BATHING:
 
Baths?  Baths?  Ferrets don't need no stinkin' baths!  I work on the
assumption ferrets normally require few baths, and, in fact, most of my
ferrets have never had one.  Furthermore, bathing a ferret is often quite
stressful, not just because of the risks of hypothermia (or overheating
due to hot bath water), but also because many ill ferrets want nothing to
do with a bath and they become emotionally stressed.  Generally, I think
giving a sick or injured ferret a bath has more negative aspects than
positive ones, so I don't do it unless forced to do so, relying instead
on cleaning specific areas as needed.  Nonetheless, on occasion a ferret
will soil itself, or have other foreign substances on its body that have
to be removed, and a bath is in order.
 
Before the ferret even gets a paw in the water, I get everything ready
for the bath so I can keep the experience as short as possible.  I use
the disposal side of my kitchen sink as the bathtub (bathing ferrets
are frequently pooping ferrets), high quality baby shampoo and a mild
conditioner for the fur, and several bath towels for drying.  You can
use a hair dryer set on the lowest settings, but some ferrets will have
nothing to do with them, and because the danger of burning them is so
great, I don't recommend them.  I also have on hand nail clippers, olive
oil, bag balm and baby lotion (useful for balding ferrets), q-tips, and
several different treats used to distract them or keep them in place.
Oh, and the lucky rubber duckie.  I'm serious; I wash a HARD PLASTIC
rubber duckie, place a glob of Nutrical on its back, and float it in
front of the ferret.  They get so distracted while pursuing the duckie
that I have them washed before they know it.
 
When everything is assembled, I start with water at about 100 degrees F,
tested with a kitchen thermometer.  That is not much different than a
ferret's core body temperature, and will not overheat them for the
duration of the bath.  If you don't have a kitchen thermometer, just
buy one; they are just a few bucks and they can be used to test food
temperatures as well.  I make the bath as short as possible, and I
immediately dry the ferret after removing them from the tub after
rinsing.  When drying the ferret, look for splintered or long nails that
need clipping, fur mats that need cutting, dried stuff that should be
combed out, and the general condition of the foot and nose pads.  While
you are at it, check out the eyes and ears as well.  A q-tip LIGHTLY
dipped in olive oil is WONDERFUL for cleaning ears!
 
I don't get many adrenal ferrets; most I have experienced I have adopted,
but I did come up with an effective method to help care for thin and dry
skin.  Most treatments only work on exposed or bald skin, but often the
skin under the remaining fur is dry and itchy as well.  Using lotion
coats the fur, but hardly any manages to get down to the skin underneath.
After bathing the ferret and rinsing off the shampoo and conditioner, I
squirt a large glob of baby lotion on my palm, and while the ferret is
still in the water, I rub it all over them, allowing the bath water to
dilute the lotion.  When drying, the watered down lotion is absorbed into
the skin, and because it is thinner than usual, will coat the parts of
the ferret hidden by fur.  After drying, I might use a bit of Vaseline
or bag balm directly on dry skin (if severe), or just baby lotion if the
condition is milder.  Bag balm is a wonderful invention, and I use the
stuff in the green can with the roses on the lid called, interestingly
enough, Bag Balm.  It is normally used to condition a dairy cow's teats,
and it is extremely effective to condition the dry itchy skin found on
adrenal ferrets.
 
Be careful when drying a sick ferret.  If the skin is thin and cracked,
you could cause damage with rough drying techniques.  I use a blotting
method using fine thread-count linen hand towels, and will change towels
as they become wet.  Once the ferret is as dry as possible, I give them
an energy boost with a treat of Nutrical, and pack them off to bed where
they can groom themselves at their leisure.
 
Bob C
[Posted in FML issue 4404]