Ferret owners are much stigmatized when it comes to ferrets stink, their cute little faces and long body make them very friendly and adorable pets but the smell of ferrets turns the tables as their smelly odor is really unpleasant.
After gathering information for weeks we were able to discover the facts below
Why Do Ferrets Stink?
Ferrets produce odor from their anal glands when they are frightened, they also produce some odor from their skin as well as when they are having fun.
The smell has always been relative, a person living with a ferret doesn’t actually feel the strength compared to a new person who meets a ferret for the first time in his life. This strong smell makes it an incident to remember.
Ferrets have a natural musky smell to them and they come from the weasel family like skunks, and therefore scent is natural to them.
So if you ask the question “why do ferrets stink that bad?” The answer might sound a little controversial.
The place a ferret has previously been doesn’t matter, If it’s from a clean environment then there isn’t much to worry but if a ferret has been living in some sketchy shelter, then obviously there might be a little extra in the smell.
The everyday musky smell comes from its oil glands (from its skin).
How to Stop my Ferret from Smelling?
To stop your ferrets from smelling bad, try doing some of the following things:
Making sure the surroundings are clean
Make sure their cages, hammocks, bedding, litter boxes clean as they can be one of the most common reasons why ferrets smell so bad.
Just like humans change their sheet the ferret’s bedding should be also changed once in 3 days.
Make deep cleaning a habit at least once a month, if not cleaned properly you will be amazed to find out how much muck is there in the cage.
Buy some scent-reducing litter and use them so that the urine and poop don’t smell that much. Check if the ferret is descented.
What is Ferret Descenting?
Descenting is a medical procedure performed by a professional AKA a veterinarian, where the anal glands are removed.
Ferrets are animals that don’t encounter danger on a daily basis, removing their anal glands might sound a little too barbaric.
This has caused a lot of speculation on the topic, to remove an animal’s natural defense mechanism is not a very advisable option a doctor would recommend, anal glands being a crucial part of the ferret’s body in a fight or flight situation.
Read more about descenting here
Don’t bath the Ferret often
Bathing a ferret is helpful but overdoing it can result in vice versa. When over cleaning a ferret its body ends up becoming dry, now that its gland emits more odors to counter the effect of dry skin. Certain steps help to counter this effect, like oatmeal baths.
Bathing a ferret once or twice a month is advised by experts.
Reduce stress
Just like humans sweat when they get stressed, ferrets also release hormones which in turn release more smell-inducing oil on the skin.
One of the major reasons is when a ferret grows in a confined space with much movement, so make sure to walk the pet around.
Using sprays for Ferrets
There is this spray called Ferretone that helps to reduce the smell a bit, this is not going to eliminate it but slightly dilute it so that it becomes less unpleasant, this also has its own procedure, instead of using it directly, use it on a towel and then rub it on the ferret.
Ferretone on the other hand can help to make the skin healthier.
Maintaining a hygienic ears and eyes
Not maintaining a healthy ear and eye can also result in a foul smell being fuzzed at least once a month, well this can be reversed by using a Q- tip to clean the ear and also make sure you don’t damage the ear of this animal.
Remember to wash with unscented detergents
Usage of hypoallergic detergents to clean their bedding, toys, and also cages. Solutions such as diluted vinegar will work.
Avoiding the usage of fabric softeners.
Use Air Purifiers Pet safe air purifiers. A large number of people have reported that an air purifier works very well.
Use Plants that absorb odor
Boston ferns and spider plants are a few of the plants that absorb odors at home, also make sure to water the plants as well.
The plant owners should guide you through the right product for the plant as well.
Focus on the diet
Diet plays a major role when it comes, especially with an animal like ferret the menu gets really diverse, bad diet is a major issue which can affect their health in long term.
Raw diets also help in reducing tooth cavities and smell to a minimum. Ferrets can also absorb raw diets easily than a packaged kibble, and therefore they fart less, and their poops are less smelly. A pet store will generally have the required list.
Improvement of digestion
To improve digestion, try to provide fresh raw food, fresh, clean water, and ample playtime.
Good food, clean water, and ample playtime can drastically change the behavior of the ferret as well as its digestion.
Avoid unhealthy treats and stick to a proper diet, at least the product should be examined before feeding.
Avoid unhealthy processed treats and rancid foods, as these items can be a great source of your smell problems.
Provide ample supply of water
Use a ceramic bowl instead of a plastic one as things get stuck in plastic quite often, and such things, if stuck for a long time, can create digestive issues. Using ceramic bowls is always advised when feeding your pet ferret.
FAQ: Below
Do male ferrets stink?
Well! I hope it’s not gendered biased, due to the excess hormone of male ferrets compared to female ferrets, they do smell a little extra when bathed too often
Do indoor ferrets smell?
To answer a short answer, yes! They do smell and it’s the owner’s responsibility to find solutions to these problems
Can you remove a ferrets scent glands?
Yes you could and its called descenting. However it is cruel and barbaric! Dont do it! Plus removing a ferrets scent glands will not make its smell go away.
