MILK REPLACER for FERRETS
About Ferret Milk:
Different species of mammals produce milks of different composition in order to nourish their young:
Species
Cow
Ferret*
Dog
Solids
(g/L)
119
215
227
Protein
(% Solids)
25.6
32.1
33.2
Fat
(% Solids)
29.9
45.1
41.9
Lactose
(% Solids)
38.7
17.7
16.7
Metabolisable
Energy (kJ/L)
2620
5400
5440
* Average composition at week 3 of lactation1
Ferret milk is characterised by relatively high solids content, elevated fat levels and low amounts of lactose.
Ferret milk has about twice the energy per litre than that of ordinary cow’s milk. The high amount of lactose
and low energy value of cow’s milk make it unsuitable for hand rearing ferrets.
However, due to limited demand, it is not commercially practical to produce a milk replacer specifically for
ferrets. We therefore recommend to use Wombaroo Dog Milk Replacer as a suitable substitute. As can
be seen in the table above, ferret milk is similar to dog milk in composition and energy. In terms of other
nutrients, it is likely that ferret milk contains significant quantities of the sulphonic acid taurine. This is
prominent in the milk of carnivorous species (eg cats 359mg/L and dogs 326mg/L) but not in cow’s milk
(8mg/L)3. Taurine is required for healthy development of brain, eye and heart function and is an essential
nutrient for cats4. Lactating females usually obtain the taurine from the meat component of their diet. No
specific research has yet been undertaken in the taurine content of ferret milk, however, being an obligate
carnivore it is prudent to include taurine in the milk for rearing ferrets. Wombaroo Dog Milk Replacer
contains a minimum of 500mg/L taurine which, based on other carnivores, is likely to be sufficient to
prevent deficiency in ferrets.
Typical Composition per Litre of Prepared Wombaroo Dog Milk Replacer
Protein
Fat
Carbohydrate
Energy (ME)
Vitamin A
Vitamin D3
Vitamin E
Vitamin K
74g
89g
32g
5100kJ
400µg
15µg
15mg
2mg
Choline
Inositol
Vitamin C
Thiamine
Riboflavin
Pyridoxine
Nicotinamide
Pantothenic Acid
110mg
80mg
30mg
9mg
3mg
3mg
35mg
15mg
Folic Acid
Biotin
Vitamin B12
Taurine
Calcium
Phosphorus
Potassium
Sodium
1mg
110µg
30µg
500mg
3g
2g
1g
450mg
Magnesium
Iron
Zinc
Manganese
Copper
Iodine
Selenium
100mg
6mg
4mg
2mg
1mg
130µg
30µg
Ingredients: Whey protein, caseins, whole milk solids, taurine, vegetable oils, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty
acids, vitamins and minerals.
Pack Size: 215g, 1kg, 5kg, 10kg & 20kg.
Hand Rearing:
Success in hand-rearing young ferrets (kits) greatly improves if they receive colostrum at birth. Kits that
don’t get colostrum from the mother should be fed Impact Colostrum Supplement in the first 48 hours of
life. Commence feeding Wombaroo Dog Milk Replacer from 12 hours of age onwards, after the initial
feeds of colostrum. Keep young kits in a clean, draught-free environment at about 30°C. Supplemental
heat may be provided by using a Cosy Heat PadTM. Older kits (14+ days) can be maintained at about
25°C.
Wombaroo Food Products ph (08) 8391 1713 www.wombaroo.com.au
Updated 30/05/13
Making up Milk: Add 20g of powder to 75ml of preboiled warm water (makes approximately 90ml of
milk). Add about half the water to the powder first and mix to a paste. Then make up with the remaining
water and mix thoroughly. Other volumes of milk can be made up by scaling up or down the above
quantities. Avoid making up very small quantities of milk as this becomes inaccurate to measure out and
difficult to mix. Prepared milk can be stored in a refrigerator for a day or frozen for up to 2 weeks. Small
quantities can be frozen in ice cubes trays, so that the required daily feed volumes can easily be thawed
out. Do not re-freeze thawed milk.
Feeding: Warm milk to about 35o C. Feed from a syringe or bottle with teat, a Wombaroo “C” or "P" type
teat is recommended. Feed every 2 hours for the first week, reducing this to every 3 hours by the end of
the second week. Stimulate kits to defecate and urinate after each feed for upto 3 weeks. Feeding can be
reduced to 4 hourly intervals at this time. Encourage kits to lap from a shallow bowl once their eyes open (4
to 5 weeks). To avoid dehydration during periods of hot weather provide drinks of pre-boiled water
between feeds. Always offer kits drinking water once they become mobile. Consult your veterinarian or
experienced carer for particular advice about hand rearing ferrets.
Growth: Body weight of ferret kits should increase by about 3 to 15g per day, depending on age. It is
important to weigh kits regularly with an accurate set of scales to verify weight gains and determine the
volume of milk to feed. Overfeeding milk can cause diarrhoea so feed the suggested volumes in our
tables.
Guide to Feeding – growth rates may vary according to sex, with females being smaller. Always feed
according to the body weight.
Age
Body Weight
Feed Volume
Age
(days)
(g)
(ml/day)
(days)
Birth
8
4
21
2
12
5
24
4
18
7
27
6
25
9
30
9
40
12
33
12
55
15
36
15
70
18
39
18
85
21
42
* Feed volume now depends on quantity of solid food eaten
Body Weight
(g)
100
125
150
175
200
250
300
350
Feed Volume
(ml/day)
24
28
33
37
41
48
55
62*
Weaning: When ferrets are about 3 weeks old they should show interest in solid food. To entice them to
eat solids offer a small portion of raw meat minced to form a puree. Ferret pellets soaked in milk may also
be taken. Once they start to eat solid food continue to increase the solids (including chewable foods) and
reduce the milk in their diet until they are fully weaned at about 7 to 8 weeks.
References:
1. Schoknecht, P. A., Cranford, J. A., and Akers, R. M. (1985). Variability in milk composition of the domestic ferret
(Mustela putorius). Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A 81, 589-591.
2. Oftedal, I.T.& S.J.Iverson. (1995). Comparative analysis of non-human milks. In “Handbook of Milk
Composition”. Academic Press
3. Hayes, K.C and Sturman, J.A. (1981). Taurine in Metabolism. Ann. Rev. Nutr.1:401-25.
4. Sturman, J.A, Gargano, A.D., Messing, J.M.& Imaki, H. (1986). Feline maternal taurine deficiency: effect on
mother and offspring. J Nutr.116(4):655-67.
5. Peters, R. H. (1993). “The Ecological Implications of Body Size”. Cambridge University Press
6. Lewington, J.H. (2000). Ferret Husbandry, Medicine & Surgery. Butterworth-Heinemann Publishers.
7. Quesenberry, K.E. and Carpenter, J.W. 2004. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents Clinical Medicene and Surgery. 2nd
Ed. Saunders Press.
8. Keeble, E. and Meredith, A. (editors). 2009. BSAVA Manual of Rodents and Ferrets. British Small Animal
Veterinary Association.
Wombaroo Food Products ph (08) 8391 1713 www.wombaroo.com.au
Updated 30/05/13