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Ferrets /
Neutering ferrets |
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Neutering ferrets |
| Why neuter? Female ferrets: |
The female (jill) ferret is an induced ovulator,which means that once she comes into oestrus she will not come out of it again until she has been mated.
While she remains in oestrus the vulva swells dramatically and soon becomes sore and inflamed. The effect of persistent oestrogen production is suppression of the bone marrow leading to marked anaemia.
At one time the only answer to this was to breed from the jill every year. This leads to a considerable population explosion unless the kits are to be drowed at birth.
The second solution was to run a vasectomised hob (male) with the jills:he could mate with them and stop the oestrus without a pregnancy resulting.
The disadvantages of this are that the jill is at risk of developing pyometra, a potentially fatal disese of the uterus, and also that she is subjected to considerable violence during the mating. The hob is often twice the size of the jill, and aggressive in his mating behaviour. A recently mated jill can always be recognised by the damaged skin on the back of her neck where the hob has held her down with his teeth.
I refuse to vasectomise hobs for these reasons: in my opinion it is an unethical procedure and there are alternatives. Unfortunately, it is the cheapest option for the owner with a lot of jills
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| Spaying female ferrets: |
The best answer is to spay the jill: this is quite an easy operation, although there are always some risks associated with any surgery. There are currently no anaesthetics licensed for use in ferrets (at least, not in the UK ). Combinations of anaesthetics used in dogs and cats(however) are widely and reliably used. Ferrets take surgery well and recover quickly.
The jill does not seem to have the weight gain problem associated with cats and dogs after spaying.
If the owner would like to breed from the jill, though not every year, there is a hormone injection (Delvosteron) licensed for ferrets, which can prevent them coming into oestrus, or suppress the oestrus once it has started. Usually if given in the spring it lasts the whole of the breeding season, though sometimes a repeat in the summer might be needed.
This might carry some risk of pyometra if used repeatedly. It is useful for a jill which comes into oestrus just before she is due to be spayed: the injection can be used to suppress the oestrus so the spay can be carried out safely.
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| Male ferrets Why neuter?: |
The hob is generally castrated for social rather than medical reasons. One of the characteristics of the ferret smell is that it clings to anything it touches.
The neutered ferret, male or female, has a slight smell, which I personally do not consider unpleasant, but even so, a separate garment for ferret handling is advisable. The mature male ferret has a severe body odour problem and a pungent layer of grease over his skin to carry it to whatever he contacts. He cannot be recommended as a pet to anyone with a sense of smell or a desire for a social life.
The smell is not caused by the scent glands, which do not need removal. Ferrets only empty their anal sacs when frightened: they have poor eyesight ,no imagination and are not easily frightened.
The other drawback to keeping the hobs entire is that they are inclined to be more aggressive and snappy: there is probably an element of sexual frustration in this, and it is reasonable to suggest that, in the absence of plenty of unspayed jills, they are happier without their testosterone.
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| Castrating male ferrets: |
Castrating a male ferret is quite a simple operation, and what I have already said about spaying the female applies.
One story I have been told is that ferret testicles are only fully descended during the breeding season and they cannot be castrated at other times. This is not true, it is just that since the ferret's abdomen is very close to the ground he wisely keeps his testicles well tucked up and covered with fur.
Both sexes can be neutered from four months of age.The breeding season starts in the spring, so the best time to get the youngsters done is during their first winter.
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| This
page was last Updated: 04/06/2007 16:44:57 |
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This Page was submitted by:
Howard's Neutering Clinic | | | |
