Okay for starters, ask yourself, how often do you let your ferret have playtime? Do you give a lot of treats? and what type of treats do you give your ferret/s.

Now the average male ferret can range in weight from 2-6 pounds and a female ferret can range from 1.5 - 4 pounds of wiggling fun.

So if your ferret is in those ranges then your ferret may just be big. the other note is during the winter months some ferrets gain weight and become supersized ferrets, and during the summer months they lose weight. So, the weight gain could be seasonal.

But what ever the case, treats should be given but not to generous, they should be protein and not the fruit. But do not withhold food. Try to increase exercise by making ramps to crawl up and down for play time.

Best of luck

Proud Parents to Sarah, Jasimin, Casper, Taz, Patch, Beuregards, Demon, Scooter, Stripe, Ivan, Calvin, Hobbs, Nikita, Norma, Eistein Junior, Coco, Bonnie, Clyde, Stinker, Grace, China (Forever Toby- Rainbow Bridge Jul 07, Forever Ben Dec 07)

Phoebie the Ferret says, "Dance The Day Away!"

He couldn't even haul himself up a carpeted step!

He would literally lay in front of his food dish and eat - it had become his only form of "entertainemtn" in his formerly cage kept environment.

The first thing I did was allow him free roam and moved the food dish OUTSIDE the cage! Changed the type and quality of food, took him for walks on the leash at night and engaged him in play.

Now his chubby head restricing jowels are gone and he has a neck, his formerly fat belly sags, but he has trimmed down, he can actually climb several steps now and even climbs up on the sofa as well as will play "jaws" in the tunnels!

Ferrets need a high protein, high fat diet - not high carbs and no sugary treats. - So ditch the yogies, raisins, bananas, grapes etc and introduce chicken necks, gizzards, plain unsalted jerky chicken, beef etc.

Good luck! Kim

Josie made me do it! I had to build this just for her! www.vanityferret.com []

my vet constantly tells me our ferrets are overweight,,and assumes we are doing something wrong!!!!!!

they get barely any treats,,,eat mostly good quality ferret food, and get a boost of protien once a day from gerber meat baby foods.

they get vitamins everyday, as well as skin and coat suppliments, and hairball remedy 3 times a week.

regular vet care, a ton of excersize, and massive amounts of playtime...they come to work with me too.

my precious girl just passed,,,,she was 3.5 pounds and my big boy Neno is 5.5 pounds.

kim