Which ferrets smell

The type of litter used will have a big impact on odor. Litters that produce dust or are highly scented are not recommended! Ferrets have short digestive tracts and fast metabolisms which dictate that they must eat often… and thus will also poop and pee often. Frequent cleaning of the litter box will make an enormous difference in ferret odors," states the American Ferret Association.

The American Ferret Association tells us, "A factor in controlling ferret odors is toy selection. Choosing toys that are safe but readily cleaned is important. Do not give ferrets toys made of rubber or with loose pieces of string or leather for example, the tail on an animal-shaped toy. Be careful with toys that have bells or squeakers that could be chewed loose and swallowed.

All of these types of toys can cause problems such as an intestinal blockage. Toys made of harder plastic are excellent because they do not pose health hazards and can be easily washed. Fabric toys should also be selected for safety and should be washable. Toys can be frequently cleaned and swapped out to control odor, but also to provide enrichment for the ferret.

Spirito and Mendez agree that it may be best to have a room designated for the ferret or otherwise use barriers such as half-doors and gates to keep them corralled. The American Ferret Association elaborates, "First, consider the flooring. Sheet vinyl linoleum or vinyl planks with overlapping flanges or 'click locks' are easy to clean and prevent urine from seeping into the sub floor. Laminate floors or hardwood floors are the next best choice but may be damaged by spilled water bottles or urine.

Carpet is the least desirable surface as it will absorb accidents and also retain odors. If carpet is present, laying sheet vinyl over it will help with odor control. This can be cut to fit corners and moldings. Another protective material that is inexpensive and easy to cut to fit is the plastic carpet runners intended for stairs and hallways. You can prevent this bad smell by neutering your male ferret.

Adrenal disease is a common health issue in ferrets. This disease can cause excessive growth of the adrenal glands and even tumors on the adrenal glands. The body will produce excessive hormones and this can cause a bad smell depending on the kind of hormone that is produced excessively.

Ferret ears can have yeast or bacterial infections. When your ferret has such infection the ears will often be itchy and the skin will be irritated and smelly. You can treat these infections by going to your vet and giving your ferret the right treatment. The smell will quickly go away when the infection is treated. There are other diseases that can also cause a bad smell. The majority of pet ferrets that are sold in the United States are already descented and neutered.

Descenting is the surgical removal of the anal glands that cause the bad smell under certain conditions. For example, in Europe, this is forbidden and ferrets still have their anal glands. When your ferret is really smelly, a bath can do wonders but you should be careful not to bath a ferret too often. When you bath a ferret you remove the oils from the skin which will in response produce more oil.

The result is that your ferret will even smell more than before. You should use special shampoo for ferrets. When your ferret comes in contact with its cage or other objects inside the cage the oil rubs of on these objects. This will cause them to have a smell and they should be cleaned regularly. The ferret cage should be cleaned every week and the litter box should be cleaned daily to reduce smells.

A ferret will use the litter box several times a day and depending on their diet the smells can be really bad. What are some safe grooming practices to help control the smell in ferrets? Fiorella suggests the following to help keep ferret odor at bay: Keep their ears clean.

How does the cage play into ferret smell? This article was verified and edited for accuracy by Dr. Help us make PetMD better Was this article helpful? Yes No. Share this article. What did you find helpful? What was not helpful? Say more Sign me up for the PetMD Newsletter.