One of my friends also told me that you can have their scent glands removed. This sounds painful and unnecessary but is it really true? I've read quite a bit about there care but I'm really curious about the smell aspect. If anyone has any information about it leave as much as you'd like. I'd love to learn more about them! Thanks :) Hope you had a great weekend!
2007-03-25 13:18:17 · 21 answers · asked by littlep0larbear 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
All ferrets that are sold in the US have their scent glands already removed. They still do have a kind of "musky" smell though. If you think about it, most peoples dogs and cats stink - but our society is used to dog and cat stink, so we notice the ferrets smell more.
Yes, if you keep up with your ferret, the smell will be harldy noticeable (my ferrets smell CLEANER than a dog or cat.) The way to do this is:
Change the litter every day
Teach them to be litter trained (which is very easy)
Change the bedding every week (dont put your ferrets in shavings, they like clean clothing or towels)
When you clean the bedding, use some all natural - nicely scented fabric softener or scented laundry detergent. Ferrets usually end up smelling just like their bedding.
Ferrets are very rewarding pets to have. You will see that after a day of ownership, and you will never go back to wanting the average run of the mill STINKY dog or cat!
BTW the lighter colored ferrets (cinnamon sables) dont stink as much!
2007-03-25 15:16:10 · answer #1 · answered by B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ferrets have anal scent glands which secrete musk, giving them a very strong odor (males more than females) which many people find offensive, and more importantly, which intensifies allergies. Along with neutering, removing the anal glands a ferret before it is 6 months old is a good way to control the musky aroma. -- It's not really necessary and will probably just burn a huge hole in your pocket for surgery costs etc... but if you have allergies or really CANNOT stand the smell then go for it. For one try and get a female ferret, for two go to your friends house before buying the ferret and see if the smell really bothers you-- make sure it doesn't bother your mum either!
2007-03-25 13:25:44 · answer #2 · answered by Sarah C- Equine Help 101 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Removing the scent glands do not hurt and it can take care of some of the smell, but they will always have a kind of musky odor. If your nose is sensitive then a ferret is probably not the best pet for you. If that slight smell doesn't bother you then it should be fine.
2007-03-25 13:28:57 · answer #3 · answered by Phoebe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used to own 5 ferrets that all had their scent glands removed before I got them and they still had the musky smell characteristic of ferrets- and bathing them every day actually would have made the smell stronger, so really, it just depends on how bad you think the smell is personally.
2007-03-25 13:32:22 · answer #4 · answered by Cheeky1717 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Having their scent glands removed is pretty common. They usually do it when they are young and it helps tremendously with the smell factor. If I were you I would not get one If I was not going to have them removed.
2007-03-25 13:23:03 · answer #5 · answered by anothermauri 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They do have a scent to them, naturally.
BUT if you have a well-ventilating cage, the right kind of bedding, and the knowledge of when to bathe your ferret, it's not a huge stench.
You can have their scent glands removed. I do not know whether or not it carries any health improving qualities, or if it's a painful procedure.
2007-03-25 13:22:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they have a skunky smell, but the vet can remove the scent glands, The smell wasn't that bad to me. It was them biting me on the nose when they got in your face. They would always bite the most sensitive part of the nose the middle part near the nostrils
2007-03-25 13:20:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Oh yeah! Smelly even after scent glands removed. Cuties though smelly. They love taking baths...at least ours did. They also like to steal anything shiny...we still haven't found a set of house keys that he took. We eventually found someone that gave him an awesome new home...we were starting to expand our family.
2007-03-25 13:33:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a ferret once. They are members of the skunk family but if you bathe them every couple of days they don't smell-or mine didn't. I've heard you can have the glands removed also ut I never bothered with it.
2007-03-25 13:22:37 · answer #9 · answered by chr1 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They smell AWFUL! My husband and I had one a few years ago. The little guy was adorable, but they pee and crap everywhere and they smell terrible no matter what you do for them (we were told the same thing about their glands, but instead we just gave the little guy away, lol). It is true, they do smell really bad.
2007-03-25 13:21:37 · answer #10 · answered by usa_armywife 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