and Learn Your Options…

When you are going to consider adding a pet to your family, looking for Ferret information online will help you in choosing the right ferret for your home. When it comes to ferret smell, there is plenty of ferret information out there that can help you make the right choices on how to introduce your lively little ferret into your Family.

One of the Classics of ferret information that your family needs to know is that you will become accustom to the ferret smell. Whether you believe it or not, a lot of new ferret owners are shocked to find out there ferret has a pungent odor to them. But if you think about it: all animals, including us, have a characteristic smell. This is how the entire animals kingdom can communicate and recognize each other on a very primitive but natural level. Not only have anal scent sacs like many other animals, but ferrets also have musk glands in different locations throughout their body. But they are mainly noticed when you give your ferret kisses. If you actually enjoy the sent don’t worry lots of ferret moms and dads enjoy it and some just put up with it.

Although new ferret keepers may think: “Okay, I will wash the ferret smell right out of my ferret and my home will smell normal again.” This seems like a sound theory but In fact, if you bath your ferret too much it will cause your ferret’s scent gland work in overtime. See the scent gland actually produces ferret body oil and to many bathes dry out the skin. But the odor is a part of your ferret just as much as their personality. So, just remember Bathing LESS can actually decrease the ferret smell or the scent, but you can’t really guarantee any thing. Ferrets are similar to cats, where as they will clean themselves so bathing frequently is not necessary.

Any ferret owner should have the right ferret information and know how to properly care for your ferret. But few know what know about poofing. What is poofing? Well this is the ONLY time a ferret’s anal scent gland produces an odor. So, de-scenting will not cut the smell from your house. After spaying or neutering your ferret its scent may change.

The best piece of ferret information I can give you is that by washing your ferrets bedding often you can greatly reduce the ferret smell. To be honest wash every thing in the cage bed, toys, hammock, blanket and even litter box. The litter box should be cleaned out every week and any remove the used litter daily.

Finding ferret information online is easy, so when you want to know more tips on ferrets and how to deal with ferret smell. Just Google your question or check back here to get the ferret information that you need to help you. A ferret can be an enlightening experience for you and the whole family, but being informed is a necessity and a priority. Knowing the responsibility of being a ferret owner will help you to enjoy your ferret to the fullest extent possible.

Ferrets produce earwax and this is normal it is reddish brown in color.  When a ferret gets infested with ear mite you will see an increase in production and the color is darker red.  These will be the only visible signs, ferrets do not do not have the typical signs that cats and dogs do (scratching or shaking their heads).  You should check your ferrets ear every two weeks as part of your ferret care regime.  Or don’t check them and due to improper ferret care you will run the risk of infection caused by:

• Damage done by the ear mites
• From other animals that has an ear infection
• From bath water that gets in their ears

Unlike Ferrets with ear mites, ferrets with an infection will scratch and shake their heads, at this point look for a:

• Yellow
• Brown
• Or Green

The puss like discharge may create a bad odor.

Ferret Care – Cleaning the ears
You must take caution when cleaning a ferrets ears, their ear canals a very small. You can’t really put the medication in dirty ears.  So I personally my wife performs this part of the ferret care clean them I am like a bull in a china shop, give me an elephant and I would be able to do there’s, I think.  But, I can tell you how she does it.  Don’t use a Q-tip no matter what I have said before, it will pack it in and make it harder to get rid of.  Talk to your vet about a solution to break it up the wax and discharge.  Message below there ear this is the canal and you will loosen and help unclog the ears by doing this.  Now we can use the Q-tip to clean up around the outer part of the ear.  You may need to do this a few times to get a nice clean canal to put the medication into.  You will have to apply medication for the mites several times according to your vet’s instructions.  Always make sure it gets down into the canal really good (message it like you did for the wax remover).  Just remember when your let your ferret loose half the medication will be spread around the room.  We always do their ears in the bathroom because it is tile and latex paint, easily washed with no stains

Ferret Care – The ear infection
Not to make light of this but it is the easiest to take care of but also the most costly.  If your ferrets ears are red and look sore they are probably infected whether it be a bacterial or yeast infection a vet trip is called for.  If you were given the ferret, the previous owner might not have provided proper ferret care.  If so it may take quite a while for your ferrets ears to heal, but with proper ferret care this shouldn’t happen again.

– AKA Kits

Baby ferrets – the beginning
When pregnant the jill’s (female ferret) body calls for more sleep and more food throughout her pregnancy.  Gestation for a ferret is approximately 42 days and will stay with the hob (Male ferret) until she show sign of uneasiness at which point she will begin building a nest.

Breeders will move the jill to a sequestered area that is kept dark clean a couple of weeks before the arrival of the baby ferrets (kits).  She should be given her privacy and plenty of food and water and left undisturbed.

It is imperative after the baby ferrets are born not to handle them unless it is an emergency.  Lactation in the jill will be stimulated by the mother eating the after birth which has enzymes that cause this.  You should watch the mom discretely, giving her foods with a high calorie count  and lots of water.  You have to remember she has to feed herself and up to 8 baby ferrets.

The kits are born relatively bald and blind.  The will spend the next 20 days or so sleeping, growing and nursing.  But at this point you will also notice their eyes open and you will see signs of the baby ferrets color.  By the time they reach 4 month, that will be pretty much how they will look throughout their adult life.  It is important to know if you buy your baby ferrets from the pet store you can estimate their age buy adding the number of weeks the store had them + 7 weeks.  Most kits are weaned at 6 weeks and then shipped to the pet shop at 7 weeks old.

Feeding the baby ferrets
Once the baby ferret is weaned they pretty much just eat adult food, as it is in nature.  I do recommend letting their food soak in warm water for ten minutes or so to soft it up some.  You can gradually soak it for less of a period and by tow weeks they should be on solid food.

I cannot stress this enough, DO NOT feed your ferret cat food.  You will literally starve them of vital nutrition.  Baby ferrets or adult ferrets it doesn’t matter.   My friends always ask Brandon, I know everyone is saying this now, but they never explain why can you tell me.  So here is what I tell them; ferrets have a very fast metabolism and what that means to you and me is that they need a high protein, High energy low fiber diet (about 35% and 20% fat) which cat food is not. What ever a ferret eats will be through him in about 4 hour (humans it takes around a day if that helps).

Your average ferret food will cost more then cat food because they are made differently, so get out of that mentality.  Look at cat food and dog food there is a price difference there and do you feed your cat dog food.  Specially formulated ferret diets are now available at pet shops. The newer ferret diets are formulated with palatability as well as nutritional balance in mind.

Try to avoid treats (for health reason) until it is time to train your baby ferret (well actually young adult).  But that is a hole other lesson and my baby ferrets just woke up so I hope this helped