FERRET FAQ FOR NEW AND PROSPECTIVE OWNERS
Compiled and edited by Pamela Greene ([log in to unmask])
(version 1.1, 1/31/94)
 
This FAQ is being distributed to the FML in about 20 pieces in order to
encourage your comments and suggestions.  I'd also be happy to send you the
whole file; it's roughly 75kB, but I can split it into smaller segments if
your mailer has problems with large messages.
 
*** PART 15 of LOTS ***
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 
4.6> Any suggestions on bathing, cleaning ears, and clipping nails?
 
[begin PG]
Most people like to bathe their ferrets pretty often, since it can
help keep the odor down and they don't seem to mind it.  Frequent
bathing can cause dry skin, though, especially in winter, so be
careful.  Once every week or two should be okay, but switch to less
often if you have problems. Some ferrets enjoy a bath quite a bit,
playing and swimming around in the tub.
 
The first step in bathing a ferret (well, after catching her) is to
check her nails and trim them if necessary.  If you have a helper, you
can have him hold the ferret by the scruff of the neck and put
Ferretone on one of his fingers.  Scruffing a ferret will generally
make her calm down and possibly even go limp, and if not, the
Ferretone should keep her occupied.  If you don't have a helper, smear
the ferret's tummy with Ferretone and lie her on your lap, on her
back, her head toward your stomach.  Poke her nose at the Ferretone
and she should be so preoccupied with licking it up that she doesn't
even notice what you're doing to her feet.
 
In either case, cut the nail just longer than the pink line inside it.
Be careful not to nick the line or the toe, since in either case it'll
bleed and your ferret will decide nail clipping is not a good thing.
A handy supply of styptic powder will stop the bleeding; for a nicked
nail-vein, one person suggested rubbing the affected claw in soap to
stop up the blood vessel.
 
Next you should check your pet's ears.  If they seem unduly dirty,
dampen a cotton swab with hydrogen peroxide and gently clean them.
Once again, you'll find a helper holding the ferret to be
indispensable.  Hold the swab along the animal's head rather than
poking it into the ear, to avoid injuring the ear.  Yellowish ear wax
is normal, but if you see any black substance your pet probably has
ear mites, which should be taken care of.
 
Fill a tub or kitchen sink partway with lukewarm water.  It should
feel comfortable on your wrist.  If you want to let your pet play in
the water, fill a tub just deeper than the ferret is tall, and provide
some sort of support (a box in the tub) in case she gets tired of
swimming.
 
Finally, bathe the ferret.  Ferret shampoos are available, or no-tears
baby shampoo works fine too.  Wet the ferret completely, either in one
half of a double sink or in a tub.  Lather her from head to tail;
don't worry about her eyes if you're using a no-tears shampoo.  Our
ferrets both start to struggle at this point, which seems to be
because they don't like hanging in midair while being washed.  We let
them put their hind legs on the side of the tub while they're being
washed, which calms them.  Rinse the ferret thoroughly in clear, warm
running water.
 
Drying a dripping ferret can be a lot of fun or a real hassle,
depending on your own preference.  I find it's easiest to keep the
ferret in a towel at chest-level, holding her head and torso in one
hand while drying her with the other.  You could also put your ferret
on the floor in a towel and rub her dry, but she'll probably think
you're playing a rowdy game of tousle and try to run away (see
question 5.6).  Once you've got her mostly dry, put her somewhere warm
with a dry towel to roll in and she'll finish the job, although it's
been mentioned that a damp ferret seems to lose all sense of judgment,
suddenly thinking that walls, cage floors, milk cartons, and
everything -except- the towel must be remarkably water-absorbent.  You
can also try using a hair dryer on its coolest setting, but many
ferrets won't stand for that.
 
[begin SC]
When cleaning ears our own preferences depend on the ear health and
sensitivity, but baby oil, or slightly warm water, or Tresaderm can
also be used.  Baby oil is also handy for "bathing" an ill or elderly
ferret with weak skin without using water, or removing accidents stuck
in fur.
 
[Posted in FML issue 0732]