All ferrets should be vaccinated for rabies and canine distemper. This virus can be brought into your home on shoes or clothing, so no ferret is safe unless vaccinated. Ferret kits should be given s series of three vaccinations, then an annual booster. The odor of the ferret comes from oily secretions produced in the skin. The odor is very strong in an animal that has not been neutered.
Ferrets also produce an odor by the anal scent glands.
They are expressed in response to extreme fear or excitement. This odor only lasts for a few minutes. Removal of the anal sacs is not recommended, unless an infection or impaction is present. To reduce ferret odor, bathe the ferret on a monthly basis with a gentle pet shampoo. Bathing tends to strip the skin of essential oils and can lead to a dry, itchy condition if it is done too often.