Feeding ferrets raw pork

[Guest bodgerbear]

Hi all, just wanted to pick some brains. I've been offered a regular quantity of frozen raw pork ribs. They are from our kitchens at work they've got plenty of meat on them, and are just filleted and frozen. I seem to remember reading somewhere that pork can harbour parasites that are bad for ferrets. Is this just a myth or should I decline the offer? I have done a couple of searches on feeding ferrets on here but cant seem to find anything.

ATB

Rob

[droid 11]

It's a myth.

[The one 8,592]

Try them see if the ferrets like them but i think i'd be eating them myself if there plenty meat on them

[John-B 4]

Hmmmm, Home made BBQ spare ribs Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm ferrets can have biscuits

[andy s410c 63]

I give mine pig heart when i have no rabbit to give them & they eat it no problems.They also get fatty off cuts from pork joints when we have it & no problems there either

[sam3009 4]

If theyve been frozen, they should be parasite free

[Kay 3,709]

if there fit for human consumption i see no reason why pork should not be fed to animals , have fed it before with no problems

[theferreter 311]

never tried mine on it dont see why they wouldent they eat everyfing else

[lorelei0922 2]

yeap.. myth... or.. it is today!

 

in days past pork was difficult to keep fresh well... hense us having it beat into us that pork must be THOROUGHLY COOKED! the processing methods introduced these parasites and made people... and animals i would assume sick... and to stop that... most bits of pork you would see would be cured in some manner... bacon, sausage, hams... which would be inappropriate for your ferrets for obvious reasons...

 

but... like most things... we learn from our mistakes.. and the processes and attention to hygeine have changed for the better... making raw pork no more dangerous to feed your animals than any other meat. yes it if sits out too long it will start to go off and grow bugs and bacteria etc... but fresh meat and good bones to gnaw... will do them no harm...

[iguanaman2442 0]

I give mine pork sometimes no problems here.

Mine love it.

[Guest bodgerbear]

Fantastic thank you for all your responses. I shall be giving them a treat tonigh and see how they go. I can get about 6-8 rack of ribs couple of weeks, so I will be splitting it betwwen them and me. I was surprised how much meat is on them and that work throw them away. Oh well more for me

[albert64 1,882]

dont think its anything to do with parasites? ive kept ferrets 36 yrs and they,ve been fed rat/rabbit/duck/pheasant all of these would have more parasites than a pork rib,the old timer that taught me alot told me never feed pork to ferrets because of the salt content of pork, salt kills ferrets dont know how true it is never took the chance, my do alright on what i feed them personaly i would,nt bother