Bathing

Question
Do i have to Bathe my Ferret like a dog?

Answer
Hi Aimee, thank you for writing.  The simple answer is no.  Ferrets have scent glands all over their body and they produce oil which gives ferret fur its special texture and musky odor. Frequent bathing strips their skin of this oil and their glands pump out even more to make up for it. This tends to increase the musky ferret odor.

Experienced ferret shelter people rarely bathe their ferrets; never more than every couple of months. I only bathe my ferrets if they soil themselves or if they get dirty from being outside. Keep your ferret's ears cleaned every 7-10 days, nails clipped every 7-10 days, and use a soft wire brush to brush his or her fur every once in awhile, and that's all the grooming you need to do on a regular basis. You do need to have a hairball preventative onhand such as FerretLax or Laxatone; ferrets groom themselves frequently and are susceptible to hairballs as cats are.

Good luck,
DG