If you think that bathing your ferrets is interesting, you should see what is happening next. Most of the time, theres nothing to worry about if you notice that your ferret is shaking. 7. But, only after bath the party is starting. Best Exotic Pets is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. But if it's too hot, they may overheat instead. Its very common to see ferrets shaking during and after eating. Youve heard of playing possum, but how about playing ferret? While filling water in the tub or sink, make sure that the water level is not too high for your pet. You may notice your ferret is not urinating, or the litter box remains clean too long. Can You Put Fake Plants In An Axolotl Tank? Treatment will vary depending on the underlying cause of the seizure but may include medications, changes in diet, or surgery. ferrets shake or shiver (1) upon waking up - when ferrets sleep their heart rate and body temperature lowers and they shiver upon waking to raise their body temperature. There are various reasons why a ferret is shaking and very often, its just part of a ferrets natural response The important thing is to understand when your ferret is shaking for reasons that are entirely normal and when its a cause for alarm. #3. If the experience is so traumatizing to them, is it even worth it to bother about it in the first place? Sneezing helps clear irritants and can be normal in ferrets as long as it is only heard occasionally. Be ready for playtime and bonding immediately after. 1. All these things give them both physical and mental stimulation and take attention away from the fact that they were just bathed moments ago. The musky smell will get stronger a few days after bathing. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Often, dogs will shake or shiver if they are in pain or suffering from some kind of sickness just like we might tremble due to a cold or fever. Ever notice that your ferrets seem to burst out of the cage with an insane amount of energy and zero care when you open the door? Blog Specialized in Exotic Animals Types and everything you need to know about them. Ferrets sleep deeply because they are very active when awake. Straining to piddle. Why my Dog is Lazy and Sleeps all day? Extra baths won't hurt themjust be on the watch for skin irritation! He is starting to show his age but, Why do ferrets freak out after a bath? In this post, well explain why your Mustela furo might be shaking and what you can do to help. A full-on ferret freak-out following bath time is a sight but often no cause for alarm. The Ultimate What Can Ferrets Eat List, Which dog crate is perfect for your dog? They're fun to have in my opinion! Questions like do ferrets like baths, how to bathe a ferret, why do ferrets go crazy after a bath or what can I bathe my ferret with are all answered here, including what is the famous ferret oatmeal bath and instructions to use it. Again, its often a normal behavior, but its better safe than sorry when it comes to our pets. Unless your ferret's shaking is accompanied by major signs of sickness like weakness, lethargy, and nausea, there's no reason for you to be concerned. She writes posts about ferret health, behavior, diet, and every topic you should know when owning a ferret. All You Need To Know. This hormone increases the heart rate, which constricts the blood vessels. . Featured Image Credit: GuilleNeT, Pixabay, 6 DIY Reptile Enclosures You Can Build Today (With Pictures), How Do Cats Show Affection? Finally, let it stand on its four feet as you prepare for the next process. Additionally, the sebaceous glands in the skin of ferrets produce oily substances with sharp musky-scent. Seizures in ferrets can be very frightening to witness, as they cause the ferrets body to shake violently. That means, for example, the ferret decides it is a great time to dig in your house plant, break into your kitchen cabinet with flour, or some other ferret mischief. Ferret shaking when waking up due these exotic pets are active little animals with a fast metabolism, and when they fall asleep, their entire body reacts to the rest: their body temperature drops, their blood pressure, respiration, and heart rates fall. Also, be as quick as possible since ferrets get cold quickly. After the out-of-the-ordinary experience of going into the bath, theyre revved up and ready to unleash all this extra energy. Ferret cages should be a minimum of 18 x 18 x 30 inches and have two or more levels with stairs or ramps they can climb. Warm them up with plush towels, blankets, space heats (at a safe distance, of course), and more to ensure they return to a good temperature immediately. Ferrets shake for many reasons, most of which are benign, but a ferret shaking after a cold bath indicates that their body temperature has dropped too low. This behavior is more prevalent especially when it is its first bathing session. Medical Disclaimer: VIVOPets.com does not intend to provide any kind of veterinary suggestion. A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband and new baby daughter in New Zealand. Use water that is close to what you would use for a hot bath. The type of oatmeal you have to use is colloidal oatmeal, not a regular one. The first thing you should do is gather and prepare everything near the bath or sink. @Elise, yes I'm pretty sure that's normal I'm no professional and have not had one yet but I just have, My friend is considering adopting a unique pet he could showcase to his guests when they visit. The shivering should stop once all the water dries out from its fur. shampoo. Ferrets are furry and well-equipped for cold temperatures. Enjoyyyy! Sometimes your home smells because his home smells. The only time you have to take things into your own hands is when they get dirty. As such, it will shake its body weirdly to remove the remaining water molecules that are still lurking in its fur. Gently splash some water over the coat of your pet from head to tail. Or you can turn the tap on and hold them under the water. How to Bathe a Ferret. Try to ensure that your dog has cleared its bowels before showering to minimize the chance of an "accident". On the other hand, if you think your ferret needs a pick-me-up, try playing something thats more upbeat with a positive feeling. In making a ferrets' oatmeal bath, you first pour some oatmeal into a sock. Raising and caring for a ferret is a whole different ball game compared to keeping a pet dog or cat. Also, a ferret can behave oddly to release nervous energy that results from post-bath hyperactivity. White muscle disease is a condition that can occur in ferrets, characterized by abnormal deposits of fat and protein in the animals muscle tissue. Plus, ferrets have an incredibly high pain tolerance and likely dont even notice that theyre running into everything! Their fur can be pretty thick, and depending on the breed, it can be even thicker the closer it . Bathing a ferret should not be a fighting experience. You want to get the raw oats, wrap them up in a satchel or cloth, and let them soak in the water. Do not leave any shampoo to overstay on the skin as it will make the coat dry out. The ferret's skin contains natural oils that give off this scent. Follow these few steps, and youll see your pet glow in just one bath. They are more prone to water during summer since it keeps them cooled down. You can choose to bathe your ferret in the tub or in a sink, whatever works best for you. So what feels warm to you actually feels cold to your ferret. 