|
Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2014 15:19:33 GMT -5
Our siblings Sigmund and Signy just turned 7 months old on January 7th. We've decided they'll be our first chemically castrated ferrets, all others had castration done somewhere near the age od 7-8 months and were put on Suprelorin later during lives. Possibly siblings will be fully castrated sometimes later in life, but that remains a matter to dicuss at this point. So my question would be - which time is right one to implant them? Sigmund haven't had bilateral testical development yet, only one of them started to emerge. Neither Sigmund nor Signy manifest any sexual behaviour yet. I have 2 implants prepared but I am still not sure when the time is right. I appreciate every helpful information and advice
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Jan 11, 2014 23:12:50 GMT -5
I think I'd wait with Sigmind to be sure that testicle is going to drop. If it doesn't he's need it surgically removed.
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Jan 11, 2014 23:19:10 GMT -5
I agree with Sherry, postpone it for as long as you can. You want to know if that wee lad is going to have that testicle drop or not. If it doesn't surgery is going to be necessary to have it removed anyway. I noticed a couple of breeders who will allow their kits to be implanted request that you allow them to have a season. It's just a thought. A lot of breeders are still not comfortable with the lack of proper information regarding the use of the DES for chemical castration ciao
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2014 9:05:01 GMT -5
Thanks, our first ferret Jura had unilateral cryptorchidism and he had a surgery when he was a year old. I sure hope that won't be the case for Sigmund. Jura had bigg issues recuperating from the surgery. This was 10 years ago and although there are few rather skilled vets now, even the idea makes me anxious.
mhm, any opinions regarding his sister Signy? should I wait for her to come in heat or to turn full 8 months or something else?
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Jan 12, 2014 9:44:00 GMT -5
First- I assume they are already separated? And yes, many wait until they are fully in their heat and then implant.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2014 14:34:50 GMT -5
They aren't separated yet but are under close surveillance since we're home with them 24/7 I assumed separation isn't needed until they develop some more. As I wrote earlier, none of them started to demonstrate sexual behaviour yet (excessive licking and grooming, neck grabbing, agression...) they even don't have strong body odour yet. but correct me if I'm wrong.
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Jan 12, 2014 15:07:32 GMT -5
Ferrets are sexually mature as young as 8 months. Watch closely, even breeders have been caught out by the precocious youngsters . ciao
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2014 15:25:59 GMT -5
We will, thank you! I definitely plan to separate them during next few days, better safe... :/ They were never ever separated so far. I hope it won't stress them too much
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Jan 12, 2014 15:28:34 GMT -5
Is your little girl in season right now? If she's not you're probably safe to allow them to continue to live together. ciao
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2014 15:49:15 GMT -5
Is your little girl in season right now? If she's not you're probably safe to allow them to continue to live together. ciao Signy still isn't in heat. I check her like eight times each day
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Jan 12, 2014 18:43:14 GMT -5
I check my girls too....with them playing with 3 males...no, I check often. They're not real happy with me because they're coming into season right now so are now without their friends with benefits ciao
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2014 10:20:31 GMT -5
One more question - does old implant has to be taken out when putting new in? Vet which implanted our elderly ferrets said it doesn't but when time comes for new one, it is just put it. Now, I wondered, when I put implant to ferret at the age of 1 year and than approx each year, or two, depending on hormone levels and implant efficiency, it can look quite bizzare when he is 7 or 8 yrs old. It just doesn't sound right. But than again, I may be wrong.
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Jan 13, 2014 14:12:13 GMT -5
LOL....they dissolve. I've had ferrets who are being treated for adrenal using the DES, they get an implant every 6 months. While the implant is still there when we put the second one in by the time we put the third one in there is still only one implant. My vet who's a fertility specialist uses the implants (on dogs and horses) and when using them to "create" a specified season they have to be removed. A few years back a number of people had been using the implants to take their breeding stock out of season, so they could continue to allow them to live as a group. It also make hobs a lot less smelly and snarky if you're showing them. You can imagine their surprise when in the spring their ferrets didn't come into season (you need to remove the implant). That being said some of the ferrets have never come into season again, which is one of the reasons why the superlorin or DES is not advised for breeding stock ferrets. ciao
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2014 14:51:16 GMT -5
Oh dear, thanks for the clarification. I feel really silly asking that but I'd rather be silly than falsely informed Our Ram has implant since 6.6.2012. and although his hormone levels measured few weeks ago indicate he needs new one and is scheduled this week, old implant is still in place and it doesn't seem to have dissolved a bit.
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Jan 13, 2014 19:23:30 GMT -5
It will. Some do take a bit longer than others, but it will be gone soon.
|
|