Does your Ferret stink??? Ready quite likely why!

Ghroller · #1 (**permalink**) 06-08-2004, 09:18 PM

Ok i reading all the time about people giving thier ferrets bath after bath after bath to get rid of that smell!

Well all ferrets will always have a bit of a smell.. you'll get used to it... Just like the snake cage smell

But the big mistake people make is the bathing of them so constantly! Ferrets done need to be bathed very often and to bath them on a regular basis will actually make the smell worse! (another common complaint) Reason is when you wash them (even with ferret shampoo) their skin starts to dry out because all the oils in their skin and fur is washed away, so it because to dry, crack and smell!

If you have that problem best thing you can do is wash them again BUT with baby oil! That will help moisturise there skin again and away with the dry skin smell!

P.S if you complain about the ferrets smelling i don't know how in the world you can even go near their litter boxes!!! Now thats Smelly!

P.S.S I have two ferrets incase anyone was wondering, 1 male 1 female. Male's name is Buddha Female is Coors!

toker · #2 (**permalink**) 06-08-2004, 09:41 PM

Some good info.

I read somewhere that you can desent the critters, that true?. I recall my aunts ferret not smelling at all... it was a good many years ago so I might have forgot that part.

Ravnos · #3 (**permalink**) 06-08-2004, 09:59 PM

More like a few drops of baby oil in a sink full of water to help moisturize. You don't want to dunk your whole ferret in it. It also works well for cleaning ears, a very slight amount of baby oil on a cotton swab and clean out the ear area carefully. Also, it can be used straight on to get out mats and any sticky stuff in the fur.

Really though, in the long run, a good diet is the best way to improve a ferret's odor. Diets too high in fiber or consisting of meat-meals or biproducts instead of real meat almost always cause an increase in odor, but you are right, bathing more than once every month or so is going to also cause dry skin and an increase in odor. Though, if you have ferrets like my four, frequency of bathing usually depends on what they've gotten into recently. Regardless, ferrets do have a distinctive odor... so do dogs for that matter.

When they get fixed, it is not uncommon for ferrets to also have their anal scent glands removed. This does not stop their generalized musky odor which comes from their normal skin secretions. It merely stops their ability to 'spray' somewhat like a skunk does - which most ferrets don't really do anyway.

Rav

Ghroller · #4 (**permalink**) 06-08-2004, 10:08 PM

Yeah don't wanna dunk'em in it by anymeans hehe. Actually I've found for cleaning ears that theres a wonderful ear cleaning solution that you can get (forget the name and at work). It works wonders surprissingly

And Typically (in Canada anyways) it's very hard to get a ferret that isn't descented. Usually when they go to get spade or nutted they take the glands out. And I don't find mine smell at all unless i burry my face in their fur which i don't make a habit of

And yes a good diet is odviously a must but thats true of any animal. All of my ferrets actually eat kitten food, Most ferret foods are the same thing just double the price. Although there are a few really good ferret foods but for the money and the size of the package you get isn't worth it in my opinion.

Danis-delectables · #5 (**permalink**) 06-08-2004, 10:20 PM

I had one for years. He was fixed and descented at the same time. He didnt really stink just a bit musky. Nothing overpowering. They are so much fun it makes up for it

Mine LOVED to go in the pool. We would take him in and he would swim and swim

To darn cute.. I want to get another one someday. They are a blast..Andy use to sneak up on the deck and we would catch him drinking our mt.dew. We would let him out of his cage and roam the yard as he wanted. When we wanted him we would call him and he would come bounding home. He was so much fun. We had to put him down after multiple surgerys to remove cancer. He is greatly missed..

Reticu-Lady · #6 (**permalink**) 06-08-2004, 10:37 PM

Another little trick, wash their beds/hammocks religiously. That cuts down on odor without damaging delicate skin. I have three ferrets. 1:2 Grizzly, 'Possum, and Minx. Love 'em all. Too much fun.