my new baby ferret

Question
I am a new ferret owner.  I am trying to get everything figured out.  When do ferrets shed so I can be prepared with hair ball meds? My baby is about 7 to 8 weeks old..can I bath him and how do you do this just in a sink?  Can you lightly file their nails instead of clipping?

Answer
Hello Rebecca!  congratulations on the new addition to your family.  You will find that ferrets make wonderful pets.  They will never cease to make you stop laughing at their crazy antics.  

Ferrets shed twice a year, and this is a natural processes triggered by the exposure to varying amounts of light (Fall and Spring).  Because we live in an altered environment by using artificial lighting, many ferrets will shed at slightly different times. My little girl, for example, began shedding several days ago.  My big poofy boy, so far has not.  Watch out, they shed in clumps!  You might want to consider brushing or lightly "plucking" the fur so that less is licked off and ingested.  You will be surprised at how much you get off.  Hair balls can be a major problem and can cause an intestinal obstruction.  Major signs of this are vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite/water consumption and lethargy.  They are usually painful in the abdomen.  If you notice any of these signs, have him seen by a vet ASAP.  This could be life threatening and require surgery.

Luckily, there are ways to try to avoid hairball obstruction.  During the shedding season I give a small amount of feline laxatone 3x a week.   You can purchase this from your veterinarian.  This is a petroleum-based substance that will help any fur in the system to move on through.  They usually LOVE it.  You can cease use after shedding season is over since ferrets do not tend to shed much during the rest of the year.  

Certainly you can bathe him!  Ferrets can learn to love water.  Sinks are fine, as well as bathtubs and showers. (yes, they can swim!) My guys LOVE coming in the shower with me.  It is important that you use only warm water, and wash off the excess shampoo very well after a bath.  There are many ferret and kitten shampoos available.  Any of these would be fine to use as long as they are tearless.  It is important not to bathe your ferret too often.  This causes their glands to go into overdrive and produce more oils than normal.  I would not bathe him more than once every other week, unless of course, he gets dirty.  Also, when you bathe him, throw his blankets into the wash.  You would be surprised how fast they regain their normal smell if their bedding goes unwashed after a bath!Ferrets love snuggly things, and teeshirts, baby blankets, soft towels, etc work wonderfully. Just make sure he doesn't chew on fabric, since it could cause an intestinal obstruction.  My big guy was a chewer until he grew out of it.     

When bathing, so NOT be surprised if your ferret goes INSANE to dry himself.  It is very humorous to watch him frantically rolling around on a towel.  This is completely normal! Some first time owners think they have traumatized their pet!  This is not true.  They all dry off this way.

Filing the nails would have little effect.  This would take a long time, and I very much doubt your youngin' would sit still for the process.  The best method is to put a bit of something tasty such as laxatone or peanut butter on his belly and use human nail clippers.  You could also scruff him, although this is more difficult with only one person.  Scruffing does not hurt them, and has a calming effect.  Remember when trimming the nails, do not cut too close to the vein, which you can easily see in these guys.  If you do happen to cut it by accident, don't sweat!  It will bleed, but pack the area with corn starch or baking flower and apply pressure.  It should cease bleeding in several minutes.

Here are some GREAT websites for first time owners:

http://www.thechipster.com/fert-man.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/ferret_manual.pdf
http://www.ferretcentral.org/faq/index.html

There is plenty of information about basic care, diet, ferret-proofing rooms, treats, training, health, etc.  

Please note that diet is VERY important.  Make sure you are feeding only high quality food.  If you would like some suggestions, do not hesitate to ask.  A poor diet is thought to be a big contributor to poor health later in life.  Also, never feed sugary snacks such as raisins, fruit, veggies, etc.  It is thought that this is linked to insulinoma.

Also, in the future, you should consider getting him a buddy.  Ferrets are happier in pairs (or trios!) and are not all that much more work.  Of course, this depends on things such as veterinary cost.  You should never get another pet if you do not have the resources for care if any complications should arise. Trust me though!  Two ferrets are 10 times the fun of one.  If you are ever interested, I can find a shelter in your area.  There are literally thousands of wonderful ferrets around the country that need homes!  I have adopted several, and never once have I regretted it.     

If you have any other questions, do not hesitate to ask.  

Once again, enjoy your new buddy!

-Cindy P.