Do Ferrets Stink? Getting Rid Of Your Ferret's Outrageous Odor

Ferrets are well-known to be charming and adorable critters.

However, the main issue with these pets is that ferrets smell. It takes only a bit of effort from the owners of these pets to keep them from spreading the musky smell.

Bathing and grooming your pet ferret regularly can keep their musky odor away and their scent fresh. If you clean and wash the box and cage of your pet, it can also remove the pungent smell. Feeding your pet animals a high-quality diet can also help reduce the stink.

You can take the pet ferret to the vet if you think the smell is related to a health problem. The vet might get your pet descented. However, many vets do not like the idea of descenting.

Young ferrets smell too, albeit a bit differently. This smell is lost as they grow older. Male ferrets smell very strong, mainly un-neutered ones.

The day-to-day smell of a ferret won't change by descenting them. When the scent glands near the tail are expelled, the ferrets cannot release the bad-smelling musky smell. The typical musky smell that comes from the skin and coat through the skin glands and oil glands still remain.

The anal glands of these pets also secrete a peculiar scent. The anal glands are present in most carnivorous animals. These anal glands of the ferrets are territory-marking glands and secrete a strong-smelling scent.

How do I stop my ferret from smelling?

It is imperative to keep your pet ferret from smelling in your house or a cage.

Keeping the ferrets clean is very important. Ferret owners should regularly wash and bathe them.

But you should not bathe your ferret more than once or twice a month. To prepare the bath, fill the tub with water to a level to cover the body of the ferret.

The head should be above the water. The temperature of the water in the prepared bath should be a little warmer than the average human-bathing temperature.

Ferret owners should buy a ferret-safe shampoo from the vet or a pet shop to scrub and bathe the ferret. A human conditioner or shampoo should never be used in the bath as they are poisonous to these pets.

It is important to note that a ferret should be bathed sparingly, as the wash can eliminate natural oils in the skin and increase the musky odor. Bathing once a month is sufficient to keep the ferret clean and the skin glands healthy.

It is also essential for pet owners to clean the ears of the ferrets every week. To do this, pour some ear-cleaning solution into a container. Dip the cotton swab in the solution.

Hold the ferret with firm hands and use the swab around the outer ears. While cleaning, move the swab inside the ear canal too. Purchase these solution bottles at pet stores. Remember to swirl the swab around.

This will help not to push the earwax inside the ear canal. Keep one end of the swab visible to you. It will ensure that you have not gone too deep and damaged the ear canal.

Buy a soft toothbrush and brush the teeth of your ferret every week. You will find toothpaste specially made for kittens or cats. Your ferret might not like getting its teeth cleaned. However, as ferret owners, be patient with the ferrets and start slowly with a few teeth at a time.

Remember to get your ferret neutered or spayed at four months of age. Once the ferret becomes mature, the hormones will start acting up.

This can increase the odor of both female ferrets and male ferrets. Getting these ferrets neutered or spayed can lower the potential marking and also keep them healthy.

Repeated heat cycles can create anemia in female ferrets if not spayed. Before getting your male ferret neutered, please consult your vet about its pros and cons, as getting the ferret neutered can create the risk of adrenal gland disease.

Check where your pet ferret goes to the restroom when inside the cage. It is important to train the ferret to use a litter box.

Place the litter box in the exact location where the ferret goes to pee or poop. Put some fresh droppings in the box so that it smells like a restroom. Ferrets are smart enough to start using these litter boxes right away.

If the ferret doesn't use the litter box, change the litter with some other plant fiber. If the ferret is litterbox-trained, the chance of worse odor and foul-smelling fur will be reduced.

The litter box needs to be cleaned daily. Use a scoop to do that. Pick up the granules or soiled pelleted paper from the box.

Keep some droppings in the box so that the ferret continues to use the box every single time. Add some new granules or paper if you see them low. Keep the litter box of the ferret in the same location after cleaning it.

Moving it might make your ferret stop using it. Use only granules or pelleted paper for the box. The ferret will be at risk if clay pellets are used and the ferret ingests these.

To keep the air smelling fresh, scrub the cage at least once a month. Remove the toys, litter box, and everything else from the cage of your ferret, and bring the cage outside.

Scrub the cage using dish soap and water. Let it dry in the sun, and in the meantime, wash the toys and the litter box. Use coated wire cages as they stay cleaner than wooden cages.

Wood is also known to absorb smells more quicker. Clean the cages even when spoiled food stays attached to the surface of the cage.

Clean and wash the bedding of your ferret every week. The bedding fabric can absorb smells in a few days and become stinky very quickly.

