Ferrets are incredibly mischievous, quirky creatures that go from calm and collected to fuzzy mayhem in no time. Their tendencies toward tricks are part of what gives them a bad reputation for being a smelly pet. However, they want to be clean at heart, spending hours at a time grooming themselves. Unfortunately, they do have a natural musk.
It is essential to find the right ferret shampoo to reap all the benefits of owning one of these playful pets without having to regret their odor as much. There are plenty of pet shampoos on the market, but who’s to say they work for ferrets? To help you out, we have compiled a list of reviews for the top eight shampoos that you can use on ferrets.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites
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Best Overall
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Marshall No Tears |
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Best Value
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Marshall Tea Tree |
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Premium Choice
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Petpost |
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Pro Pet Works |
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Kaytee Squeaky Clean |
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The 8 Best Ferret Shampoos — Reviews 2023
1. Marshall No Tears Formula Shampoo — Best Overall
Marshall’s No Tears Formula has made a ferret-specific shampoo that takes the cake for the best overall shampoo on the market. Ferrets have somewhat sensitive skin, and this company has considered that when engineering its formula. It added aloe vera into the mix to balance out the pH to match what a ferret needs to stay clean and healthy. This pH balance is essential so as not to strip the natural body oils that a ferret needs from its skin and coat. The idea behind the no-tear shampoo is similar to that for no-tear shampoo formulas for human babies. It is a gentle cleanse yet deep enough to get rid of an overwhelming musk. The eucalyptus addition is what gives this formula a potent scent kick. The shampoo is easy to use. Just lather well, try to avoid contact in the eyes, mouth, and ears, and finish by rinsing them off with lukewarm water.
2. Marshall Tea Tree Shampoo — Best Value
Marshall doesn’t just make one incredible ferret shampoo, but two. It recognizes that some ferrets’ and owners’ needs are different than others. This shampoo is a Tea Tree shampoo, specially formulated for greasy fur and treats fleas and tick problems at the same time. Not only is it an effective shampoo, but it is also the best ferret shampoo for the money. Marshall has created both of the formulas similarly, with a pH balanced correctly for the needs of ferrets by ferret experts. The shampoo mixes both the scents of spearmint with the tea tree oil to eliminate the sometimes harsh odors of your pet. The coat is left glossy and softer than ever with just a quick lather and rinse with lukewarm water.
3. Petpost Ferret Shampoo — Premium Choice
Petpost is the next creator of quality ferret shampoos. They have engineered their shampoo with OdorLock technology. Instead of covering up the strong musky smell of your furry friend, it locks on and gets rid of it permanently. They generated their formula to contain a natural safflower oil. This is what makes it such an effective odor killer, doing so without the use of harsh chemicals that could present a danger to your ferret. Petpost makes its products in the U.S.A. as an environmentally conscious company for pet paraphernalia. This eco-friendly drive is what guides the company to use natural ingredients and package products in recyclable packaging. It even has a 100% guarantee, saying that if its shampoo doesn’t work better than others after regular use, it will give you your money back. To use, lather the shampoo up, allow it to sit for a couple of minutes, and then rinse it off with water.
4. Pro Pet Works Oatmeal Pet Shampoo
This shampoo is not specifically for ferrets but is called an Oatmeal Pet Wash. It functions as both a shampoo and a conditioner. If your ferret has delicate skin or suffers from flea bites or any rashes, this is an extremely gentle, healthy way to treat it. The entirely natural ingredient list helps restore the natural oils that a ferret needs to keep its skin moisturized and its coat shiny and soft. It also soothes dry, itchy skin common in ferrets, mice, and other similar pets. There are no toxicity concerns when using this shampoo. Ferrets can have allergic reactions to a wide array of ingredients, so if you notice any hair loss after using this product, talk to your vet or try a different shampoo. This company also offers a money-back guarantee, so if something does go wrong or your ferret doesn’t enjoy it, the resolution is easy.
5. Kaytee Squeaky Clean Critter Shampoo
Kaytee has formulated their Squeaky Clean Critter Shampoo to apply to not only ferrets but also rabbits and other small critters. The versatility of the product is the reason that so many pet owners love it. Whether you need an excellent product to wash your mice, give your rabbit a soak, or clean the most recent mess off your ferret, this shampoo has you covered. The formula is tearless, making it safer for your pets to splash around while the shampoo has time to do its thing. The pH is balanced to protect the more sensitive skin of your furry friends from any chemical irritation. Although it doesn’t explicitly include any essential oils to give it a robust and distinctive smell, it leaves your pet with a long-lasting baby powder scent. The softness of the coat is something to behold after they are finished with their lather and rinse.
