Practical Guide To Caring For Your Pet Ferret

The BVA Animal Welfare Foundation (BVA AWF) has today launched a new practical guide designed to enable owners to provide the very best of care for their pet ferrets. Produced in association with the Ferret Education & Research Trust (FERT), the leaflet reflects the growing popularity of these intelligent and curious animals as household pets. Carl Padgett, Chair of the BVA AWF Trustees explained that “while ferrets can sleep for a large period of the day, when they are awake they are very active and need a lot of stimulation to occupy their time. They live an average of eight to ten years so a high level of commitment and care is needed but our new guide should ensure that even the novice owner has all the information necessary to ensure their pet’s health and welfare.” Covering the basics such as housing, feeding, health care and toilet training, the guide also offers advice on ‘ferret-proofing’ your home and garden, advice on games – ferrets particularly love hide-and-seek – and, very importantly, breeding and neutering as well as vaccination against Canine Distemper should owners be tempted to take their ferret for a walk on a lead and harness. “Ferrets are” said Mr Padgett “no more complicated or costly than keeping a rabbit or guinea pig and while, like every animal, they have the ability to bite, as long as they are well cared for and handled properly, they have no reason to bite. By following the advice in our leaflet, owners can ensure that this remains the case!” Speaking on behalf of the Trustees of FERT Ian Kearns said: “FERT is always keen to work alongside vets to promote the ongoing care of ferrets. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have been able to work alongside the BVA AWF on this document and would welcome the opportunity in the future to work on other projects designed to encourage a high standard of welfare for these animals.” The ‘Caring for your ferret’ leaflet is available to download from the BVA AWF website at http://www.bva-awf.org.uk/resources/leaflets/. Veterinary practices can obtain copies for the waiting room in batches of 50, free of charge (although a voluntary donation to the BVA AWF towards the cost of postage would be appreciated) from the BVA AWF agents Ten Alps while members of the public can request individual copies by contacting BVA AWF direct.

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