Why should everyone feed their ferret "soup?"

For the purpose of this blog, the term Dook Soup will be used as a catch all term for Duck Soup, Gravy, Dook Soup, Soupies and other similar foods. We chose to use the term "Dook Soup" because we find the term cute, and less confusing to new ferret owners.

I have been asked quite a few times in the last few days WHY I encourage people to learn to make dook soup and introduce the snack to their ferrets. Most people point out that introducing new foods to mature ferrets can be difficult, and that the foods they feed are sufficient in proteins and nutrients - so, they ask, why is it necessary to go through the trouble of making and then introducing dook soup?

First off let's look into what a proper dook soup is: a good, home made dook soup is essentially a high protein, vitamin rich "shake" for your pet. If properly made, it is nutritious, high in protein, low in sodium, low in carbohydrates, free of harmful sweeteners and well balanced. It can be tailored to meet your ferret's specific needs, can easily be syringe or spoon fed to a sick ferret and can be used to sneak certain medications in to your ferret's food... so if your ferret is healthy, why feed it?

Well, the unfortunate but true answer is this: just because your ferret is healthy today does not necessarily mean that he or she will be healthy tomorrow. Accidents happen, sicknesses creep in, diseases strike - and now you have a less than health ferret no longer able to eat their normal food...  what do you do? Mix a high protein meal replacement for your ferret --- that's right - dook soup! So now you have a ferret with compromised health; the animal is likely already stressed and not feeling well... does this sound like the best time to be trying to introduce a new food to your fuzzy friend? Imagine if, as a child, your parents tried to feed you some strange food you'd never seen before when you had a really bad case of the flu... imagine how that would have made you feel, and how willing you would have been to try it. So why would you do this to your fuzzy?

If you take the time well before your ferret is sick to mix dook soup on a semi-regular basis, and introduce it properly to your ferret, he or she will become accustom to dook soup and most likely view it as an exciting treat... and everybody knows that it is much easier to feed a sick ferret a treat than a strange and unfamiliar food! This previous introduction can not only make recovery from sickness or injury much easier on the animal (recovery is sped up by proper nutrition and appropriate weight gain; two things which are provided by dook soup), in some situations it can actually mean the difference between life and death for the animal.

Here is an example of dook soup making the difference between life and death for a ferret. We had one of our ferrets sneak out under our dog over the summer. The little girl had insulinoma and required daily medication. Despite our best efforts we could not find her. We canvassed the neighbourhood, searched yards, put up posters and, just when we feared the worst, she wandered back into our yard after well over 24 hours - hungry and too exhausted to eat on her own. We offered our little ferret some dook soup in a syringe and, because she was familiar with the food, she took it willingly. Had we not taken the time to introduce dook soup in the past, and had the little ferret not viewed dook soup as a treat, it is most likely that this extremely picky little girl would have perished. Instead, with feedings every two hours, she regained her strength and within two days, she was back to her old self - biting toes and even attempting to sneak out under the dog again!

So please, for your fuzzy's future, take the time to make and introduce dook soup. There are many recipes available, including this one and introducing dook soup takes a bit of time but is relatively simple. Here are some tips: water down the soup at first. It is a bit strong, especially for ferrets that are not used to meaty smells and flavours, so add warm water, some cream (if your ferret enjoys cream), and quite a bit of oil (such as ferretone, salmon oil or whatever similar oil your ferret enjoys most; if your ferret is not familiar with oil, consider introducing that as well - it makes nail clipping a breeze!). Make sure the soup is warm (not hot) and offer it to your fuzzy. When the ferret turns its nose up at the soup (which will most likely happen) rub some on their paws, lips, and (if you can), teeth - you want the ferret to taste it. Expect the ferret to say "yuck! Ferrets don't eat that" the first time. Put the soup in the fridge, reheat later and repeat. Eventually (in some cases that day, in others this may go on for a week or two) your ferret will be more willing to lick the soup off your finger and you can offer them the small bowl or plate. Gradually decrease the amount of extra oil and water (and cream if your ferret likes cream) that you add as the ferret becomes accustom to the taste. Remember to take baby steps here - don't rush it, your ferret will develop a taste for dook soup eventually!

