Ferrets are becoming increasingly popular as pets, and it's no wonder. They are cute, cuddly, and can be real comedians with their antics. But with ferrets comes odor. Here are 6 reasons your ferret may have odor and solutions for them, as well as an overall solution for keeping the air in your home fresh, and relatively free of ferret odor.
Breeding Season--When it's mating time, the male instinctively perfumes himself with urine to be noticeable to the females. Even though this is very natural behavior in the wild, doing it in your home can be traumatic for everyone.
The easiest way to stop this behavior is to have your pet neutered. Neutering and spaying will certainly decrease hormone levels of males and females and will lessen the odor. This should be done between 5 and 6 months of age, and can even be done at a later.
Ear Mites-Ferrets produce a large amount of ear wax, and this can lead to ear mites which make their presence known with foul smelling ears. Your vet can prescribe ear drops to get rid of the mites, and may also prescribe a cleansing solution to be used regularly to keep the ears fresh and avoid a recurrence.
Dental Problems-If you smell bad breath, is it often an indication that there is a problem with teeth or gums. Take your pet to the vet and have them give a thorough exam to make sure that the problems are not causing pain, and can be taken care of before they cause more serious problems.
Poofs-This smelly reaction is an expulsion from the anal sacs when your ferret is excited, ill, frightened, and sometimes just occurs during physical exertion. This is a temporary smell that eventually dissipates in the air, but while you're waiting, it's a pretty "up in your face" smell.
Surgically removing the anal sacs can greatly improve the way your ferret smells. But as with any surgery there are risks not only during the surgery but lasting side effects that can result because of it. If you decide to have this done, make sure your vet is experienced with the procedure, and has performed it enough to be considered an expert.
Skin problems-Dry skin and skin infections can cause ferrets to produce more oil to affect a natural cure. This additional oil means increased odor. Bathing your pet several times a month can lessen the oil and the odor. Be careful not to bathe too frequently or you will cause more oil to be produced because of dry skin.
Always use a shampoo that is specifically designed for ferrets, and consult your vet about skin problems and the exact frequency for bathing that will keep your pet's skin healthy.
Poor Diet-The old adage "You are what you eat" has never been more true than with ferrets. A poor diet can result in more frequent and odoriferous elimination than would occur from a ferret being fed a healthy diet.
Unlike people, a healthy diet for ferrets should contain a large percentage of fat and protein, and should be low in fiber. This is another area where consulting a vet will make life better for you and your ferret.
An overall solution to odor that will keep your home smelling fresh regardless of what is going on in the life of your ferret is to use an air purifier that is specifically designed to remove pet odor from your air, and one that can give you 24 hour coverage daily.
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