Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My roommate just picked up two ferrets from the pet store yesterday. My cousin used to have ferrets and they always stunk really bad. Is there a special ferret shampoo you need to use when washing them? Or can I just use regular shampoo?

There are shampoos for ferrets, but you can also a baby shampoo, do not use regular shampoo. Ferrets have dry skin and they produce an oil that causes the scent, if you use a harsh shampoo or wash them often, they will produce more oils and smell more, not less. I only bathe mine once every 6 months or so, they groom themselves as well. To reduce smell, change their bedding frequently, at least once a week. The oils from their skin rub off on the bedding creating more odor, so if you change the bedding frequently the smell is reduced. Please don't bathe them too much, they will suffer with dry skin and it won't help much with the odor. There are also deodorant coat conditioners that you spray onto the fur that have a pleasant smell, if you are still having a hard time with the odor, try that.