|
 |
Ferrets
( Mustela furo or Mustela putorius furo )
|
Sympathetic and frolicking, bringing much fun to home, Ferrets is a good pet option for the ones in search of a "tricky" company to keep. In terms of behaviour they are something between a dog and a cat. These are curious animals, which like to fawn on everything and to hide in gaps and behind the furniture. They can be kept alone, however when in couples or groups they behave in an even funnier way.
The exact origin of the domesticated Ferret is unknown. Most evidences support the idea that they proceed from the Ferret living in Europe 2000 or 3000 years ago. The Ferret of the present time would therefore be a "cousin" of this old Ferret . It is like comparing the parenthood of wolves and domesticated dogs. The lacking of documents proving the Ferret's origin is partially due to the fact that the lower social classes used this animal to hunt rabbits and small rodents, as well as to keep the house clear from rats and snakes. Some Greek documents dated 450 BC; from Arsitofanes and later Aristoteles as well as some Roman documents make reference to the use of Ferrets for these activities.
In Brazil their selling is controlled by the IBAMA, which does only allow the commercialisation of castred animals, since their reproduction is forbidden. This measure intends to avoid the risk of an ecological unbalance, since in Brazil the Ferret does not have any natural predators. So, once set free in nature, it could cause major damages to the environment. All imported animals must be "microchipped" for electronic identification.
Features
Ferrets ( Mustela furo or Mustela putorius furo ) are mammals from the Carnivorous Order, and belong to the Mustelidae family, the same of the Minks, Martens, and Ermines. Because they are carnivorous they must not be confounded with rodents (Rodentia Order). Their anatomical features and habits are quite different. They have a round and long body and males are usually bigger than females, showing something like a prominent navel in the ventral region.
The word Ferret comes from the Latin furonem , meaning "thief". This is due to the animal's habit of "stealing" and hiding different objects. The designation putorius derivates from putor , the Latin word for stink. Reference is made to the typical scent of the substance used to lubricate the coat, which is produced by glands located next to the ears. Two other glands near the base of the tail produce musk, a substance that, amongst other functions, serves to mark the territory and to attract females in the reproduction period. As the animals that arrive here are castred, these two glands have been removed.
Their colour pattern varies between champagne, cinnamon, albino, sand, and so on. Usually the facial "mask" develops after the second or third week of life. They live up to 10 years and they require some special care, as do dogs and cats, in relation to vaccines, nail cutting and baths.
Feeding
Ferrets possess a quite short digestive system. The digestion process takes 2 to 3 hours. As it is the case of diverse carnivorous mammals on the top of the alimentary chain, they do not have a caecum. Herbivorous animals have a wide caecum, which is a bag located at the junction between the thin and the thick intestines. Due to the absence of the caecum Ferrets are not able to digest plants since they cannot break the cellulose. This is one of the reasons for which Ferrets must have access to a balanced, specific allowance for this species.
Improvised feeding with bread, fruits, chocolate, cat allowance or dog biscuits may cause a lot of problems linked to nutritional unbalance. Amongst such problems are excessive fall of coat, ophthalmological problems, and a bad bone formation.
After a long and thorough process of research and development Alcon offers the market the most advanced Ferret nutrition resource. alcon Club Ferret is a complete food that fully complies with the nutritional needs of the Ferrets, both in the growth phase and for adult animals. It is produced with selected ingredients of high quality, being very attractive and palatable. The perfect balance between proteins, fats and fibres complies with the digestive needs of these animals. The extrusion process provides not only an excellent digestibility but the ideal texture for the buccal apparatus of Ferrets as well. Proper vitamin and mineral levels ensure the strength of teeth and bones and provide a beautiful coat and bright eyes, besides making Ferrets more resistant to sicknesses like influenza. |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Español
Português