Good Luck =)

Duck Soup aka Dook Soup

Yes, ANOTHER recipe to add to the mix! This one I have had success with and I would suggest anyone that had ferrets find a recipe for dook soup and alter it to fit the needs to their ferrets. If your ferrets are healthy, making a version of dook soup for them and feeding it to them as a treat (once you get them used to the taste) is something that I would recommend. The reason it simply: If your ferret already recognizes dook soup and views it as a treat, getting him or her to take it when he or she is sick is going to be far less stressful both for you and your ferret.

Here is what I put in my dook soup - and remember, you know your ferret and should alter the recipe according to his or her specific tastes and needs.

1 650g container greek yogurt (optional)
1 can pure pumpkin filling
1-2 cups high quality cat or ferret kibble, soaked.
2 large cans of high quality canned cat food such as Wysong's Au Jus line, or frozen raw food such as Red Cat Blue Dog or Stella and Chewy's (organs and bone). Keep in mind that many ferrets are not fond of beef, fish or lamb flavours. I find most success with chicken, turkey, rabbit and pheasant flavours.

*If making a raw soup, omit kibble. If transitioning to raw from kibble diets, gradually increase frozen raw and reduce kibble with each fresh batch. 

Puree together and freeze in Ice Cube Tray.
1 cube = 1 serving.

If you are like me and use a lot of soup, one batch will keep approximately 2 weeks in the fridge.

Heat before serving as most ferrets prefer warm dook soup (15-30 seconds in the microwave. If it is too hot, let cool or add water to cool slightly before serving and be sure to stir to ensure that the heat is evenly distributed, or mix with boiling water).

Feel free to add some oil (whatever oil your ferret prefers) and/or heavy cream to entice your ferret to try the soup, and feel free to adjust the recipe to the needs of your ferret - adding more pumpkin during shedding season or when if the ferret has a sore tummy.
Do not be deterred if your ferret does not take to the soup immediately; some ferrets have a strong kibble imprint and it take longer to warm up to the soup. You may find that it takes 4-5 introductions before some ferrets will try the soup, while others will take to it immediately

Dook soup can also be used to conceal certain medications and supplements such as glucosamine sulphate and prednisone.

Ferret Lingo

Yes, it exists!
For those new to the ferret world, you have undoubtedly heard other ferret owners and enthusiasts speak of feeding their little carpet sharks duck soup, or of their hobs, jills, sprites, furkids, digboxes, n-bones, ferretvite etc, etc, etc....

Here is a quick guide to help you grasp "ferret lingo" so that you too will be able to "speak ferret" with the best of them!

Adrenal: A ferret with adrenal disease. For more information on this or various other ferret diseases, read "Ferrets for Dummies" by Kim Schilling.








Ferret suffering from advanced adrenal disease.

ADV: Aleutian's Disease Virus. Debilitating and incurable disease originally spread to ferrets by the Aleutian mink. Awareness of this disease is spreading in Canada and the United States. Ferrets can be carriers without showing signs themselves. For more information on this or various other ferret diseases, read "Ferrets for Dummies" by Kim Schilling.

Bib: Ferret pattern (see previous entry "Checkered Ferrets" for detailed description and photo)

Bonded: Two or more ferrets that have been together so long that they are virtually inseparable. Separating a bonded pair is NOT recommended as one or more of the ferrets may become depressed and refuse to eat following separation.







