Yogies...(now turned into treat ideas w/pics)

[JohariZ]

Are yogies bad for ferrets. Dominic LOVES them. I only give him one or two, every few days... but he just can't seem to get enough... it's funny. He found the bottle (glass bottle, so he can't get in there) where I keep them and tried to drag it across the floor into his bed. I know yogurt isn't too good for them, they can't digest it properly, but is a few yogies every now and then going to hurt him?


Zechnas

[mandycoot]

Sorry I don't know the answer to your question, but there's a thread on the rat forum about homemade vegan yogies. Perhaps those would be okay for ferrets?

[taku]

As said before, ferrets are carnivores...but they do like sweet stuff. Mine love yogies, too. Fruits and veggies aren't good for them since they are strict carnivores, but I don't see the harm in the occasional yogie treat.

[JohariZ]

i see the harm today... yesterday i gave him two yogies, today he has diarhea... well not complete, but nearly...

[Marybelle]

So maybe the yogie habit must be satisfied by one yogie.  Poor guy.  I hope his tummy is feeling better soon!

[JohariZ]

me too. but it's just so cute when he goes begging for more. But he and Promethius do like their chewies. Chewy ferret chicken sticks. though i have to ration those too.

it stinks having to ration treats. they get so excited and cute when you give them treats.

z

[Marybelle]

Maybe you just need to find a different sort of treat that won't upset their tums?  There must be something out there!

[JohariZ]

the chewies are ok for them. Just they always want more. The chewies help stop the baby from wanting to nip at toes.

Z

[Marybelle]

Ah yes.  I imagine toes aren't a particularly healthy treat, either. 

[JohariZ]

yeah, especially when i'm trying to sleep and they get under the covers to bite my toes...


Z

[fuzzy_ferret_luver]

Hey Johari!! It's me, Calvin_and_Hobbes! Maybe that's what I shoulda made my name, but I use fuzzy_ferret_luver for lots of other things. Otherwise I might forget

Hobbes, too loves yogies. I had originally got them for an occasional treat for the mice (which they also love) but he likes them too. I only give them once a week or so.

It's a TREAT, not a staple part of their diet! As long as you don't overdo it (I would suggest no more than 2 weekly maybe) they should be fine.

[JohariZ]

hey you. glad you did find this part of the board... they get other stuff for treats now. like raisn flavored ones made for ferrets...

[fuzzy_ferret_luver]

Do you mean the raisin flavored Bandits from Marshalls? I was thinking about getting some of those. Or do you mean the Cheweasles and Foamy Fries?
Do they have sugar?

[JohariZ]

I had started writing something else, but then my cats were getting all excited because I was looking at the backs of the treat bags to see if they had sugar. The raisin flavored ones do, the chew treats don't. Anyway, the cats totally took me out of this screen and messed up my computer for a moment because one of them decided that it was a good idea to jump onto the keyboard... I gave them each a treat, and now they are leaving me alone...

Any, since that happened, I just went back to find and old post of mine from another board to show you the different treats I give them.

these are all treats that my ferrets LOVE! 
Most of them are given when they come to the squeeker, good training for them...


Marshall Bandits Raisin Flavored treats

I give them this one at most twice a day, that is only if they are good.


N-Bone Ferret Chew Treats- Chicken Flavor

This I give them to distract them when I need to get out of my bedroom and don't want to have to race them to the door. It is completely edible, they usually finish it within a few minutes... So they don't last as long as the Super pet chews, but my ferrets like them more.


8in1 FerreTone

Once a day, everyday...


Marshall FerretLax

two to three times a week


Marshall Furo-Vite

Once a day, everyday


Marshall Ferret Super Chew

They don't really like to chew on the super chew though. They like to hide it places.

That give you any ideas? They really LOVE the raisin ones....

edit: PS, I just Love your new sig thing for Jack, it's great.

[nzamy]

hello,

as ferrets are banned in nz we don't have any specific treats available for them.  what home-made or non-ferret specific things do people give?

-Amy

ps: i have two ferrets; they were alive before the ferret ban so are allowed to live out their natural lives.

[Hack]

my kids really like cat greenies.  and they have the added bonus of being good for their teeth.  just make sure that you watch the wasels so that they chew them up all the way before they swallow.  they also like raisins.  their favorite snack is something that they only get when they steal it, and that's doritos (sooooo bad for them).  they also like dog food, also really bad for them.  my advice is to just try out different things and see if your kids will eat it.  try to stick to meat (mine do like cooked ground meat) because it is better for them.  sorry to hear about the ferret ban, and i hope you find something that your kids will eat.

[Poppyseed]

With all teh problems ferrets can develop later in life I NEVER feed my ferrets any carbs or sweets anymore. Strictly meat type treats for them and ferret tone. I know that sounds harsh but I do have two healthy 6 year old ferrets and one healthy 4 year old girl going on five soon that do NOT have insulnomia. Most do by their age and many attribute this to them being strict carnivores and pet owners over feeding sweets and carbs.

I did feed them yogies HIGHLY OCCASIONALLY when they were 3 and under and I fed fruits too. I havn't after that age because I don't want to see them develop insulnomia. I think this has helped them stay healthy despite their Marshall heritage.

[Jeana65]

You feed them FRUITS? 

[Poppyseed]

I DID feed them a couple grapes or raisens probably once every 2-3 weeks 3-4 YEARS ago but STOPPED. They don't get stuff like that anymore, I know it's bad for them now. I just give them ferret tone and lax now as a treat. They don't like the other meat treats.

[StarDreamer]

I can tell you why he got diarrhea, ferrets are lactose intolerant! also, grapes and raisins are suspected of causing acute renal failure. Marshalls treats, as well as their ferret diet, contains BHA and BHT which causes certain types of cancers if fed over a long period of time.

Dingos beef treats made for ferrets is just dried, untreated meat. What better treat could you give them? They love it and its good for them!