Niki & Nancy
 
Regarding the discussion on stinky ferrets:  Nicole had bought her baby
ferret only a week ago, right?  And the ferret was only a few months old.  I
seem to recollect from my own experience, and in reading various sources,
that it can take a month or so after neutering for that strong musky scent
to disappear.  And by the way, I have this cloth carry bag that I let baby
Rikki play in now and then before he was neutered.  Almost three years
later, it still smell skunky--and I washed it!  So although it is  true that
ferret spray dissipates in the air in minutes, if the smelly oil is well
established in cloth, no telling how long it will linger.
 
BTW,  Why are breeders still descentinhg ferrets?  I had my male descented
in Australia because I didn't know better.  But the prevailing wisdom in
ferret circles there is that neutering is what gets rid of the odor, and
that (barring infections or chronic blockages) the anal glands should be
retained in case the ferret ever needs them for self defense.  Thus I had my
female, Emma,  neutered but not descented, and she doesn't smell any more
than Rikki does.  They both generally smell fine, because I give them
frequent baths (no skin problems or dryness).
 
All the best from Istanbul,
 
Sue Kocher
[Posted in FML issue 1275]