|  | | Do I need to brush my ferret's teeth? | | Home > Ferret FAQ > Grooming > Do I need to brush my ferret's teeth? | | Yes! Good dental health is even more important for ferrets than it is for us. Bad dental health can lead to periodontal disease, which allows bacteria to enter your ferret's system. This can cause tooth rot abscesses, increased susceptibility to infections, lethargy resulting from low-grade infections, kidney and liver problems, and even heart diseases such as endocarditis or periocarditis. So, as you can see, the ramifications of not maintaining proper dental health are not limited to plaque buildup and problems eating!
Brushing your ferret's teeth can seem like a difficult task at first, and it will take a little getting used to, both for you and your fuzzy! Be gentle with your fuzzy, and understand that the first few times are probably going to be a little alarming for her. You might want to ease into the brushing procedure by scruffing your ferret and just getting her used to having you touching her teeth.
So how do you brush a ferret’s teeth?
First, wet the bristles of the brush and apply a very small amount (slightly larger around than the tip of a pencil eraser) of whatever dentifrice you’ve decided to use. If your ferret hates the flavor, you can add a small amount of FerretVite or FerreTone to it to improve it.
Second, scruff your ferret, or, if this is your first time or you find it too difficult to do alone, have someone else scruff the ferret.
Third, gently – with minimal pressure – massage the sides and bottoms of the back teeth, working your way up to the canines and incisors. Pay special attention to the molars, as their tongues can’t reach back here to clean off the teeth, and plaque and tartar buildup will be significant. Don’t try to brush the inside surface of the teeth.
And finally, when you’re done, give the ferret some FerreTone, apologize, and watch her give you a dirty look and run away!
The buildup from soft treats and foods should come off easily if you are brushing regularly enough. The frequency of the brushings will depend on the ferret and her diet. Ferrets that receive lots of soft treats and foods (baby food, soft diets, duck soup) should have their teeth brushed weekly. The rest of our fuzzy friends will need their teeth brushed every other week, or twice a month at the very least. Don’t assume that kibble is enough to keep their teeth clean! The kibble forms a kind of paste that tends to stick along the gum line and in between teeth, and brushing regularly helps to remove that.
Brushing at home doesn’t mean you never have to take your ferret in for a dental cleaning at the veterinarian! No matter how faithfully you care for your ferret’s teeth, you will eventually start to see serious tartar buildup, which is when it’s time to head to the veterinarian. If you’re not sure what tartar looks like, take a look at your ferret’s teeth. If you see what appears to be grayish, greenish spots on your ferret’s teeth, that’s tartar, and your ferret needs a cleaning. Veterinary visits for a full cleaning (dental prophylaxis) should be done every one to three years, depending on how quickly your ferret’s teeth get dirty. |
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