Laws regarding mink ownership tend to vary greatly from state to state. Some states prohibit ownership, others require a license, and some state allow them to be owned without regulations. It is extremely important that you contact your state DNR and you state Dept of Agriculture to veify your local laws before obtaining a mink. It id also very important to check with your county and municipality.

Although mink are related to ferrets and look similar in appearance, It's important to understand that they are very different. Fur farm mink, though technically domestic, still have many wild behaviors. They are aloof and wary of strangers, they are fast, powerful, and extremely intelligent. They have a bite force that can easily crush the bones in your hand, and they tend to play rough. They generally do not like to be snuggled, pet, or carried around, and you cannot force them to do anything they don't wish to do. They require experienced, patient, force-free handling. They can seriously injure children, and may seriously injure or kill other small pets, even dogs. They should not be housed with ferrets.

As a semi-aquatic species, mink require regular access to swimming enrichment for their physical and mental well-being. 24/7 free access to swimming water is best. This is something to bear in mind if you plan to house them indoors- they will splash and track water everywhere. Water enrichment is a non-negotiable must-have... it is unethical to keep mink without providing water enrichment.

Mink are obligate carnivores meaning that they require a meat-based diet. They should never be fed grains, veggies, fruits, starches, or any other form of carbohydrate. A balanced raw diet is the best possible option for them. Pelleted food tends to be very carb-heavy, and is damaging to mink dentition. We very highly recommend the Holistic Ferrets DIY raw diet, or commercial raw grinds from Darwin's Naturals or My Pet Carnivore. You can find the DIY diet here: Holistic Ferrets Frankenprey Diet

Because mink are considered wildlife and/or an eotic species, there are many vets who may not be able to or may not be willing to treat mink. There may be state regulations that make it difficult for them to treat wildlife, or they may simply not feel comfortable treating the species if they are not familiar with them. Call around to exotic vets in your area and find out which ones, if any, will agree to see mink. Make sure you are clear that you are talking about “mink the mustelid, related to ferrets”. “Mink” is also a common color variation in cats. It’s so unusual for people to own a pet mink, that you don’t want there to be any potential confusion about the species you are inquiring about! 

Once you’ve found a vet, here are some of the common things you may expect or inquire about. **Disclaimer: I am not a veterinarian. The following is a list of topics and procedures that I find to be worth consideration, and is based on my personal opinion & personal research as a mink & ferret owner. I would encourage all readers to thoroughly discuss these items with their licenced exotic/wildlife veterinarians before proceeding. I also encourage readers to visit the linked external sources where applicable.

Distemper Vaccinations: Mink are susceptible to canine distemper, and this is an important vaccination to consider.  CD is fatal to mustelids. There are two appropriate vaccines that can be given to mink- Nobivac DPv (this is a canine vaccine, and is the only appropriate canine vaccine that should be given to mink or ferrets for distemper). The other vaccine is Purevax Ferret Distemper Vaccine by Merial.

Rabies vaccinations: There is no FDA approved rabies vaccine labeled for use in mink. This means that any rabies vaccine you administer will be “off label”, and will not legally protect you mink from legal fallout in a bite incident. Despite this, the rabies vaccine is still worth consideration, especially if your mink is housed outdoors and/or if you live in an area endemic to rabies. The mink should be a minimum of twelve weeks of age before receiving this vaccine, and it should NOT be given at the same time as any other vaccine. Rabie vac should be spaced at least two weeks out from any other vac- for example, if you are doing the distemper series and the last vac is given at 14 weeks, the rabies vac should be held off until at least 16 weeks of age.

Enteritis Vaccine: “Mink viral enteritis is a highly contagious disease caused by a parvovirus related to, but not identical with, that of feline panleukopenia (see Feline Panleukopenia).” - Merck Veterinary manual.  This vaccine should be administered between 6-8 weeks (administer at 6 weeks if you are also planning to start the distemper series at 8 weeks). Yearly boosters are recommended.

