Ferret News
Pet Ferret Care Tips
and Information
By Mary R. Shefferman & Eric Shefferman - along with Gabby, the ferret
www.ferretnews.com

Ferret News #75: Ferret Bath Time Tips - Scar Tissue Concerns
August 10, 2004

contact: marymodernferret.com

Bath-Time Tips

By Mary R. Shefferman
(Reprinted From Modern Ferret Magazine
Issue #26)

  Bathing your ferret can be an aggravation or a joy, depending on the ferret. In our years of having ferrets in the family and publishing Modern Ferret, we’ve learned that while there are some definite wrong ways to go about bathing your ferret, there are no hard-and-fast right ways to do it. You can follow these steps to help make bath time easier and less stressful for both you and your ferret.

  Where you bathe your ferret is a matter of personal preference. Some people use the kitchen sink (if you do this, make sure you completely sanitize the sink and surrounding countertop after bathing your ferret). Other people bathe their ferret in the bathtub or in a baby bathtub; still others take the ferret in the shower with them. You should choose the most comfortable place for you and your ferret.

  Water Temperature: The ferret’s body temperature is normal at 102 degrees Fahrenheit; keep this in mind when running the bath water. What feels lukewarm to you could feel cold to your ferret. An icy cold ferret will fight like the dickens to get out of the bath (as our Sabrina did before we knew the water wasn’t warm enough for her).

  Feeling Safe: Make sure your ferret feels secure in the bathtub or sink by supporting him from underneath. Keeping the water level low enough so your ferret can stand may help.

  Frequency: Bathing too frequently can not only make your ferret’s skin and coat dry, but also can make him have a stronger odor. When a ferret is bathed too often, his glands work even harder to produce and replace the natural oils in his skin and coat. Those oils carry with them the characteristic ferret aroma. When we used to go to ferret and pet shows nearly every weekend, we bathed our ferrets every week or two (getting handled by the curious public left them smelling weird and feeling sticky). Now we bathe them only every few months. While bathing every two weeks is all right, once a month or less often is better, especially during winter months when your ferret might be more prone to dry skin from dry indoor heat. If you’re having an odor problem, try laundering your ferret’s blankets and hammocks more frequently (and keep the litter boxes clean).

  Ear Cleaning: To reduce or eliminate odor, often a ferret needs his ears cleaned (using a product made for ferrets and following the product's directions) more than he needs a bath.

 Shampoo: Choose a tearless ferret shampoo if possible, but still avoid getting any soap in your ferret’s eyes. A ferret’s pH is different from a human’s, so use a shampoo formulated specifically for ferrets. If your ferret needs a flea/tick shampoo, use one that is made for ferrets or, if you can’t find one, use one that is safe for kittens. Many ferrets like to lick soap; although a few licks of ferret shampoo are not likely to harm your ferret, it is best to discourage this behavior. Do not let your ferret lick flea/tick shampoo.

  Rinsing: Shampoo residue left on your ferret can cause itching and a dull coat. Make sure you rinse the shampoo out of his coat completely.

  Towel Drying: Allowing your ferret to dry himself on dry towels (you can even warm them a little in the dryer) is better than attempting to blow-dry him. Blow dryers can dry out your ferret’s skin and coat. Better to let him dry naturally. Remember to make sure the room where he is drying off is warm and free of drafts. You may want to fill your bathtub with clean dry towels for your ferret to burrow through. Confining your wet ferret to a clean area will help prevent him from picking up any dirt or dust with his freshly washed fur.

  Treats: If baths particularly annoy your ferret, offer him a treat afterwards to help him forget the harrowing experience.

  A Note About Allergies: Both of us here are very allergic to dust. After a while, our ferrets pick up enough dust in their coats to make us start having problems. We're not allergic to the ferrets themselves, just what they pick up. Keeping the carpet vacuumed and floor swept (especially in those hard-to-reach spots that ferrets like to squirm their way into) allows us to go longer between ferret baths.

You can a get a copy of Issue #26 of Modern Ferret in the
Super Monster Pack of back issues. Save $5.00 if you buy the Super Monster Pack before August 20, 2004.

Baseball Jerseys Being Discontinued at Ferret Designs and Amy's Designs

  Due to supplier changes, the baseball jersey will be discontinued. If you want to get any of designs on a baseball jersey, shop now. Available only while supplies last. When they're gone, they're gone.

Did You Know That...

  Scar tissue can cause intestinal blockage or partial blockage in ferrets. In several cases, ferrets who had abdominal surgery (for blockage removal, adrenal or other problems) later showed signs of intestinal blockage. In those ferrets, the blockage was found be be caused by scar tissue from a previous surgery. On barium x-ray, these blockages looked much like a hairball.

  Although blockage by scar tissue is not a common occurrence, it can and does happen. There is no way to predict or prevent blockage or other problems caused by scar tissue. However, being aware that it is a possibility can help you decide to take action sooner.

  Any ferret who shows signs of intestinal blockage should see a veterinarian. In most ferrets, intestinal blockage is an emergency situation.

  For more information on intestinal blockage, read Ferret News #65.

  Thanks for reading Ferret News. Don't forget to tell your friends about us.

  Now go hug a fuzzy!

--Mary, Eric, & Gabby (The Lone Modern Ferret)

  Stay tuned for more. You can always get updates by reading my blog (a blog is an online journal). I keep it sporadically and it usually runs to the more personal stuff. But you might like it. It's at

http://www.modernferretblog.com/mary

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