Hi ferreteers,

We're new to having ferrets (and new to Reddit, hi!) and picked up our babies about 2 months ago (2 jills, now 4,5 months old), after extensive research. I've successfully weened them off of the unstuitable kibble they got at the ferretry and now they're on (I think) a well rounded BARF diet. Sometimes they get a couple of mostly-meat cat kibbles as a snack, but they're not really interested.

So my research told me they shouldn't smell on raw, but they DO. Like really bad.

Before we got them, we went to visit a ferret owner. Our ferrets will go there in 2 weeks to stay over while we're on vacation. She has 5 ferrets in a small apartment and it does NOT smell ferrety in there!

But... she washes her ferrets with a vet shampoo and rubs them with baby oil every week.

Now, I'm very much against washing them that often (if at all) and no way I'm getting synthetic baby oil all over them. But my wife wants to try the other owner's method, since her ferrets don't smell at all.

What can I do to (convince my wife we can) reduce the smell naturally?

This is what we currently do:

- change bedding every week or even twice a week if it's really bad
- feed them 99% raw diet
- walk them outside on a leash almost every day
- I've washed them once with a probiotic pet cleaner, didn't really help so didn't repeat
- Air purifier HVAC/carbon... doesn't really help although supposedly it's a great one
- they'll be getting a hormone implant in a month or so.
- they're not quite housebroken; I use a pet safe enzyme cleaner on our tile floor to clean up after them (tips welcome btw, we've tried everything from wood chips to puppy pads but they prefer the floor and pick a new spot every day)

Both the excrement smell as their pretty heavy body odour are problematic.

Two other things to know:
- I suspect they're not 100% kind to each other. One is way more calm and quiet, the other is terrorizing her 'sister' and us by playing too rough and is way more nervous, bitey etc. I'm trying to give her safety but maybe they smell worse because of rivalry?
- the calm one probably has early onset heat (says the vet), so we can't give her the hormone implant rightaway.

Please help! Should I rub them with a natural oil to get rid of the smell? Or do anything else? Please be kind, I'm really trying to do what's best for the ferrets... but also for my wife ;-) Thank you,

Ferret Moms of
Willow & Raven

So recently my girl has escaped 3 times in the last 5 months. The most recent time being 4 weeks ago. She escaped and found an earplug on our table and ate it.

(Rewinding to the incident before the ear plug)
The last time this happened we’ve had her isolated in the bathroom with water, a potty pad, a bed, and weirdly enough a heating pad. The heating pad is placed under her bed and she lays on it tummy side down. And within a couple of hours she passed almost everything she ate (she ate a small piece of balloon the 2nd time she escaped)

Now, after eating almost an entire earplug, we tried this method again. It’s been almost 4 weeks since she ate the ear plug mind you. And with the heating pad under her belly she passed everything within hours. And these were MASSIVE chunks of foam!

We’ve taken her to the vet every single time she’s escaped and eaten something and every time it’s been over $700. We financially can’t right now but honestly her passing everything on her own and not throwing up is an amazing sign to me. She is back to normal and playing and eating normally. (No she was not lethargic before hand) once I get my paycheck I will be taking her to the vet to see how everything has passed, but in the meantime she’s doing great!

So in conclusion, I think the heating pad actually helps relax their muscles and intestines and actually helps move everything along! So if you aren’t able to get to a vet immediately try this! It might work!

Hello ! Does anyone use a glucose reader for their ferret with insulinoma? If so what kind? My girl Bread is seven and got diagnosed yesterday I am a scared momma and welcome any advice. Thank you .

Hello my fellow ferret lovers!
I currently have 2 babies (1 Male & 1 Female) just about 7 months old and I’m IN LOVE!
I came across a rescue near me that just had 3 bonded ferrets returned to them (1 male and 2 female), all 3 are approximately 2 years old.
I went to meet them and they are the sweetest little noodles! The rescue initially received them very underweight from a young couple who had bought them and then split and neither could continue to take care of them. They were at the rescue for a while getting back to a healthy weight. They were then adopted out to a family who from what I was told, appeared to be extremely excited, able and willing to take on this trio. Which brings me to current day, the family brought them back to the rescue, again they were underweight and seemed very sad compared to the way they were when they left. The family told the rescue that their daughter is going away to school and they can no longer take care of them.
(Side Note: People Suck! But I guess I’m glad they were brought back instead of being neglected further). I say all of this to ask… what’s the best way to introduce this older trio to my current little ones? I already have a separate ferret nation to quarantine them for a week, I will be bringing all 5 to the vet just for a general check up, but wanted some suggestions from anyone who has had to introduce a little bit older ferrets to younger ones… what did you do? How long did it take? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you all in advance 💗

Hi everyone. I have a ferret who needs a deslorelin implant. I’ve called two vets in New Jersey so far and both quoted me around $1,600. I can’t afford that right now.

Does anyone know a vet in NJ (or nearby PA/NY) who does ferret implants for a more reasonable price? I’m willing to drive.

Thanks so much. Any leads would really help.

A collection of funny pictures of my baby’s

Hi! I’m considering getting a ferret and I want as much information about care as possible - I’m stumbling on a ton of food guides and such but I haven’t really gotten a sure answer on if it’s okay to feed a ferret primarily or only dry food? I was thinking ferret epigen 90 or Ziwi peak venison or one of the other air dried kibbles. I’m not sure I have the space or means to keep a bunch of raw meat and I wanna get 2 ferrets so they keep each other company. I’m just scared to fully commit before I know for sure I can take care of one 100% properly. Thanks!

some beautiful last photos with him enjoying the nice weather with me and having some cuddles after lots of yummy soupies.

i already miss you more than anything tonight, i wish i could fall asleep with you in my arms just one last time :(

you were so strong and brave, you gave me something to cherish, ill hold onto that feeling until im in my deathbed.

Best nap spots are always in the business.