Is Olive Oil Safe for Ferrets?

Ferrets, like many exotic pets, have specific dietary needs that must be met to maintain their optimal health. While it's not generally recommended that you give your ferret human foods, there are some instances when you can make exceptions. Although you should not give your ferret olive oil on a daily basis, the oil is safe to give to your pet in limited amounts to help fulfill its dietary needs and to keep it as healthy as possible.

  1. Topical Application

    • Ferrets sometimes have overly dry and/or itchy skin, which can be alleviated with a little bit of olive oil. When a ferret's skin gets too dry, the hair can fall out and leave the animal's skin looking scaly. This happens often with ferrets that live in extremely dry climates. Rub a small amount of olive oil on the ferret's body to add moisture back to its skin. You can rub the olive oil in with your fingertips or with a towel. Only a small amount is needed for this application.

    Digestion Aid

    • Ferrets occasionally can have problems digesting food, especially if there is an obstruction. Giving your ferret a few drops of olive oil is a safe way to aid their natural digestive process, and also help prevent hairballs from becoming dangerous bowel obstructions that may require more-serious treatment. Start with just a few drops of olive oil, and if you don't notice an improvement in your pet's bowel movements, give your ferret a few more drops until the digestion problem has cleared up.

    Releasing a Bite

    • Ferrets can get very territorial, and sometimes can bite a person quite hard. If your ferret bites someone and latches on, you may have a problem getting it to let go. The best thing you can do is to stay calm and try not to make any sudden movements, as this could make the ferret bite down even harder. Put a drop or two of olive oil on the ferret's nose. The ferret won't be able to resist licking its nose as soon as the oil touches it. When the ferret licks the olive oil on its nose, it will forget about biting you.

    Dietary Supplements

    • You can use olive oil in moderation to enhance the flavor of your ferret's food, or to accompany the vitamin supplements you feed your ferret. Most vitamin supplements seem like tasty treats to ferrets, so they have no problem eating them. Most contain vitamin A, which is good for ferrets but can be harmful in excess. Some ferret owners make a 50/50 mixture of vitamin supplement and olive oil. This provides your pet with an effective hairball remedy while giving it a smaller dose of vitamin A.

    Treating a Sick Ferret

    • If your ferret has been sick, you can use olive oil to make tasty meals when transitioning your ferret from a liquid diet back to a solid diet. According to the book Ferrets for Dummies (see References), you can saute unseasoned chicken cubes in a hot pan with a little olive oil. Use high heat to kill any bacteria in the chicken while leaving the insides nearly raw. Once the chicken is cool, add a little vitamin supplement and let your ferret enjoy its feast.