Never use a human shampoo or conditioner on your ferret, as these can be toxic to them. Bathing your ferret too frequently can actually remove natural oils from their skin and make their odor stronger. Unless your ferret is excessively dirty, bathing it once a month is usually sufficient and healthy.
Ear cleaning solution is available for purchase at most pet stores. Swirling the swab around keeps you from pushing any wax deeper into the ear canal. As each swab gets dirty, replace it with a fresh one. Part of the end of the swab should always stay visible, even while you are cleaning your ferret’s inner ear. Otherwise, you risk going too deep and damaging the ear.
Your ferret may not like getting its teeth brushed at first. Try to start off slow by only doing a few teeth at a time. If you are worried about getting bitten by your ferret, talk to your vet about bringing it in for professional teeth cleanings.
Female ferrets who are not spayed can actually develop anemia over time from repeated heat cycles. Neutering a male ferret can lead to an increased risk of adrenal gland disease. Discuss the pros and cons of neutering with a veterinarian. [5] X Research source
If your ferret refuses to use the box, then experiment with changing out the litter to another type of plant fiber. A litterbox trained ferret will usually only have a few accidents, which will lessen overall odors.
Don’t move the litterbox after cleaning it or your ferret might stop using it. Only use pelleted paper or granules for your ferret’s box. Clay pellets are dangerous for ferrets if ingested.
Coated wire cages have a tendency to stay cleaner than wooden ones. The wood often absorbs odors over time. It’s also important to clean out your ferret’s cage if stale food, for example, gets attached to the surface.
You’ll need to use hot water and unscented laundry detergent to clean most ferret fabrics. This is especially important since some ferrets are allergic to scented cleaners.
It’s also sometimes easiest to limit your ferret to a couple of animal-proofed rooms that you clean regularly.
Foods that contain sugar or corn products should also be avoided. They often cause digestive upset and offer no nutritional benefits. Some people feed their ferrets fish since it is a lean meat. But, it can lead to odorous stools.
For example, anal gland blockages or adrenal disease can increase your ferret’s odor. Both conditions are treatable with prescription medication.
