Post by huronna on Oct 25, 2008 7:35:57 GMT -5
Spaying/Neutering
by Crazy Lady
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Although not a medical problem, I would like to add a short piece on the fixing of ferrets to these pages. When buying or obtaining a ferret, these are things that should be considered if the ferret is not fixed.
If you do not intend to breed the ferret, then fixing is the ideal solution to prevent unwanted litters or illnesses which can occur through not spaying or castrating (mainly in jills).
Spaying
I recommend having jills fixed around the age of 6-8 months, normally
just after their first season. This gives the hormones a chance to settle. It also means the ferret is fully mature and it has reached its full growth potential (but spaying can take place at any age as long as the ferret is fit and healthy). Normally, jills that come into season are given a jill jab (hormone injection) to bring them out of season, then a date is booked with the vet (some vets prefer them to have one season- some don't, so check with your vet) In jills, it is important that they are brought out of season. If left in season, they can develop aplastic anemia and die (they can also develop infections of the womb and water infections). It is also very stressful for the ferret. For example, if she lived with a fixed male, she would become aggressive towards the male as she can't understand why mating isn't taking place, so the male could also be subjected to stress, which could result in unwanted ulcers. Jills can also attack fixed females if left in season.
Neutering/Vasectomising
With hobs you have three choices: you can leave them whole if you don't own other ferrets and don't mind him rubbing his scent all over you and your house (the smell of a whole hob in rut is really powerful), or you can choose to have him neutered, or vasectomised. First I will deal with vasectomising. This is when the male is fixed so he can't produce live sperm (he fires blanks) but all his natural urges to mate remain. He can mate with whole females but can't reproduce. Vasectomised males in rut will try to mate with anything that moves, even if it isn't in season or if it is fixed, so they must be kept separate from any other ferrets during breeding season, males included, as they become very territorial and will fight savagely. They also produce the same musky smell as a whole hob. If you have whole females, you do not want to breed from but wish to keep whole in case you may want to breed in the future, then this is the perfect choice as he can bring your females out of season without unwanted litters.
Next we come to neutering. If neutering a male, I prefer to wait until he is full in season around 6-8 months (makes the vet's job easier, as the testes are fully descended. Best time for vasectomising too, but can be done at any age as long as the ferret is healthy) as at this age the male has, like the jill, reached full sexual maturity and reached his full growth potential. The advantages of having a male neutered are: less odour, he is not aggressive during breeding season, he can safely be left alone all year round with both males and females (for the first few months he must be treated as a whole male because even though he is not capable of reproducing, his brain tells him differently. There are still hormones coursing through his body).
Fixed males and females, also, become very docile as their hormone levels decrease. They also suffer less stress since mating or non-mating in whole ferrets during breeding season can and do cause a great deal of stress to the ferret.
If you are considering having any ferret spayed/neutered, please speak to your vet. This information is only meant as a guideline for people considering having a ferret fixed.
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Credits for Spay/Neuter Page go directly to Crazy Lady from her own experiences.
by Crazy Lady
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Although not a medical problem, I would like to add a short piece on the fixing of ferrets to these pages. When buying or obtaining a ferret, these are things that should be considered if the ferret is not fixed.
If you do not intend to breed the ferret, then fixing is the ideal solution to prevent unwanted litters or illnesses which can occur through not spaying or castrating (mainly in jills).
Spaying
I recommend having jills fixed around the age of 6-8 months, normally
just after their first season. This gives the hormones a chance to settle. It also means the ferret is fully mature and it has reached its full growth potential (but spaying can take place at any age as long as the ferret is fit and healthy). Normally, jills that come into season are given a jill jab (hormone injection) to bring them out of season, then a date is booked with the vet (some vets prefer them to have one season- some don't, so check with your vet) In jills, it is important that they are brought out of season. If left in season, they can develop aplastic anemia and die (they can also develop infections of the womb and water infections). It is also very stressful for the ferret. For example, if she lived with a fixed male, she would become aggressive towards the male as she can't understand why mating isn't taking place, so the male could also be subjected to stress, which could result in unwanted ulcers. Jills can also attack fixed females if left in season.
Neutering/Vasectomising
With hobs you have three choices: you can leave them whole if you don't own other ferrets and don't mind him rubbing his scent all over you and your house (the smell of a whole hob in rut is really powerful), or you can choose to have him neutered, or vasectomised. First I will deal with vasectomising. This is when the male is fixed so he can't produce live sperm (he fires blanks) but all his natural urges to mate remain. He can mate with whole females but can't reproduce. Vasectomised males in rut will try to mate with anything that moves, even if it isn't in season or if it is fixed, so they must be kept separate from any other ferrets during breeding season, males included, as they become very territorial and will fight savagely. They also produce the same musky smell as a whole hob. If you have whole females, you do not want to breed from but wish to keep whole in case you may want to breed in the future, then this is the perfect choice as he can bring your females out of season without unwanted litters.
Next we come to neutering. If neutering a male, I prefer to wait until he is full in season around 6-8 months (makes the vet's job easier, as the testes are fully descended. Best time for vasectomising too, but can be done at any age as long as the ferret is healthy) as at this age the male has, like the jill, reached full sexual maturity and reached his full growth potential. The advantages of having a male neutered are: less odour, he is not aggressive during breeding season, he can safely be left alone all year round with both males and females (for the first few months he must be treated as a whole male because even though he is not capable of reproducing, his brain tells him differently. There are still hormones coursing through his body).
Fixed males and females, also, become very docile as their hormone levels decrease. They also suffer less stress since mating or non-mating in whole ferrets during breeding season can and do cause a great deal of stress to the ferret.
If you are considering having any ferret spayed/neutered, please speak to your vet. This information is only meant as a guideline for people considering having a ferret fixed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Credits for Spay/Neuter Page go directly to Crazy Lady from her own experiences.
