by Stanley Roberts

Created on: October 08, 2007   Last Updated: August 14, 2010

Ferrets have one of the strongest body odors of any animal kept as a house pet. Many people try instinctively to wash the smell away by bathing. This is actually a problem with ferrets. Too many baths and the smell is worse. Why is this, you may ask. Well, I will answer that in a minute so read on.

A ferret has musk glands in its skin and the majority are concentrated around the face and nose. Hormonal activity is one of the leading causes of ferret odor. Hormones stimulate the production of the musk from the glands in the ferret's skin. Having your ferret spayed or neutered will drastically reduce the smell associated with musk production from hormonal activity.

A ferret will produce this musk if its skin gets dry and itchy. The ferret's skin is naturally oily and when you strip its skin of the oil it will produce its own musk in order to re-oil the skin and coat. So, most people tend to bathe their ferrets every two or three months while some just bathe them twice a year (at coat changes) and any time they get dirty from being mischievous. Such as digging up your special flower or playing in the ashes of a fireplace. Remember when you do bathe a ferret you must use a gentle shampoo. One designed for ferrets is optimal but kitten shampoos are also favorable as well. Never use harsh detergents such as dish washing liquids.

Another cause of smell in ferrets that is commonly overlooked is their ears. Earwax build up in a ferret can be smelly. This is why a ferret's ears should be checked and cleaned every few weeks. If the wax is smelly and black it is an indication of ear mites and should be treated.

Bad breath is also common for a ferret, even as in humans, this could indicate dental problems. Ferret teeth should be brushed often with a special pet toothbrush and pet toothpaste. This will help to prevent tartar build-up. Tartar build up could be smelly; but, if left alone it could lead to gum disease or even possibly kidney infections.

It is important to remember as well to never spray colognes or dust your ferret with powders either. These could cause respiratory problems for your ferret. Avoid alcohol based products and look for those that neutralize odors rather than hide the odor. There are products on the market that are manufactured for use on ferrets. These are the ones to use by choice.

Be sure your ferrets cage and any plaything or bedding are kept clean as well. Make sure its cage is made of something that can be washed easily such as plastic. Keep

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