Grooming Your Ferret

The first thing a ferret owner will learn about grooming their pet is how he will take to it. While some ferrets willingly lie on their backs in a small tub of water, allowing their owner to carefully bathe them; others will wriggle and whine to get back to the business of playing. Of your ferret is as docile as a lamb during bath time, thank your lucky starts. If you've got a pet who has no time for or interest in good grooming, then you've got to find the best method of restraint so your furry friend doesn't stink up the house.

One way to restrain your pet ferret is through "active restraint". Using active restraint, you will bathe your ferret while he wears a harness or by gentle scruffing. Scruffing is the action much like a cat uses when carrying her kittens. This method of restraint, if done gently and correctly, will not hurt your ferret but will effectively hold him in place. When you use this method of restraint, take the loose skin on the back of your ferret's neck and hold it between your fingers and thumb. Remember to be gentle. You want bath time to be an enjoyable time for your pet! The other way is through "passive restraint". Bathing a ferret who is distracted with enjoying a treat that takes some time to finish can make grooming a more enjoyable event.

Bathing a ferret is something that many owners do. However, the frequency in which you bath your ferret could actually produce the opposite affect you are after. Understand that the musky scent your ferret puts off is natural and due to the oils in his skin. This is a part of ferret ownership that you basically have to learn to live with. Bathing your ferret more often to attempt to get rid of the smell can actually trigger the glands to produce more oils, increasing the scent. Instead of bathing more frequently, just be sure to keep your ferret's cage and litter clean.

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Brushing is another important grooming activity. Although owners may want to skip this step of the process, especially because a ferret does not want to sit still for long, regular brushing will help to prevent your ferret from swallowing hair and coughing up nasty hair balls. Use a soft, short-bristled brush meant for cats or kittens to quickly brush through your ferret's coat. You could also try one of the newer rubber grooming tools which are used to quickly pick up loose hair from the coat. Even with regular brushing, it is good to also use a hair ball preventative with your ferret. These often become looked at as a treat!

Cleaning the ears of your ferret will keep wax from building up, and will also help keep ear mites at bay. Both ear mites and ear infections are common and require a visit to the vet. Normally, the wax in your ferret's ears will be a light reddish brown colour. If you notice the wax turns dark brown or black, see your vet. If your ferret's ears start to smell bad, or if he is shaking his head or tilting it to one side, this is also the time to see the vet.

About the Author:

Scot Reinheart is a ferret enthusiast and author. He resides in Centerville, MD. He spends his time teaching others how to raise and properly care for ferrets. For more tips on ferret care, visit his site by clicking here.

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