friend frequently shaking its head, scratching its ears, and screaming, it is likely due to ear mites. These parasites can make the ferret's ears very dirty and cause them a lot of pain. Therefore, regular cleaning of their ears should be done to reduce the chance of mite infestation. If ear mites are present, although it is not a serious problem, you should still take them to a veterinarian for treatment.
1. Below are the precautions:
1. If your Anglo pet ferret is under one year old and over four months old, you can feed it dry food, but do not overfeed it as their stomachs cannot digest it temporarily.
2. If your Anglo pet ferret is under four months old, it can only eat main food and nothing else, such as nutritional cream, hair removal cream, or snacks. The main food should be soaked and fed softened (it is recommended to grind it into powder, add some water to make a paste, because if you directly soak the food, it is difficult to soften and may result in loss of nutrition, only consuming water).
3. Ferrets can only eat ferret food, specialized snacks, nutritional cream, water, hair removal cream, specialized fur maintenance products, and probiotics.
2. Taboos:
1. Absolutely do not feed dairy products, regardless of what they are. Ferrets cannot digest them and do not need them. Drinking milk can cause vomiting and dehydration.
2. Absolutely do not feed fruits, vegetables, or human snacks. They cannot digest sugar and fiber.
3. Absolutely do not feed salt-containing products, as salt can cause them to become weak and should not be fed.
4. Absolutely eat less meat. Generally, ferrets' daily diet is already nutritious enough, and they do not need meat. Moreover, as pet ferrets, many of their functions have already degenerated.
Living environment: Ferrets have lost their ability to survive in the wild due to long-term domestication by humans. As responsible owners, we should keep them indoors and prepare for them with no holes to escape.
Temperature and humidity: The ancestors of ferrets originally lived in cool underground caves, so they cannot adapt to hot and humid environments. High temperatures can cause heatstroke, heat exhaustion, or even death. Owners should avoid placing the ferret's cage or den near exhaust vents or direct sunlight, as well as not near air conditioners or heaters. The appropriate humidity for ferrets should be maintained at 50% to 70%, which is conducive to hair growth.