ferret shedding

Question
Hi!  We have two 2 yr. old ferrets that we have owned for about 8 months now.  We have heard that ferrets shed in both the spring and the fall.  Our ferrets didn't seem to shed in the spring but seem to have been heavily shedding for the past month or so.  Can you please tell us if ferrets do shed in both the spring and fall and also how long the shedding usually lasts?  Also, does it matter that it has been a particularly warm fall?  Is this maybe why the shedding is lasting so long?  Lastly, we have heard many VERY different things about how often it is appropriate to bathe your ferret to cut down on odor.  Can you give us some advice about cutting down on odor?  Thank you so much!!!

Answer
Sometimes ferrets will only shed one of the 2 seasons, sometimes both. The shedding usually lasts a few weeks to a couple months, but it shouldn't be too noticeably heavy. The weather can also contribute to a ferret's shedding. You should not worry about your ferret's shedding unless it is very heavy and there are bald spots of patches of fur missing, this could be a sign of an underlying disease.

As far as bathing is concerned, the general consensus among ferret experts has always been: bathe the ferret LESS, change his bedding and litter MORE. This is counter-intuitive, but believe me, a ferret's smell is less noticeable when he is bathed less. When a ferret is bathed with any kind of shampoo, it strips his fur and skin of natural oils, so he works over time to replace them, hence the stronger smell. Ferrets are like cats, they clean themselves and really do not need regular baths like dogs. I haven't bathed my ferrets in over a year, they are very clean and soft. Once in a while I give them little water  rinse-off's, but that's it. The main thing that needs regular changing is their litter and bedding, this is where most of the smell is. A ceiling fan kept on low can help circulate the air and plug in air fresheners also help a lot.