How to Wash a Ferret

Washing your ferret can be a challenge. Some ferrets love the water while others will do anything to avoid a bath. The best thing to do is make the bath relatively quick and use the bathtub time to bond with your ferret. Make tub time fun and rewarding with treats when your ferret does a good job.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Shampoo
• Lots of towels
• Sink or bathtub
• Hairdryer

Preparation

1. You will need to find a safe place to wash your ferret. You can choose the sink, preferably not the kitchen sink, or a bathtub.

2. Put the shampoo close to the bathing site. If you don't have a specific ferret shampoo, you can use baby shampoo.

3. Put a stack of towels close to the bathing site. You will probably need four or five if you want to let your ferret roam free after his bath.

4. Put a hairdryer (not necessary) close to the bathing site, but far enough away from the water that it cannot fall in. Not all ferrets will let you blowdry them, but just in case, it's available.

5. Grab your ferret.

Bathing

6. Fill the tub or sink with very warm water just deep enough to submerge your ferret's body.

7. Carefully hold on to your ferret and pour shampoo in one hand.

8. You can lather his back or his belly first giving a gentle massage as you go along.

9. Spread the shampoo evenly across his body as you lather him up. Be extremely careful as you wash his head so that you do not get shampoo in his eyes or ears.

Rinsing

10. You should always try to use clean water to rinse off your ferret.

11. You can either use the faucet or a cup to scoop water and rinse off your ferret.

12. Make sure that you rinse your ferret very thoroughly because residual shampoo will collect dirt easily.

13. Use your hand or a washcloth to gently wipe the soap from around your ferret's eyes and ears. Ferrets do not like water poured over their head and may claw you while trying to get away.

Drying

14. You have a few options when it comes to drying your ferret. If left alone, your ferret will shake off and rub himself on all of the furniture and clothes he can potentially get to. Therefore, it is best to not let him take off running while he is soaking wet.

15. Take a towel and dry your ferret as long as you can hold on to him.

16. After your ferret has been towel dried, you can use a hair dryer if he permits. If you choose this option, make sure that you keep the dryer at least 12 to 15 inches away from the ferret and that you move it around so it doesn't burn him.

17. If you chose not to blow dry your ferret and he still needs to dry a bit, you can place him in a warm, dry area with a few towels for him to rub against.

Tips & Warnings

• If your ferret seems to be a bit scared of the water, you can offer him treats to calm him. Otherwise, you may end up with multiple scratches or even better, a stinky ferret.
• Put your towels in the dryer before your ferret's bath so that they'll be warm when he's done.
• Do not get soap in your ferret's eyes or ears. There are special cleaning techniques for these two body parts.

[puppetfanatic]

on 9/7/2009 I love this article! :)