Eating Candles? Bad or okay?

This may seem like an odd question BUT... my ferret LOVES to eat candles!!! :eek: :rolleyes:
We first discovered this "odd" habit after I first gave the ferret to my father. My father had let the ferret (Measley) run around his house freely. They had lots of display items and such. Well many of these Knick Knacks had candles in them. Measley would take them, hide and eat them!!!
About 6 months later, my parents gave me back the ferret. My step-mother didn't appreciate the ferret. So she came back to live with me. :cool: Although I have a dog that tries to eat her any chance he gets. :rolleyes:
I put Measley in one of my bedrooms where she can NOT be accessed by the dogs and can run free all day long. There are no candles in the room. However, on occassion I allow her to explore the house when the dogs are outside.
That is when she finds my candles and naws on them. It's like she has a sixth sense in finding candles! She finds candles I didn't even know I had! Is it bad for her to eat the candles? She doesn't seem to have been effected by doing it soo far. Not sick or anything from doing it. I am starting to think it's a chewing thing. (She does get chew sticks) If so, do you think purchasing non-scented plain candles would be harmful? I don't see her actually eating the candles and swallowing. She pretty much leaves a "wake" of candle debris everywhere. :mad:
It's done no harm so far but I am wondering how bad this is. I do take the candles away but of course it is too late.

I would have to go with my gut instinct here and say it's probably not the best idea.

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Originally Posted by gemini9961

I would have to go with my gut instinct here and say it's probably not the best idea.

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I agree :eek:

Yick. Probably something about the texture that she likes ... bleaaagh. If she's not ingesting any, it probably won't hurt her, but I'd keep them away from her as much as possible - especially any scented ones. Candles are just not designed or made to be eaten!

Neither, of course, is the rubbery plastic that comes coating the handles on some tools - which Miss Hoppy, our rabbit, loves to munch right off the tool in question. Neither are the plastic buttons on the remore control - which is now kept where certain sharp teeth cannot get it. The tools are all now in a metal box on a shelf, we just didn't think letting her munch rubber was a good idea!

I don't like her eating candles. It is EXTREMELY unsettling to me. However, I think I have an idea I might try. Remember those "wax bottles" candies? I am thinking about draining the liquid out of them and maybe giving her one of those if she needs to eat something "waxy". That wax is designed to be "ingestible" and safe. I've eaten a few myself over the years. ;) They may still make "wax lips" somewhere as well.
It makes me extremely nervous about her eating this stuff but maybe if it something she needs to do, then let's do it "safely". :cool:

It is funny the things they get into i know that my dogs fav has always been Batteries she never chews right through them but if she finds one she will carry it around in her mouth and my Newf her thing is tearing my couch appart!!!!! thank god it's the one in the basement not my new set....They are little Brats at times!!!!

I think it's probably bad. I know burning them is bad for birds, eating them can't be good. What if you buy those candies that are wax and you are supposed to drink the sugary drink out of them? You know what I mean? They sell them in a bag of like 5 or so. That wax is made to go in your mouth.

no it cant be good.....all the wax would not digest in the stomach and then give it some health problems...then again i wouldnt make this a habbit it sounds bad....another question what scent are the candles....maybe it likes the flavor...haha ok jk...but the smell might be teasing it to chop a bit....

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Originally Posted by Scooby4

This may seem like an odd question BUT... my ferret LOVES to eat candles!!! :eek: :rolleyes:
We first discovered this "odd" habit after I first gave the ferret to my father. My father had let the ferret (Measley) run around his house freely. They had lots of display items and such. Well many of these Knick Knacks had candles in them. Measley would take them, hide and eat them!!!
About 6 months later, my parents gave me back the ferret. My step-mother didn't appreciate the ferret. So she came back to live with me. :cool: Although I have a dog that tries to eat her any chance he gets. :rolleyes:
I put Measley in one of my bedrooms where she can NOT be accessed by the dogs and can run free all day long. There are no candles in the room. However, on occassion I allow her to explore the house when the dogs are outside.
That is when she finds my candles and naws on them. It's like she has a sixth sense in finding candles! She finds candles I didn't even know I had! Is it bad for her to eat the candles? She doesn't seem to have been effected by doing it soo far. Not sick or anything from doing it. I am starting to think it's a chewing thing. (She does get chew sticks) If so, do you thinkpurchasing non-scented plain candles would be harmful? I don't see her actually eating the candles and swallowing. She pretty much leaves a "wake" of candle debris everywhere. :mad:
It's done no harm so far but I am wondering how bad this is. I do take the candles away but of course it is too late.

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it is ok that your ferret likes wax. There is nothing wrong with wax all it is is fat nothin else let your pets eat wax all they want u dont have to worry

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Originally Posted by nate1714

no it cant be good.....all the wax would not digest in the stomach and then give it some health problems...then again i wouldnt make this a habbit it sounds bad....another question what scent are the candles....maybe it likes the flavor...haha ok jk...but the smell might be teasing it to chop a bit....

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nate were talkin about rodents hear not a dog! i know that wax is not a problem because my rat to had a problem with eating wax and my vet sais its not a problem

THIS is why it’s SO crucial to ferret proof your home and keep them under supervision.

You must find a way to keep your ferret from getting to candles and chewing them, the results could be blockage which could lead to serious problems, and may need costly surgery.

Which COULD of been avoided with proper caution.


my rats name is garfunkle, Your advice is a hazard. Telling someone it’s okay for their ferret to digest something that they should not be able to even GET to is unhelpful and dangerous advice.


Seriously, my house is full of candles of all sorts, sizes, scents. I have TWO totally free roam ferrets and I am able to keep them out of ALL my candles. YOU need to figure out a way to do the same thing.

I do not feel like giving your ferret “wax bottle” candies empty is a solution. You’re just giving into your ferrets habits, a bad habit at that.

If your ferret is bored, find a game to play. Make a dig box for the ferret, find some new toys. Giving her a waxy candy substance to eat is not a great idea in my opinion.

Ferret proof your home, keep your candles out of reach.

That's the bottom line.

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Originally Posted by my rats name is garfunkle

nate were talkin about rodents hear not a dog! i know that wax is not a problem because my rat to had a problem with eating wax and my vet sais its not a problem

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Ferrets are NOT rodents. Please get your facts straight.

Since ferrets have very sensitive digestive systems and are not able to digest vegetable and grain matter, I would imagine that wax would definatly not be a good idea. I've heard of cases of ferrets eating a few raisins and then dieing because they could not digest it.