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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2016 8:38:55 GMT -5
Hi there, I'm looking for advice on neutering my ferret, at the moment he is nearly 15 weeks old, I've been mooching around the internet trying to find the best information and here are the few questions i have 1) i know neutering has behavioural and scent benefits but do these benefits outweigh the possible health implications of adrenal? 1.5) can be neutered give any other health implications? 2) can a male ferret be shown if he doesn't have his boy bits ? (this has no effect on the health side of it but I'm curious) 3) what is the best age to get him done at should we go ahead? Thank you so much for any information you could provide on this i just want the best for my boy
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Post by Sherry on Jul 7, 2016 9:46:09 GMT -5
Hi there, I'm looking for advice on neutering my ferret, at the moment he is nearly 15 weeks old, I've been mooching around the internet trying to find the best information and here are the few questions i have 1) i know neutering has behavioural and scent benefits but do these benefits outweigh the possible health implications of adrenal? 1.5) can be neutered give any other health implications? From the time they are neutered the adrenal glands start being overstimulated. That being said- the older the better as far as surgical removal is concerned. Another option you can look at is chemical neutering with the des implant. Not so much health, but they lose a LOT of size and bulk. And if done too early never gain full growth. 2) can a male ferret be shown if he doesn't have his boy bits ? (this has no effect on the health side of it but I'm curious) Yes, but in a section referred to as "alters". 3) what is the best age to get him done at should we go ahead? Thank you so much for any information you could provide on this i just want the best for my boy If at all possible after 18 months.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2016 10:38:25 GMT -5
Thanks Sherry my ferret is a very big ferret to be honest, his dad is russian and my ferret at 14 weeks old is already 1.2kg will chemical neutering still have the behavioural effects? at the moment i know he's only a baby but he's very nippy and very strong! so hoping he grows out of it a little in time! EDITED: if i dont get him neutered would that lead to health implications ? i know female ferrets die if they are not put with a male, but dont know if males go through a similar process?
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Post by Heather on Jul 7, 2016 11:59:03 GMT -5
Being a big boy isn't going to mean he can fight off adrenal...can you try and live with his hobbish attitude. It's so much better if you can. They can be so bratty but it gets better as they grow up. A year, that's all he needs, one season and it will help hold off the adrenal issue. It's not that he's going to not get adrenal but he will get to grow bigger and stronger and have better musculature than if you alter him now ciao
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2016 13:06:54 GMT -5
Here we usually give them the neutering chip - suprelorin at as earliest 6 months or when the balls are pea-sized. One of my boys was in heat at 4,5 months, very early.. he got the suprelorin at 5 months after I consulted with the vet with the most ferret knowledge avaliable. So far he has had it for almost 2,5 years... so I guess it's time for a new one next spring.. ^_^ I have not noticed any ill effects of him getting it so young yet.
Not getting the ferret neutered will mostly lead to strong smell, pee-trails (peeing whilst walking and leaving a long trail of pee all over the floor, my least favourite heat-behaviour) peeing/pooping in all sorts of places to leave the scent and in some cases a more agressive behaviour (more biting/harder biting). Some male ferrets are still soft and nice when in heat.. my boys have not been those kinds of ferrets. *lol* Sure it's possible to live with that but personally... i prefer my boys in a more balanced state =D
I'm not sure how the ferret shows are where you live but in Sweden they are so small so neutered and intact ferrets are in the same groups.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2016 14:50:50 GMT -5
First seasons in hobs are almost always the worst! They go a little bit crackers quite honestly.
Out of my two boys who are having their first seasons this year, one has remained clean throughout his pen but he goes a bit nuts and frantically dooks everywhere. The other who is his half brother, is completely calm, soft and chilled, but has decided in an effort to ensure his space contains his scent that he should poop everywhere apart from in his litter tray. He was perfectly litter trained before being in season.
Having said that their Dad is entire and at 9 years old, apart from a little more dooking and intent sniffing where other ferrets have been, isn't any different in season to out. Although the pee trails and urine marking everything is fairly standard in all entire hobs during the breeding season and they never grow out of that.
If you can cope with a first season, please do wait until at least 18 months before neutering. If not, then I personally would opt for the suprelorin implant. I have used this in various different ferrets and personally not noted any ill effects.
Adrenal gland disease is devastating and will shorten a ferret's life drastically so I just don't feel it's worth the risk of neutering young.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2016 15:16:57 GMT -5
Thank you for all your replies ! i have made a decision ! I am going to grit my teeth through the hobbish behaviour maybe armed with oven mitts! lol i will give him until 18 months old and see what happens, if he gets calmer i will leave him intact, but again i really do want whats best for him so will avoid neutering or implant unless it really becomes that it is best for him! thank you for your advice its been so helpful!
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