6. Arm & Hammer Tearless Shampoo
Arm & Hammer is a cleaning company well-known for its use of baking soda to clean just about everything. A while back, it began to make pet products, everything from rabbit bedding to cage liners, including a line of pet shampoos. These shampoos are not made explicitly for ferrets, but any small critter, such as mice, rabbits, ferrets, or guinea pigs. It is a tearless shampoo to keep it mild and safe. The formula not only washes but also nourishes your pet’s coat to keep it healthy, soft, and shiny. The exciting aspect of this shampoo is that it is waterless, making the application different than most. Use it every few weeks in baths to keep the musky smell down and the dirt off. The pH of the formula is balanced, making it a non-irritant for small friends.
7. 8 in 1 Ferretsheen Deodorizing Shampoo
Ferretsheen is explicitly produced as a ferret shampoo. This company recognizes the need for a deep-clean when it comes to ferrets and their musky smell. To keep your pet safer, it has created a product that eliminates odors by using anti-odor microencapsulated enzymes instead of essential oils or added scents that may irritate a ferret’s skin. This way, you don’t just trade a strong, musky odor for a strong, botanical odor, but instead, your ferret will smell fresh and clean for days, if not weeks. Ferretsheen has added plant extracts that target particular needs for ferrets, such as aloe vera for soothing irritated skin and jojoba oil to moisturize. It takes a little longer to make sure the shampoo gets rinsed out thoroughly, however.
8. Professional Pet Products- Ferret Fresh Deodorizing Shampoo
The last one on our list is a product made by Professional Pet Products. Its shampoo is unique in its smell and treatment. It leaves your ferret with a pina colada fragrance. Not only does it clean out the ferret’s coat and leave it soft and fluffy, but it also helps relieve any tangles, making a brush-out session afterward pain-free for the ferret and simple for you. It uses a more straightforward formula than most, functioning similarly to any regular shampoo. It has a thinner consistency than shampoo and conditioner combinations, but this makes it easier for it to get to the skin and soak through matted fur. It is on the more expensive end of ferret shampoos, but many users feel like it does the job well and are willing to invest.
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting The Best Ferret Shampoo
When you are ready to buy your ferret a shampoo, there are important things to keep in mind to help them stay as healthy as possible. Ferrets have specific needs, similar to those of rabbits or mice when it comes to the maintenance of their coat and skin.
First, don’t try frequently bathing with a strong-smelling shampoo as the best option for getting rid of their musky smell. Ferrets can quickly develop itchy, dry skin due to too many washings. Invest in a high-quality shampoo, and it will keep the musky smell down until the appropriate amount of time has passed to bathe your ferret again. They should only get baths every six to 12 weeks.
Beyond the frequency, sometimes it just comes down to having the right shampoo. Here are a few things to look out for when buying your first one or trying something new:
Ingredient List
Naturally, the only baths that a ferret would receive in its native environment would be in whatever rain or rivers in which it finds itself. Ferrets do groom themselves frequently, and although this helps with a dirty coat, it doesn’t do anything for their smell.
To mitigate dryness and itchiness in your ferret from unnatural substances in close contact with their skin, check out the ingredient list. Make sure that most of the ingredients are natural, and if not, they are at least safe to use on pets. It is also helpful to find some with moisturizing ingredients, such as aloe vera, to prevent dryness caused by bathing.
Deodorizing Ability
The main reason for bathing ferrets is to get rid of the natural odor they have. If a shampoo does not have a powerful ability to deodorize so there isn’t a need for another bath for six to 12 weeks, then is it doing any good? A ferret shampoo should have information on it about its capacity to eliminate odors and preferably, ingredients that help it accomplish just that.
Additional Benefits
If there are two products and one accomplishes two things and the other does three successfully, which is more worth it? Shop around for a ferret shampoo that not only takes odors away but also manages to hydrate the skin and coat of the ferret while softening its fur.
Related read: How to Bathe and Groom a Ferret
Conclusion
Owning ferrets doesn’t mean sacrificing a clean and fresh-smelling home. Consider our best overall product, Marshall No Tears Formula Shampoo. It treats your fuzzy friends as the household babies they are while stripping off their odors, keeping their natural oils, and adding aloe vera to hydrate their skin and coat. No one will even realize they are in the home. The company also made the best value product with the Marshall Tea Tree Shampoo, mixing spearmint and tea tree oils to make them bouncing balls of botanical scents.
We hope that our assortment of reviews for the top eight ferret shampoo products on the market has opened your horizons to the fresh-smelling future.
Featured Image Credit: Stephanie’screativeImages, Shutterstock