Bonded pair of ferrets

Carpet shark: Ferret (because they like to glide along the carpet and sometimes attack toes)

Cheweasles: Edible rubber textured chew treat for ferrets. Similar products include: Superchews by Marshall and Edible Chew treats (also by Marshall)

DEW: Dark Eyed White - ferret colour (see previous entry "Colour Me Ferret" for detailed description and photo)

Digbox: Container filled with dirt, sand, rice, beans or similar for ferret to dig in (see "Toy Tips" for more information on digboxes and other great ideas for ferret entertainment!)

Dook: Sound made by ferrets when they are happy. Here is an example (approximately 30 seconds in)



Duck Soup: High protein diet for sick ferrets; contains no duck, but a mixture of baby food, soft cat food, soaked kibble and other ingredients. Named after the creator's ferret "Duck", there are now about a million different recipes with each recipe claiming to be the best.

Ferrents: Ferret owners (or ferret parents)

Ferretvite (also known as Furovite): ferret vitamin supplement and treat. The best stuff (with taurine added) comes in a tube and has a molasses-like colour and texture.

Ferretone (also known as Furotone): ferret coat supplement and treat. This is an oil that most ferrets go nuts for!

Foamy Fries: edible foam - textured chew treats for ferrets.




Ferret enjoying foamy fry edible chew treat




Furkids: Ferrets

Fuzzbutts: Ferrets

Fuzzies: ferrets

Giggle: See dook.

Guardhairs: Coarse outer hairs on a ferret's coat (see previous entry "Colour Me Ferret" for detailed description)

Gib: Altered male ferret

Happy Dance: Sign of a happy and playful ferret. The ferret hops and flips about with its mouth open. Really good example of a happy dance can bee seen approximately 30 seconds in.

Hob: Unaltered male ferret

Hood: Ferret pattern (see previous entry "Checkered Ferrets" for detailed description and photo)

Jill: Unaltered female ferret

Marshall ferret: ferret from a large ferret mill in the United States. Ferrets are generally known for their laid back temperment and can be identified by two blue dots tattooed into one of the ears.

Milled ferret: Ferret from a large ferret mill such as Marshall as opposed to a private breeder. Some claim that milled ferret are more prone to cancers and other diseases common to ferrets, but it is more likely that this is due to the small ferret gene pool in North America.

Mitt: Ferret pattern (see previous entry "Checkered Ferrets" for detailed description and photo)

nbones: edible ferret chew treat intended to help keep your ferret's teeth clean.



Nbone chew treats for ferrets.





Rat tail: May be a sign of Adrenal Disease in ferrets; swelling of the adrenal glands causes, among other things, the ferret to lose the hair beginning at the base of their tail. This disease is serious and any ferret exhibiting signs of the disease should be taken to a knowledgeable ferret vet for treatment immediately. For more information on this or various other ferret diseases, read "Ferrets for Dummies" by Kim Schilling. Hair loss beginning at the END of the tail, however, is probably NOT adrenal disease. This pattern of hair loss (assuming that it does not progress up the ferret's back) is associated with tail acne (which can be treated by washing the affected area with anti-bacterial soap daily) or possibly related to heat. The hair on the tip of the tail may grow back during the next coat change, but this is not always the case.

Hair loss related to acne or heat. Notice how the baldness does not extend to the base of the tail.







Adrenal pattern tail baldness - hair is thinning on the tail, INCLUDING at the base.








Real Canadian Ferret: Like Marshall, Real Canadian is a large ferret mill. Ferrets from this mill are often considered to be larger in size than Marshall ferrets, and slightly more ranbunctious (though I have seen rambunctious Marshalls and laid back Real Canadian ferrets, so I don't buy into the stereotype). These ferrets can be identified by small X (for females) or Y (for males) tattoos in their ears.

Roan: Ferret colour (see previous entry "Colour Me Ferret" for detailed description and photo)

Sable: Ferret colour (see previous entry "Colour Me Ferret" for detailed description and photo)

Sprite: Altered female ferret

War Dance: See happy dance.

Woozel: Ferret

If you can think of any ferret lingo not on this list, or hear something a want to know what it means, please feel free to comment or e-mail me!