I haven't been answering many questions lately because I re-re-reinjured a
torn rotator cuff while taking a slipperly slide down the wet clay floor of
a cave.  Its kind of difficult to type left-handed (which is a straight
line if I ever heard one!).  At the end of last week, I had the wonderful
experience of having a pen-sized tube jabbed into my armpit to fix the dang
thing, which I found was nothing compared to the PT I've had this week.  No
one laughed when, as they jabbed the thing in, I said, "Hey!  That
tickles!" I still think it was funny.
 
Q:"Why do ferrets smell so much? They stink a lot more than my other pets."
 
A: But do they stink more than a CaCa Land Fishin' Gestapo?
 
In ferrets, odor has three dis-stink manifistations; the general body odor,
a scent given off when going poopie, and a reproductive scent.  Of the
three, perhaps the strongest and longest lasting (from my nasal
perspective, anyway) is the reproductive scent.  Nothing smells more than
a hob in rut, and with four of them in my house, I can testifiy before a
grand jury on that one.  Not only do they have a strong musty odor, but
everything that comes into contact with them picks it up for the enjoyment
of all.  This scent only lasts as long as the hob is in rut, and is
completely eliminated when the vet does a snipp-snipp to the guys danglin'
goodies.  Bathing will not eliminate it.
 
The anal sac odor is what you smell when a ferret gets excited and goes
poof.  The odor is more offensive to some than others, but it fortunately
dissipates rather quickly.  Small amounts of the poofing-oil are expelled
with each poopie--to mark territory--and some ferrets have a rather nasty
latrine as a result.  Bathing will not eliminate it.  Many ferrets have had
their anal sacs removed prior to arriving at the pet store, so they neither
poof nor mark.  This is an unnecessary procedure for the most part, for
most ferrets only poof when extremely upset, excited or frightened.  The
poofing is a defense mechanism, and a lost ferret without it's poofer is at
a disadvantage when meeting up with strange dogs or other predators.  On
occasion, the anal sacs can become blocked or infected, and in those cases,
it is probably better just to have both removed.
 
The general body odor is something that is an integral characteristic of
ferrets, and while you can attempt to wash it away or purfume over it, it
will never go away.  The odor comes from the oils that protect and soften
the fur and skin; these oils are part of the ferret's waterproofing system
which allows it to swim in very cold water and remain warm.  If you dislike
the musty odor of a fert so much that you find yourself washing them more
that once a month, you should consider adopting out your ferret and buying
a baby deer.  In fact, washing the oil away only stimulates the ferret's
oil glands to make more, so a frequently washed ferret can actually have
more of a musty odor than a ferret which rarely bathes.
 
A dust bath is much more effective in minimizing ferret body odor than a
bath, they like it more, and it is cheap and easy to do.  I allow my
ferrets a weekly chance at a dust bath.  I use an infant plastic pool,
(the smallest one you can find) and place a dishpan (cut down to about 3-4
inches) in the center (mine is hot-glued in place).  In the dish pan, I
pour a quantity of chinchilla dusting powder.  I use a heating lamp to heat
the dust to about 80-90 F.  A good way to do this is to buy 3 cheap broom
handles, hold them together while you tie a couple of loops of nylon line
about 3 inches from one end, then open the opposite end to form a very
stable tripod.  Hang the heating lamp from the tripod.  Another way is to
put a large, flat reptile heating stone in the middle of the dust.  Both
ways work well, but the tripod might be better for cord chewers.
 
When the ferts discover heated dust, some will immediately start rolling
around and playing in it, taking an old-fasioned dust bath.  Some won't
know what to do at first, so I roll them around in the dust until they get
the idea.  All 20 of my love it, and Sandi, who is hanging on dispite
terminal cancer and who has lost all her fur, loves to just lie in the dust
and sleep.  Watch out so no one decides the dust bath is a latrine!
 
The dust bath is a natural activity which helps reduce stress and promote
play.  The dust sticks to the oils on the skin and fur, which helps to
reduce the amount of oil that gets on clothing and furniture, as well as
into the air to smell.  I find the dust bath has virtually eliminated the
need for bathing for odor.  Mine still go swimming once a week, and I bath
them when they get nasty-dirty, but the dust controls body smell much
better than shampooing.
 
Chinchilla dusting powder can be difficult to find on the pet store shelf,
but it is easily ordered, either by the pet stop, or by mail.  There are
several internet websites that you can use to order the stuff.  Don't be
worried if you see eye or nose boogers caused from the dust from time to
time; just clean them off (or the ferret will).  They are harmless and are
a result of a little dust in the eyes or nostrils.  I have never noticed a
problem with the dust causing respiratory problems, or clumping in the
nasal passages.  I *have* noticed that since I have started dust baths, ear
mite infections are reduced; I've had only 2 instances in the last year!
One of my friends adds a *small* amount of baby powder to the dust, and her
ferts smell just like a baby's butt.
 
Bob C and 20 Mo' Dusty Long Dogs
 
[Moderator's note: So all along I thought I was keeping things clean.
Now I find out my ferrets tend not to smell because they are *dusty*!
Just can't win.... :-)  BIG]
[Posted in FML issue 2583]