Second thought: Don’t give ferrets fruits or vegetables

heloise: Second thought: Don’t give ferrets fruits or vegetables

Dear Fellow Animal Friends: In a recent column, we printed hints about the dos and don’ts of owning and caring for ferrets, those adorable furry little creatures.

One of the dos mentioned was to give them a little bit of fruit or vegetable as treats. Many ferret owners who read this column wrote to say that ferrets should not eat fruits or vegetables, because they cannot digest them.

We did more research, and we absolutely agree with my readers and experts that ferrets should NOT be fed fruits or vegetables. The treats that are recommended for ferrets are those that contain meat — for example, cooked chicken breast, meat that is cooked or freeze-dried meat products, according the American Ferret Association.

The recommendation for the main diet is a high-quality dry ferret food, or you can give ferrets a very good cat food. Note: As with cats, you should NOT feed ferrets dog food! Why take a chance with the health of your playful, lovable ferrets when they rely on you for good care?

My husband and I had three darling scamps in our lives, many years ago. Fanny Farkle ferret, Fred the Albino ferret (we rescued) and Franny Funky Funny ferret. We loved hearing them “chuckle” as they would run down the hall, or we’d smile when we would find one curled up inside one of my cowboy boots in my closet! They can get into and out of many surprising places.

Remember, if you have questions about caring for your happy-go-lucky friends, check with your vet or the American Ferret Association. Heloise, a former ferret owner

P.S.: Visit www.Heloise.com to see photos of Fred the albino ferret.

Dear Readers: Carolyn Baribeau of New Braunfels, Texas, sent a photo of her border collie, Sophie, “herding” the automatic pool-cleaning machine. Carolyn says: “Our 10-year-old border collie, Sophie, is living proof that herding is a natural instinct for this breed. When she was just a puppy, she used to herd our three cats. Then she graduated to herding our children when they were playing in the back yard. When we moved into a house with a pool, she started herding the automatic pool-cleaning machine daily. It runs every morning for about two hours, and Sophie sticks with it the whole time — running from one side of the pool to the other. If the scrubber brush does break the surface, she gives it a quick nip to make sure it goes back where it belongs.”

To see Sophie on “herd” duty, please visit my Web site. Heloise

SBlt Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.

King Features Syndicate