QUESTION: Why shouldn’t I have more than one vaccine administered at once? It is believed that mink and ferrets are more prone to serious/fatal vaccination reactions than dogs or cats. If your mink (or ferret) has a serious reaction, it is very important to be able to pinpoint which vaccination caused the reaction, because that vaccine should never be administered again.  If multiple vaccinations are given at once, you will have no way of knowing which was a fault should a reaction occur. Multiple vaccinations at once may also increase the risk of a reaction happening. On vaccination day, you should plan to wait at the vet’s office for approximately 30 minutes after the vaccination is administered, to watch for a rapid onset reaction. This may include sudden vomiting or diarrhea with blood, seizures, or anaphylactic shock. If a reaction like this happens, the vet can immediately work to reverse it. After you go home, you should continue monitoring your mink/ferret for the next 12-24 hours, to watch for more mild reactions that may still require vet assistance such as fever, restlessness, vomiting, diarrhea. 

Here is a link to the American Ferret Association’s stance and protocol regarding vaccination. Although this is in relation to ferrets, much of the information can also be applied to pet mink: http://www.ferret.org/read/vaccinations.html

Here is a link to Vaccine Protocols for Weasels and Mink, By Peggy Popp: https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.nwrawildlife.org/resource/resmgr/symp_2020/handouts/Popp_Vaccine_Protocols_for_W.pdf

Here is a link to the Merck Veterinary Manual which talks about viral enteritis, distemper, and other viruses that mink are susceptible to: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/exotic-and-laboratory-animals/mink/viral-diseases-of-mink

Blood work: It is optimal to have baseline bloodwork done at your mink’s physical exam/well-check. This can give you something to compare to if your mink becomes ill down the road.

Sedation for vet exams: We have our mink sedated for most vet work, because of the risk to the mink’s life should they bite someone. Vetting can also be very stressful for some mink, so sedation may also help with stress related issues. Sedation is not without it’s own risk however: sedation always carries some risk of possible complications. It is very important to discuss the pros & cons of sedation with your vet before deciding which way you would like to go. There are some procedures, such as blood work & xrays, that may absolutely require sedation.

Check the heart: Mink can be particularly prone to heart issues. It’s important to have your vet listen to the heart beat, and possibly take an xray to ensure that the heart looks normal and healthy.

Dental exam: Due to a range of factors, some related to genetics, mink can be prone to dental issues. A yearly dental exam under sedation is worth considering. Mink can hide dental pain very easily, and it’s not always possible for owners to check dental health at home.

Spay & Neuter: Unless you are housing male & female mink together, there is little reason to consider S/N. Surgical procedures are risky for mink, and there is no clear cut evidence based on peer-reviewed scientific study that S/N will significantly change behaviors in mink or increase lifespan. There is little reason to risk elective surgery without clear cut benefits. In their cousins the domestic ferrets, S/N (particularly pediatric) is actually suspected to be damaging to health and increases the risk of developing adrenal disease

Scent gland removal: This should NOT be done unless there is a true medical need to do so. Scenting is part of a mink’s method of communication. Removal of scent glands can cause serious complications, and is actually illegal and viewed as animal cruelty in some countries. There may be rare instances where there is a true medical need for removal, and that is quite different from elective/unnecessary removal for convenience. 

Bacterial Disease in Mink: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/exotic-and-laboratory-animals/mink/bacterial-diseases-of-mink

Viral Disease in Mink: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/exotic-and-laboratory-animals/mink/viral-diseases-of-mink

Prion Disease in Mink: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/exotic-and-laboratory-animals/mink/prion-disease-of-mink

Nutritional Disease in Mink: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/exotic-and-laboratory-animals/mink/nutritional-diseases-of-mink

Poisoning/Toxins in Mink: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/exotic-and-laboratory-animals/mink/poisoning-of-mink

Misc Disease in Mink: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/exotic-and-laboratory-animals/mink/miscellaneous-diseases-of-mink