Take the bedding out of the cage and wash the bedding properly. Use hot water for this, as it is most favorable for ferrets. Also, use unscented cleaners, as some ferrets are allergic to scented ones.

Vacuum and dust your house every week. While running around the house, the ferret transfers oils from its oil glands to the rugs, furniture, carpet, and everything in between. The scent also stays on these items for a more extended period. Remove these odors by mopping the floor regularly and vacuuming the items.

Put the solid odor-reducing product away from the ferret. Airborne or powdered deodorizers are worse as they can harm the lungs and skin of your ferret. A solid deodorizing item should be used in a ferret-free area of the room. It is better for your ferret's body if you can find a deodorizer made from natural things.

Keep your ferret happy and feed them a high-protein diet. Any pet store will have ferret food available. The first ingredient in the ferret's food should be lean meat, like chicken. Don't feed your ferret food filled with grains, fat, fruits, or vegetables.

Right food with better quality can keep the stools less smelly. Avoid food that has corn products or sugar in it. They mostly create digestive problems in ferrets. Also, avoiding fish in their diet is advisable as they can make odorous stools.

If you are worried about a health problem, contact your vet and talk to them. It can be anything from a difference in the activity level of your ferret to them avoiding food totally. You can go to the vet if you see them lethargic or unhealthy.

Yearly vet appointments are advisable even if your ferret is healthy. Bad ferret smell can increase with blockages of anal glands or adrenal disease. Medication can resolve these issues, and your ferret's odor can improve.

Talk with your vet and only plan a scent gland surgery in extreme conditions. Vets consider these surgeries to get the ferrets de-scented to be cosmetic surgery. The surgery for getting the ferret de-scented is also very hurtful. If the ferret's glands are infected or causing other health problems, vets will advise the procedure to get them de-scented.

Are all ferrets stinky?

Every ferret does not smell the same. It is also interesting to know that one ferret doesn't smell the same throughout its life. The smells of a ferret change with time, condition, and the health state of the said ferret.

A ferret smells different in each stage of its growth. Few-weeks-old ferret kits have a sweeter and strong odor coming out of them.

This smell is a mix of milk, poops, and a musky ferret odor. When they grow and get detached from their mother, the sweeter smell persists, but not as strong as the smell was when with their mother.

Both male and female intact ferrets have a pretty strong odor. The smell of male ferrets in the heat is unbearable for some. This odor is much more pungent than the natural odor of a ferret.

It is also mixed with the smell of the urine of the male ferret. Infact ferrets are known to mark their territories by urine. They also drag their belly through the urine, along with their testicles. The skin absorbs the ferret's odor and stinks ten times over.

This is seen in intact ferrets. Most pet ferrets are intact, and this situation will arise when the ferret reaches maturity. A fixing procedure needs to be completed.

The odor of female ferrets is weaker than that of males. All animals follow the same formulae, whereas males use a more pungent odor while mating rituals. Females also have an intense smell when in heat. Proper diet help reduce the smell from the skin and body, and you won't be able to smell them from afar.

Why do ferrets have a certain smell to them?

The musky smell is typical in all ferrets. There are different reasons due to why ferrets smell. Low-quality diet is one of the leading causes of it.

Fun, fear and fighting can also increase the odor in the ferrets. During mating, the ferrets smell more. Ferret owners can handle and manage this smell by taking care of a few things.

A high-quality diet is a must for ferrets. Low-ash and high-protein meals are recommended. Ferrets are like cats; both animals have the same nutritional needs and eat meat-based foods.

Dog food is not acceptable for ferrets. Litter boxes also increase the smell of the ferret. Ferrets smell bad due to the poop that stays in the box.

A ferret poops a lot, and this means cleaning the box regularly. The cage can spread the smell throughout your home and your ferret's oily body. Poor conditions of the litter box can increase the smell.

Ferrets smell bad when they are getting used to a new environment and home for themselves. If the ferret worries about its new surroundings, the pet will spread a foul smell. Giving the ferret some space to acclimate to the new home is essential.

If the ferret hisses, the pet will emit a foul scent. It means the ferret is angry and overstimulated. Ferrets are demanding creatures and need a lot of attention. The reason behind the anger might be the need for more playtime.

Can they stink up your house?

If every condition is met, which means a proper diet, a clean cage, and a clean body, there is not much to do to keep your ferrets from spreading the foul smell throughout the house.

The only thing to be completed is to create proper ventilation for your home. It will not only help with the bad smell but also keep the house and its occupants healthy, even without pets.

Use air fresheners and perfumes sparingly in the room where the ferret stays. The smell of these products mixed with the ferret's smell will be too much to bear. There are also a few ingredients in these perfumes that can harm your pets and create skin and other health issues.