3. It is safe when done the proper way. Ferrets like to dry themselves in a crazy, erratic way. Vets recommend bathing ferrets once a month to shed the greasy smelly substance. Ferret babies and older ferrets usually sleep more than young and adult ferrets. Either way, you will have a good laugh. Ferrets actually burn more energy during sleep than when theyre awake! There are various reasons why a ferret is shaking and very often, its just part of a ferrets natural response. That could mean there is too much water in the bowl for them. This is just how ferrets prefer to sleep. It's not their bodies that smell bad, it's their cages if you haven't cleaned up after them every day. That's because this is how your . If you werent thorough during the bath, you might have the scent of ferrets everywhere they rubbed their damp body. Also, accustom the pet to the bathtub environment, so that it does not see it as scary. A quicker way is to keep clean water with you in a bottle or jug and use it to pour over your ferret. There are two things to keep in mind. You can use a cup to pour water over them, your hands, or a cloth. Is your ferret shaking for no reason? Dont worry, your ferret isnt blind. But there natural oils do protect them, and if you take care of your ferrets cages, there won't be much of a smell from them. #20 Loss Of Color. Didn't find what you need? Preparing an oatmeal bath for ferrets is pretty similar to the one you can prepare for yourself. One common reason is that he feels hot and needs to cool down. When it is hot, a cool water bath will help your ferret feel better. Why is my ferret shaking and not moving? This time you throw a wrench in the gears and pick them up, take them away from their things, and shove them in a water-filled tub. Learn more about: cookie policy. Go for the water temperature you would want when taking a hot bath. Be sure it is not too hot or too cold. loss of appetite. Is it worth the drama? Cant reach this pageHome - RedBrain on October 06, 2018: Ellison Hartley from Maryland, USA on October 02, 2018: Cool article, and oh my gosh the wet ferret picture is absolutely adorable! But sometimes, shaking, particularly if it goes on for an extended period of time, is a warning signal. Bathe only in the daytime hours a bird that goes to bed wet can catch a chill and will be uncomfortable. Can We Use Essential Oils Around Ferrets Or Are They Toxic? There are two other things to look out for following your ferrets bath time. How often can you bathe a ferret is a valid question because if you bathe it too often, it can damage their skin. In very cool weather, keep bathing to a minimum unless you can offer heat after the bath. having trouble walking. 3. There are several potential reasons why your ferret might be shaking and screaming. this post deserved to be sharedlots of gems! A bath may temporarily reduce the musky scent, but because the bath strips the skin and fur of these oils, the bath actually stimulates an increase in the production of skin oils. To some extent, the skin may itch, so expect that too. It is good to know that bathing ferrets should be a fast task because they dont like when they are wet. Your little stinker has gotten into something (garbage, dirt, spilled something on themselves). Its not because the ferret is cold; the shivering is the ferrets way of bringing its heart and metabolic rate back to normal after these activities so that he can both replenish his energy and conserve it. This can sometimes cause the ferret to tremble, especially if it is a small or young ferret. when you clean the skin properly, the coat becomes more aerated, reducing the musky odor. Something lukewarm (105 to 115 Degrees Fahrenheit) is preferred since it is not too hot to cause trauma or too cold and shivers. Most likely, neither of these is the case. That can trigger rash and increase the smell of your ferret because the more you remove the oil from the body, the more body has to produce the oil to replace what you removed. It could also be that they are nervous or stressed from the experience of being in the water. The good thing about an oatmeal bath is that it wont remove oil from the ferret body, but it will clean it from dirt. Ferrets like to sleep together for comfort, and in cold weather, for warmth. When bathing yours, do not prolong the session. Some ferret toys can help to distract attention and make the pet feel relaxed and normal about the whole ordeal. Reasons Why Your Ferret Might be Having the Shakes Are Ferrets Nocturnal? Why is your playful, fun-loving ferret suddenly acting as if hes freezing, or terrified? 6. Be sure your ferret can reach the bottom of the tub or sink and be able to keep her head above the water. He could also be sick or even mentally stressed. Disclaimer: Information in questions, answers, and other posts on this site ("Posts") comes from individual users, not JustAnswer; JustAnswer is not responsible for Posts. They are likely dreaming. A ferret's body temperature is very high and sits around 38C to 39C (101F to 103F). In gentle rubs, run the towel over the coat of your pet. You should only ever bathe your dog in lukewarm . Some ferrets shiver when they wake up because during . Anything colder than that will make the small buddy shake and shiver, hence becoming more stressed. Always have a clean cage and clean litter after the bath. The musky scent may actually become stronger for a couple of days after the bath. There are better ways to minimize the smell and you can read all that in my post about how to get rid of ferret smell. Many dogs find baths to be a slightly traumatic experience, which can contribute to shivering after the bath. Try to identify any changes in the environment causing your ferret to feel nervous or stressed. In such cases, it is always best to consult a veterinarian to ensure your ferret is healthy and happy. Take a small amount of shampoo and lather your little fuzzy up. Ferret hind limb weakness is badly misunderstood and most information online is highly inaccurate. With proper care, most ferrets with seizures can enjoy a good quality of life. 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