Step by Step Guide to Bathing a Ferret
Although ferrets are naturally clean animals, they can sometimes get very dirty, so much so that they need a bath.
If you don't know what you need or the steps you should follow, you've come to the right place. This AnimalWised article is a step by step guide to bathing a ferret, with helpful advice on the process.
Don't forget to comment and share your tips at the end of the article, as many other users will certainly thank you for it - and if you have any pictures of your pet ferret, they're really welcome!
Steps to follow:
The first thing you need to know is that you should not bath your ferret too much. These small mammals have a natural protective layer on their skin, and washing them too often can harm their dermis. You should leave at least a month between baths.
You can prevent your ferret from getting too dirty by brushing it regularly and using wipes to remove small particles of dirt. Washing your ferret too regularly also emphasizes its bad smell. Here you can find more tips to reduce a ferret's odor.
Using the right products is essential. You can find shampoo made specifically for ferrets in pet shops. This way you will ensure that your ferret's dermis is protected.
Prepare everything beforehand:
- a bucket
- towels
- shampoo
- a brush
Once you have all the necessary materials to give your ferret a bath, you can then fill the bucket with warm water. This way, your pet will feel comfortable and it will see having a bath as a positive process. You can also bathe your ferret in the sink or bath.
If you've never given your ferret a bath you must be patient and very positive so that your little ferret is not afraid to get into the water. The water must be filled to a reasonable level so that it does not feel too immersed. You can do this as if it were a game, always without stressing the animal.
Let your ferret relax in the water until it is thoroughly wet and then apply the shampoo. Rub gently without hurting your ferret, and use your nails to give it a thorough clean. You can also use a small brush for ferrets to remove traces of dead hair.
Make sure you don't clean your ferret's face with soap, as it could get into its eyes, mouth or ears. At the end of the bath, rinse your ferret well to remove all traces of soap.
When you have finished, dry your ferret with one of the towels you have at hand. You can also pile several towels up and let your ferret get in the middle of them and dry itself. You'll see how much it enjoys doing this.
During the winter you can use a hair dryer at a very low temperature to finish drying it. A cold can be very dangerous for your ferret. You can get noiseless hair dryers in shops for fearful pets.
Clean its cage, the floor and any general areas that your ferret regularly visits to prevent it from getting dirty again. To find out more information about your favorite animal, visit our articles on the different types of ferret according to their size, color and coat, molting or shedding in ferrets and good names for ferrets.
If you want to read similar articles to Step by Step Guide to Bathing a Ferret, we recommend you visit our Beauty tips category.
Tips
- Do not bath your ferret if it has not received its vaccinations.
- Do not bath it if there have been less than 15 days since its last vaccination.
