What is wrong?

[jeepinsj]

My ferret got his first bath today and when I put him back in his cage he started rubbing all over the sides of it and squirming all over. I am afraid that his shampoo is itching him. (I used the brand pet scentsations; premium ferret shampoo) Or is that the way he dries???
I wrapped him up in a towel and dried him most of the way before I put him in the cage, and I left the towel in there for him. He didn't use the towel to wrap up in or anything he is just rubbed all over the cage for about 15 minutes.
When he was done scratching or whatever he was doing he crawled under the towel and went to sleep...haha and he seems fine now but I was just wondering if I should take back the shampoo or if he was just drying off.

Thanks all!

[JuliusSqueezer]

washing a ferret is usually the most counterproductive thing you will ever do with any animal. They are very scent conscious and what stinks to you, they love. When you wash them, you remove their musk and they go nuts. They will urinate and deficate and then roll around in it to cover that offensive flowery soapy smell lol...I mean, yeah sometimes they just gotta have a bath, but you will soon learn that it's not going to be a routine weekly or monthly thing and it's best to just let them swim in clean water. Is your ferret spayed or neutered? That helps cut down a lot on the musk smell.

[buck2003]

I used to keep ferrets for many years and they did that every time!! you'll prob find if you let em run around the house that thats the places they'll go rub themselfs, I think its cause they want there scent back! As JS said if you get em neutered it helps. Hobs (boys) tend to smell worse than girls (Gills) more so as they get older!
There are alot of ferret shampoo's available, though tbh I didnt think much of em, they worked for a day or two thats all.
Did U have fun drying your ferret in a towel? I used to love that bit, it would send em bouncing all over making that funny noise they make!
Do you know if its a boy or girl you have?

[LoveMyCooper]

I have a boy, and yes he was neutred. His name is Cooper! lol I used to just let him swim in bath water but he was smelling bad so he got a real bath...lol. He is smelling musky again, which I don't mind. Thanks for all of your help.

Hugs,
Stacy

PS. jeepinsj is my bf's screenname, so I wrote the original just under his name, hope no one got confused!

[Eraser]

Stacy,

Yeah.. dont use the soap.. say for maybe 2-3 times a year... all my boys go nuts like that when they come out of the tub.. the tails get all poofy too!! (very cute).. just put some towels down.. so they can dry themselves... ive never seen a ferret pee and poo on themselves after a bath.... they are just trying to dry themselves off and all the rubbing gets the natural oils back into their coats.. which is why the nice smell doesn't stay for more than a few days!! I sometimes will put down a pyrex baking dish down with water in it.. they love it.. my youngest fuzzy.. loves to stick his head in and splash around!! Plain H2O is ok.. just remember to ease up on the soap!!

Eraser