Sunday, February 7, 2010

Do Ferrets Smell worse than rats if theve had ther stink glands removed?

Please help and also can they live outside (in a cage)Do Ferrets Smell worse than rats if theve had ther stink glands removed?
Male rats do tend to smell a lot worse than female rats, but if you take care of them (rat or ferret) and feed the right diet etc, the ferret is about the same as a male rat, smell wise.





I agree with Rebecca, i live in Australia and here no responsible vet will perform the surgery to descent a ferret, it is unnessary. The descenting only removes the glands that are responsible for spraying, which they only do when scared. My 2 ferts have never sprayed.


Desexing is a better way to decrease the smell, that and a good diet, and a rice dig box (box filled with rice, the rice soaks up the funky smells a bit as well).


Ferret can live outside but they must be brought indoors when the temp gets hot, ferret cant sweat - they die. So they are better in colder areas.Do Ferrets Smell worse than rats if theve had ther stink glands removed?
Where do you live?





Neither rats NOR ferrets should have a strong smell if they are being cared for properly. If they are healthy and their cages are kept clean, you shouldn't be able to smell them unless you are holding them in your hand or standing right by their cage.





Descenting (removing the anal glands) a ferret doesn't actually change the way they smell. It's a useless surgery that ferret mills use to make people want to buy their animals. Descenting is actually dangerous and doesn't change their scent at all. Dogs and cats also have anal glands, just like a ferret, but do we remove theirs? No!





And whether or not you can keep them outside depends on where you live. Being outside in the natural sunlight can be very healthy, but there are many places where the weather is too hot or cold, or there are other risks that make it a bad idea to keep them out.
Ferrets have a distinct odor about them that remains even in the cleanest environment. (for example: cat has a cat odor/ferret has a ferret odor)





While keeping cage, environment, and litter pans VERY clean you can drastically reduce odor. As I have stated previously - residual odor will remain.





Domestic ferrets are not suited for outdoor life unless you intend on having an elaborate outdoor environment equipped with temperature control. I know of some people in Europe who keep ferrets outside in a hutch...I personally do not think it is a responsible way to go.





I cannot compare the odor of a rat to a ferret as I have never owned a rat.





Good luck with your decision. If you are serious about ferret ownership get some more info: http://www.ferretuniverse.com
Ferrets stink worse than rats even with the scent glands removed, but they are more fun. They are extremely maintenance, though, so be prepared to spend a lot of time with them. Also, check your local ordinances, as they are illegal in many areas.

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