Can you give your ferret bananas?
A banana is what you need if you need a quick energy boost. Feeling tired and sluggish? A banana’s sugar natural contents (sucrose, fructose and glucose) combined with fiber can instantly perk you up and provide sustained energy.
A banana is also rich in carbohydrates, phosphorous, iron, Vitamin A and other important vitamins and minerals. No wonder it is used as a natural remedy for a number of conditions. It is known to help cases of anemia because of its high iron content; to provide soothing relief from heart burn because of its natural antacid content; to avoid morning sickness as it keeps blood sugars up; to aid against intestinal disorders because it neutralizes acidity in the stomach and to eliminate uric acid that causes arthritis and gout.
A banana is not just delicious but also one of the most nutritious fruit that has health beneficial properties. No wonder a banana is one of the most widely consumed fruit in the world.
Can I Give My Ferret Bananas?
No, It is not recommended
We may benefit a lot from having a banana or two incorporated in our diet every day but not for some animals like a ferret. A banana may be highly recommended for human but apparently not for ferrets. It’s important to keep in mind that humans and animals have different dietary needs. A lot of food that humans can take and digest may not be taken well by some animals and can sometimes wreck havoc in their digestive system.
A ferret has a very delicate digestive system. That is why it can be tricky to feed a ferret as it is built to intake certain types of food. Due to their small digestive tracks, they have difficulties digesting food rich in high fiber such as fruits like banana, vegetables and grains. Another thing about having a short and simple digestive system is that it sets a limit on food quantity that can be digested at a time. A ferret needs to eat a small quantity of food but frequently. So it follows that they need to get the most out of every meal. They also need to be able to absorb the needed nutrients quick which can only be possible through consumption of meat-based proteins and fats.
A banana can be hard to digest for ferrets as they are just not capable of digesting carbohydrates which is largely present in fruits like bananas. Also other items like dairy products and anything high in sugar like fruits contain complex carbohydrates and a ferret which has a very carnivorous digestive tract cannot process them that easily. Diets high in carbohydrates may lead to intestinal problems and other illnesses.
If given in small quantities, a banana may not do any major harm. A banana may be given occasionally as a treat in fact. But if you feed a ferret a banana in regular basis, it may cause possible diseases. Because of its high sugar content, it may cause a ferret’s blood sugar level to spike up and ultimately may become ill with insulinoma. This condition usually affects ferrets that are 2-3 years old. One can observe these obvious symptoms of ferret suffering from insulinoma: obvious weakness, seizures, lethargy, increased salivation and teeth grinding.
Ferrets are strictly carnivores. They don’t eat anything but meat in their diet that is why you need to avoid feeding them anything that didn’t come from an animal. Fact is that carnivores don’t need vegetables and fruits in their diet. What they need are raw and cooked meat of chicken, beef and turkey and their bones, hearts, livers, organs, and basically all parts of the animal. They can also be fed with pre-killed or frozen whole prey animals like rats and chickens.
Having a pet ferret means you have to have a better understanding about its diet, what is recommended and what is unsuitable. A good ferret diet is a good balance of its needed nutrients and minerals like a high source of energy, protein and calories that are in the form of meat and fat with very little fiber. The ideal ferret food diet is said to at least contain the following: at least 35-40% protein, between 18% and 30% fat, a maximum of 7% ash and very little fiber at 2%.
To ensure a healthy ferret is to ensure it is only getting a well balanced ferret diet. This is important to ensure a longer life span for your pet too. Remember that you can risk a ferret’s health that may even develop into serious problems without a proper diet.