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Post by jakeandlexie on May 24, 2009 18:44:50 GMT -5
Hi, I'm kinda new to this forum and ne to ferrets. I have one ferret that is about two years old. I love her to death. Well, she doesn't like to bathe however I know it is necessary. I try to ake it better for her but nothing has worked so far. Well, I'm posting because for some reason after every bath she goes imp for like 15 mins but than in a heartbeat she is up and rubbing her butt all across the floor. She sits down( like a dog) and drags with her front feet. I was ondering if there is somehting I can do for this. Is it itching? Burning? irriating? stinging? I don't know why shes doing it but I make sure and inse her extra careful there for that reason. Is there something maybe that the shampoo is causing? Also I'm currenty using ferret shampoo, but, I have some anti-itch dog shampoo, and was wondering if that would be safe? Thanks for any repies I get!
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Post by tsslilsis on May 24, 2009 21:45:59 GMT -5
Hey Jake(?).
How often are you trying to give her baths? Ferrets only need baths really if they get into something..
But as far as the scooting goes, it may be irritating her.. I suggest just going and getting some tear free baby shampoo.. It'll be cheaper than the dog or ferret shampoo and its much more gentle.. It won't even matter if some gets in her eyes.
-~Ketlin
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Post by sherrylynne on May 25, 2009 9:50:01 GMT -5
I never bathe mine either, unless they actually get some stool on themselves, or something along that line. As for the scooting, have you taken a look at her bottom? It's possible she may have a bit of a prolapse. Lucrezia did, and it tends to "pop" out a bit when she's stressed.
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Post by Heather on May 25, 2009 22:45:13 GMT -5
I don't bathe my guys either (unless someone gets dumped in something disgusting). I think your little one really hates being washed and is reacting to stress. Porthos used to do the old butt drag if he got bathed. It was just the part of his body he wanted dry first   but I think Sherrylynne might have a good idea too. Another thing is it possible that she made a deposit, however slight, when she's being bathed? ciao |
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Post by Forum Administrator on May 25, 2009 23:41:00 GMT -5
I'm a weirdo and I bath my ferrets often.....every week. However I don't shampoo them, I just rinse in warm water and then rub conditioner through their fur. I feel its important they are used to water and bathing, and the condition and rinse helps to keep their fur soft and smelling clean, without drying out their skin.
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Post by Heather on May 26, 2009 1:55:47 GMT -5
Ahhh, see my guys swim but I don't consider that bathing...bathing means using soap at least that's the way I view it. I suppose from the ferret's point of view that's bathing ( I just wish they wouldn't do it in the dog's water bowl ) ciao |
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Post by jakeandlexie on May 26, 2009 15:59:04 GMT -5
Its not necessary to bath a ferret??? I always thought it was. THats why I bath her. She hates it so if its not necessar than I won't do it ever lol. Unless they get into somethin. Also, and please don't htink I'm stupid, but I don't know what a prolapse is. I also don't know what you mean by a deposit. haha I'm sorry but I'm very new to ferrets and don't know all the techinical stuff yet.
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Post by tsslilsis on May 26, 2009 20:59:33 GMT -5
Nope, not necessary!!!!  You aren't stupid.. Information on prolapse [From ferretcentral]: What do I do for my ferret's prolapsed rectum? Diarrhea, constipation, irritation from surgery (especially descenting), and other things can cause a ferret to strain more when defecating, which in turn can push a portion of the rectum out the ferret's anus. It's similar to hemorrhoids, but the particular tissue that leads to hemorrhoids in humans doesn't exist in ferrets. If only a small portion of tissue (1-3 mm) is protruding, a softened diet and creams such as Preparation H can help. If there are any other symptoms (constipation, pain, diarrhea, redness or swelling), or if more than 3 mm (about 1/8 inch) is showing, have a vet look at it. And by deposit, Heather meant poop... It is super common for ferrets to use the bathroom in the bath. -~Ketlin |
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Post by Heather on May 26, 2009 23:19:07 GMT -5
Ohhhh please we never meant to infer that that you were stupid. There is no such thing as a stupid question. We've all been there and had to start somewhere. I found myself asking some fairly silly questions...and getting some even sillier answers when I first started in ferrets. You got some very good answers from Ketlin Good luck with your little furbaby...she will appreciate not being bathed too often ...my guys enjoy water but not being washed...adding soap is not something they appreciate ciao |
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Post by luxuriousferret on May 27, 2009 6:58:38 GMT -5
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Post by jakeandlexie on May 27, 2009 15:17:07 GMT -5
tsslilsis- Thanks a lot for the great info. And actually Lexie, has pooped in the tub before. WHat does that mean? Is that bad?
HEather- Thanks for the reassurance lol. I too think she will like less bathes. lol
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Post by suds on May 27, 2009 18:29:09 GMT -5
When they poop like that its from stress and being scared . Like heather I rarely use shampoo I just let them in the tub with about a inch or 2 of warm water every other week my 2 hate the water but tolerate it for about 10 mins the object is to get them wet then I have a big plastic tub filled with old towels they go crazy rubbing and tunnling in them to get dry this is what realy seems to clean there fur the best . if they get poop or mud on from being outside I just wipe them down with baby wipes which works great and they dont give me much of a fuss about .
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Post by ccretarolo on May 28, 2009 0:09:43 GMT -5
I've never had to bathe Mogli and I've had to bathe Ozzy twice.
The first time was when I first brought him home. The cage he had been kept in at the pet store had wood chips on the bottom so I wanted to remove any wood dust and bad oils from his fur. The second time was because he got into the cat litter. Normally, it wouldn't have been too bad but in this instance, one of the cats had just been using the box so dear Ozzy was covered in wet clay litter and cat urine.
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Post by cristina on Jun 4, 2009 9:22:00 GMT -5
I actually used soap in the beginning when I didnt know much about ferrets, now I find no reason to ever use soap ever again.....when mine get into something I simply put them in a tub of water and collodial oatmeal (which is a natural cleanser, and much less abrassive than soap) and they love it, plus oatmeal is not only a natural cleanser but it also has the properties of a conditioner too. I find that oatmeal makes their skin and coats way more soft and fluffy than conditioner (plus I dont like any chemical properties in anything I use, well at least that arent natural) *just my 2 cents* |
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Post by luci on Jun 11, 2009 13:23:30 GMT -5
Ferrets are so funny about water. Fierra will snorkle in a water bowl up past her eyes, but much prefers a shower over a couple of inches of standing water. Ghia lifts her feet up like I'm trying to lower her into molten lava if I even try to put her on a wet surface, but is perfectly happy to let me wash her feet and butt under a running faucet.
My method of "brushing" is to get my hands wet and wipe them off on their fur. They look so confused as to how they got wet. I get quite a bit loose fur off them and of course the subsequent roll in towels gets more off.
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