How to Make Your Ferret Smell Better

Keeping ferrets clean, reduces their odor and maintains their health.

As the proud owner of a pet ferret you may have noticed that your sociable companion has a very strong musky odor. A ferret's body has glands that naturally produce oil with a musky aroma. Improper care of your ferret can stimulate oil production and make the ferrety scent even worse. Proper care of your ferret maintains its health, benefits its overall well-being and can help it live up until the age of 11.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Ferret shampoo
• Towel
• Ferret deodorizing spray
• Slicker brush
• Ferret ear-cleansing drops
• Cotton balls
• 1/4 cup bleach
• Ferret waste deodorizer

1. Bring your ferret to the veterinarian for neutering or spaying. Neutering or spaying your ferret slows down the skin's oil production and therefore reduces the musky smell. Neutering consists of surgical removal of the male ferret's testicles and spaying consist of surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus of a female ferret.

2. Avoid washing your ferret too often because this stimulates oil production to replace the oil that was washed away. Your ferret ends up smelling worse than before. Wash your ferret no more than once a month. Use a shampoo for ferrets which won't strip natural oils. Fill the sink with enough warm water to cover your ferret's body. Wet your ferret's coat and massage the shampoo thoroughly into its skin. Focus on its abdomen, bottom and tail since oil buildup is prominent in these areas. Rinse the shampoo and dry your ferret with a clean towel.

3. Spray your ferret with a deodorizing spray on a daily basis to mask the musky odor and to keep his coat looking healthy. Brush the spray into your ferrets coat using a slicker brush which also helps eliminate shedding hair.

4. Clean your ferret's ears once a week to remove earwax buildup which contributes to the musky smell. Place a bottle of ferret ear-cleansing drops in a bowl of warm water to heat up the solution so it's warm, but not hot, to the touch. Place two to three drops in each ear and massage the area behind your ferret's ear to help distribute the drops. Wipe the shell of the ear with a cotton ball.

5. Remove soiled litter from your ferret's litter box daily to avoid stench buildup. Wash the litter box once a week with soap and water, and disinfect it with a bleach solution made from 1/4 cup bleach and 2 quarts water. Rinse and dry the litter box thoroughly. Use ferret cage-cleaner wipes to wipe down your ferret's cage and wash its fabric toys and bedding in the washing machine according to the manufacturer's instructions.

6. Add waste deodorizer to your ferret's food or water on a daily basis. A waste deodorizer works internally to eliminate odors from urine, gas, bad breath and feces.

Tips & Warnings

• Vacuum your house weekly and have your carpets professionally cleaned every two to three months to help eliminate ferret odors.

References

• Small Animal Channel; Spaying and Neutering Ferrets; Rene C. Gandolfi; April 2008
• Doctors Foster and Smith: Solving Your Ferrets Odor Problemto
• Doctors Foster and Smith: Marshall Ferret Shampoo & Spritz
• Pet Finder: Tips on Cleaning Ferret Ears; Alicia Drakiotes
• Doctros Foster and Smith: How to Effectively Clean Your Ferrets Cage
• Ferret: Marshall Goodbye Odor for Ferrets

Resources

• Animal World: Ferrets