ferret bath

[darren m 1]

this might seem like a daft question -- but can you bathe a ferret , to freshen it up / kill parasites etc . if so what do you use .

 

thanks again .

[Kay 3,709]

this might seem like a daft question -- but can you bathe a ferret , to freshen it up / kill parasites etc . if so what do you use .

 

thanks again .

 

I would only bath if it was really needed, it makes them smell worse if you keep doing it

[Herdsman 0]

They shouldn't need bathing unless they've gone into something really serious and even then they clean themselves. Bathing also washes out any essential oils that they need in the skins.

 

Entire hobs will always smell bad when in season but after castration you're just left with a musky smell which any ferreter will tell you, you don't notice, perhaps we all smell like our ferrets. Mind I've heard that said before.

 

A few weeks back one of my large albino hobs returned after a rather nasty session with a buck rabbit and he was covered in blood and crap, hell of a sight but in the morning he was clean as the preverbial whistle.

 

Don't bath it you won't win.

[Greenrodders 0]

Sorry fellas, I'm going to have to disagree with you here. I bathe my hob every week or two at the insistence of the missus. (Not because she objects to him smelling but because she objects to me smelling after playing about with him and having him sit on my shoulder)

 

I use either a small-animal insecticidal shampoo from a local pet shop or I have recently found special "Ferret Deodorizing" Shampoo at Petsmart.

 

True, he didn't like his first couple of baths but soon got used to it. Then again, he is a total softy and never bites and can even be handled by my five year old (with Dad at the ready)

 

I always have two bowls of warm water and a towel ready. First he gets placed in a bowl (not too deep) and then I lift him out and put the shampoo on and rub it in. Then, he gats a rinse in the first bowl and aniother in the second bowl that is still fresh and clean.

 

You should see the water afterwards.

 

Saying all that, he's starting to get smelly after two or three days...

 

Good luck,

 

Rod

[Kay 3,709]

So if he is smelling after 2 or 3 days isnt it defeating the object ferrets dont need bathing unless there covered in summat you need to get off them PDQ

 

Wouldnt it be easier to just change out of the clothing & put clean ones on

[devvo 0]

dont ferrets smell for a purpose? we always say the smell bolts the bunnys and makes the rats scarper

 

cheers

 

devvo

Edited April 25, 2007 by devvo

[stubby 175]

Id say, its up to the ferret, I put a litter tray in the outside court thinking they might bathe in it in all the warm weather we been having, yet all they did was drink from it, yet on spraying the grass inside the court with the hose set on mist (rain effect) the pair of them were under it like a shot, then laying back and grooming themselves

[Greenrodders 0]

So if he is smelling after 2 or 3 days isnt it defeating the object ferrets dont need bathing unless there covered in summat you need to get off them PDQ

 

Wouldnt it be easier to just change out of the clothing & put clean ones on

 

The smell dosn't get as bad as it would if he didn't have a bath at all.

 

The hob doesn't mind his baths and even likes to sit in the second bowl of warm water after rinsing, just enjoying himself.

 

I think that if it isn't bothering the ferret then bathing is fine and it really depends what suits your own set-up for the ferrets. Pet ferret owners have been bathing theirs for years.

 

As for the smell being good for bolting the rabbits, I rarely bathe mine during the rabbiting season, but at this time of year they don't small as strong anyway.

 

There's more than one way to skin a bunny and many ways to look after happy healthy ferrets.

 

Rod :ok:

[darren m 1]

thanks lads for the info -- i just might bath her , just this once , for the sake of my marrage