Ferrets need to bathe. Otherwise, they will begin to stink. Adults should be bathed aboutevery two weeks. Use a shampoo such as Johnson & Johnson Baby shampoo. You can spend the extra money on ferret shampoo, but they are not really any better and they are more expensive. Ferrets’ eyes are sensitive to soap just as our eyes are. When you get soap in a ferret’s eye, he cannot tell you his eye hurts. He will just seem difficult to handle and squirm.
First of, ferrets can smell worse straight after being washed, this is due to their sweat glands secreting a stronger scent whilst either being anxious or excited when they have their bath or are washed with shampoo. Something a lot of ferret owners like to do is wash their ferret in purely water which is said to help them in being clean whilst not generating as bad a smell when they have been washed. But the smell does not last long and ferrets love to be clean.
All ferrets will hate their first bath. However, after a few baths, they can became very tolerant of water. In fact, when they hear the water running in a tub or shower, they may come running as if to say, “we want a bath.” You can fill your tub up with a couple inches of water and put your ferret in it for a bath. Just make sure he can touch his toes on the bottom. You can take a shower with your ferret or you can wash him in a sink. It is best to bathe your ferret in an environment in which he cannot escape, like inside a shower or a deep tub. Once the ferret realizes he cannot get out, he will give up and take a bath. This might take a few trips to the tub though.
Ferrets have a natural musky odor and their scent glands produce oils that help maintain their scent. While ferrets do not need frequent baths, occasional baths can help keep them clean and remove any excess oils. Here are a few tips for bathing ferrets:
- Choose a safe and comfortable location: Bath your ferret
in a safe and secure place that is easy to clean, such as a bathtub or a sink. Make sure the temperature is warm and comfortable for your ferret. - Use a ferret-specific shampoo: Ferrets have delicate skin, so it’s important to use a gentle and safe shampoo designed specifically for ferrets. Avoid using human shampoo or any products with harsh chemicals that can irritate their skin.You can use a tear-free shampoo to avoid that. . Human baby shampoo is tear free and gentle enough for a ferret’s sensitive skin.Some recommended ferret shampoo are Marshall Tea Tree Oil Ferret Shampoo, Fancy Ferret Coat Brighter Shampoo and Fancy Ferret Creme Rinse- It is recommend for darker ferrets as it helps to protect their natural coat with chamomile.
- Wet your ferret thoroughly: Wet your ferret thoroughly, making sure to avoid getting water in their ears. Get you ferret thoroughly wet and then put some shampoo in your hands and work it into his wet coat. Take care to avoid the eyes and try not to get water in the ears. Lather your whole ferret, the back, stomach, rear end, tail, and don’t forget around the neck. Rinse him. Ferrets will shake sort of like a dog to get the water off. However, ferrets dry themselves on the ground by rubbing. All you have to do is put a towel or two on the ground, and your ferrets will rub himself on it, crawl inside of it and roll around on it. This should be done in an area like a bathroom tile floor. Otherwise your ferret will just go off and dry himself on the carpet or sofa. You will see that ferrets love to be clean. They are especially spunky and playful following a bath. After a bath, you will find out how crazy and silly a ferret can be.
- Apply shampoo: Gently apply a small amount of ferret shampoo to your ferret’s fur and massage it in thoroughly. Avoid getting shampoo in their eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Rinse thoroughly: Rinse your ferret thoroughly with warm water to remove all the soap and suds.
- Dry your ferret: Use a soft towel to dry your ferret, being careful not to rub too hard. You can also use a hair dryer on the lowest heat setting to help dry them faster, but make sure the air is not too hot.