My ferret has a strong, weird onion odor. Is this smell normal?

Hello, and thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear that Freddy has been unwell. Coughing may be a sign of an upper respiratory infection (e.g. a cold), or a hair ball, or heart disease. Coughing can also be mistaken with wretching, or the attempt to vomit. In this case the cause may be related to a gastrointestinal infection, or foreign body ingestion. Stinkier stools may also be related to a gastrointestinal issue. I would recommend taking Freddy to a vet, who will be able to fully diagnose his condition by performing a thorough physical exam. They can take a good listen to his lungs to check for pneumonia, and palpate his stomach to check for pain or evidence of hair ball or foreign body. They may also recommend checking a fecal sample to test for intestinal parasites. I hope this helps, and that Freddy is feeling better soon!

Thanks for reaching out about your rats. Sexual maturity and the present of testosterone will present a stronger urine. Urinary tract infections will also result in similar smells but would be uncommon in multiple animals at the same time. Can you separate the animals and determine who's urine is odorous? Castration can lower the smell. Good luck.

Normally these are signs of going into heat, but since your ferret is spayed it is more likely that she has a problem with her adrenal glands. This could be an adrenal tumor that is causing the signs of estrus. You will need to take Lariska to a vet, preferably one that has experience with ferrets, for an exam. Because her body thinks it is in estrus, she is peeing and pooping everywhere to spread her scent for potential mates.

It may be stressful at first if your rabbit is not used to the smell, but should get better over time. Spraying other chemicals such as essential oils etc is probably NOT a good idea as that may be irritating to your rabbit's (and ferret's) bodies and may cause more harm than just having the ferret odor. Keeping the area cleaned and well ventilated is a better solution to minimize odors rather than mask it.

Thanks for reaching out about Lemon and including a photo. Sugar gliders, especially males, commonly scent-mark territory. This is a system of communication. Castrating the male could reduce the testosterone-driven odor and scent-marking, but might not eliminate. Using cleansers could confuse your pets resulting in aggression. Castration is your best bet. Good luck.

I have never heard anyone describe this type of smell before in reference to their rabbit's cage. The best I can tell you is to be sure to clean the cage frequently and be sure you are using an appropriate substrate. I suggest you use something like Carefresh. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Carefresh-29785-10ltr-Ultra/dp/B005AIPPVQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518100256&sr=8-1&keywords=carefresh+animal+bedding The smell could be his urine. If that is the case, it could be related to his diet. Be sure you are feeding him correctly and a good, high quality diet (like Oxbow). The majority of his diet should be hay. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oxbow-Organic-Rabbit-Animal-Health/dp/B018OJ044U/ref=sr_1_10?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1518100407&sr=1-10&keywords=oxbow+rabbit https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oxbow-Hay-Blends-2-55-kg/dp/B06XYCQ4JK/ref=sr_1_11?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1518100407&sr=1-11&keywords=oxbow+rabbit Make sure he has plenty of fresh water available. If he is dehydrated the urine can get very concentrated causing a strong odor. Monitor this smell going forward and if it persists then I suggest you get him to a vet for an exam. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hello, No, this is not normal. Dribbling urine in ferrets could be due to urinary stones or prostate disease. Inability to urinate, as in a urinary blockage, is a medical emergency. I would recommend having him seen by a vet as soon as possible. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.