TUNA???

[amyj1979]

I was going to make a tuna sandwhich today. I opened the can of tuna ( in spring water) and drained it. As I turned to the fridge to get the mayo and bread, Vixey was eating the tuna. I should have learned because the last few days she has climbed up on the counter. I have no ides how she gets up there. There are 2 stools but I can't see how she can use them to get up there. She really liked the tuna. Is it safe for her? She took a pork chop from my hubby sunday. She only gets up there when we are not looking. And I was worried about the dog stealing food from the table.

[spiritualtramp]

Haha what a little sneak! How cute is she

Tuna should be fine, most people I hear avoid fish because it can make them & their poops smellier, but really it's quite good for them and full of omega-3s. Someone wiser please pipe in!

[Forum Administrator]

Well fish is okay in the diet, but I wouldnt advise more then 1x per week. Real, whole human grade fish isnt going to cause the "stinky poops" that the "fish by products" in ferret kibble will

I would avoid tuna, simply because its just not the best fish out there, and over time the mercury in tuna can inhibit the absorbtion of vitamin E. Is feeding tuna say 1x per week going to cause this issue? Well no, probably not, but why feed a cooked, canned tuna meat when you could feed a BETTER fish to your ferrets that lower in mercury and higher in omega 3? I would recommend whole RAW (not canned) anchovies, sardines, or salmon (avoid pacific northwest salmon which can contain parasites) fed one time per week

[whipple]

I found whole mackerals, and they can eat a whole fish each. Its great because there are bones and everything included. No stink once the fish is ingested. Plus they seem to love them.

[Forum Administrator]

Ah yes, thank you whipple. Mackeral is another low mercury, high omega-3 fatty acid fish.

[amyj1979]

Thank you very much. I don't eat much tuna. Maybe a few times a month. I'll just give her a very small amount when I make it as a treat. Lets hope she doesn't steal the steak I am grilling tonight.

[Forum Administrator]

Its okay as a treat (it is a 100% meat product so its certainly better then the commercial ferret treats on the market that arent all meat). but if you plan to regularly incorporate fish into the diet (again it would be no more then 1x per week), go with whole RAW (not canned) anchovies, sardines, and mackeral.

[buzzonesbirdie]

I feed salmon and other assorted small whole fish that are fresh at my fish market