Baths

[Feeeerreeets]

I heard mix things about giving ferrets baths.
First I heard that you want to give ferrets a bath three times a year. Which I thought was really weird. They told me this because it makes their fur really oily and will make them smell awful.
Then I was reading that you want to give them a bath once a week. Which is a huge difference. What are is your input?

[Deleted]

Baths make the oil and smell so much worse. They will get rid of any smell for sure, but only temporarily. Using shampoo strips their natural oils of their skin/fur. So their bodies go into overdrive to replace it. Washing their bedding/cage is what keeps the smell down. They tend to absorb the smell of their bedding on their fur.

Mine get shampoo maybe once or twice a year. Only when they get into something nasty and sticky. They do a very good job at keeping themselves clean.

My guys get baths a lot (maybe once or twice a month) because they love swimming but I don't use any soap/shampoo. Just very warm water

[mjbez]

I agree with Rory with making them smell worse. Using shampoos etc also strips their oils which irritates their skin. This will make them itchy and dry. I only spot clean when necessary (ex. dirty paws) Baths around here would be lucky to happen once a year. I keep ferret shampoo and conditioner on hand "just in case" they get really messy but they do tend to keep themselves quite clean.

[Deleted]

I only wipe them down with a damp rag as needed but mostly I let them play in plain water, no soap.

[Deleted]

Yup, I just use sensitive, hypoallergenic baby wipes for their feet if needed.

[Deleted]

I never use shampoo. He gets into the shower almost every day though . Or takes a bath in Bruno's water bowl... (giggle)

[Sherry]

I haven't bathed most with shampoo in years. If they get into muckies(playing in litter box) a warm water soak gets everything off.

[Heather]

I don't bathe my crew. The hobs do get a warm water rinse periodically just to tone down the smell and to clean some of the oil and dirt that accumulates on their coats. Occasionally, if someone gets rolled in poop or something they will get a bath but no, I don't bathe my ferrets any more than I bathe my cats. Both are self grooming. I do brush and rub down to distribute oils and get rid of dead hair.
ciao