I have a male and a female ferret. They are both fixed. My husband said he saw Bear on top of Rockie this morning and it looked like he was humping her. Do ferrets do this? I told him they could have been playing.. but he doesn't think so.
goingpostal
Holistic Mentor Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Post by goingpostal on Feb 14, 2011 10:30:40 GMT -5
How old is Bear? They could have been just wrestling, but mating behavior is also a common sign of adrenal disease. Was he grabbing her around the neck at all?
They'll do that if they have adrenal, unfortunately. Although, it could have been simple dominance. Are there any other indicators it could be adrenal disease? Fur thinning, diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, etc?
Ferrets: Contessa Kitties: Watson, Oskar DIP Sinnead, Vincent, Boris, Zeus and Athena, Willow, Mr. Frodo, Indie, Lucrezia, Judge, Odin, Miss Emily, Suki, Cody, Aristotle, Butterscotch, Frankenfurter. RIP Herne, Ligeia, and Mr. Stubbs
How old is Bear? They could have been just wrestling, but mating behavior is also a common sign of adrenal disease. Was he grabbing her around the neck at all?
My husband said he was grabbing her neck. Bear is about 1 1/2 he is not showing any signs for adrenal..
They'll do that if they have adrenal, unfortunately. Although, it could have been simple dominance. Are there any other indicators it could be adrenal disease? Fur thinning, diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, etc?
No there are no signs of adrenal.. :/ He looks and acts healthy.
Even if he has no other symptoms, he could still be adrenal
Is their a test that can get done if they are not showing any signs? How much does that usually cost? He's so young and well taken care of. He's my baby. It would really break my heart to know that he is sick..
goingpostal
Holistic Mentor Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Post by goingpostal on Feb 14, 2011 10:47:48 GMT -5
I have a couple that the mating behavior was their only symptom at first, one has lost hair and mass quickly after but the other one hasn't, every adrenal is different. And my first was that age when she was confirmed adrenal and her only sign was slightly thinning hair and super itchiness, we did the Tenn. panel to be sure.
How often has he done this? Just the once, or has it become a regular behaviour. Also- if he was simply scruffing her, that is normal ferret behaviour, especially from a dominant to a submissive ferret. Or how they wrestle. This is normal wrestling behaviour:
Ferrets: Contessa Kitties: Watson, Oskar DIP Sinnead, Vincent, Boris, Zeus and Athena, Willow, Mr. Frodo, Indie, Lucrezia, Judge, Odin, Miss Emily, Suki, Cody, Aristotle, Butterscotch, Frankenfurter. RIP Herne, Ligeia, and Mr. Stubbs
The ferret adrenal panel is $70, but that doesn't count your vet visit, lab fees, and shipping. It might be cheaper to look into getting a couple shots of Lupron and seeing if the mating stops. If it does, you're probably dealing with adrenal. If not, it might just be play.
I believe Mustelidmusk got the adrenal panel done for her kids, so maybe she can give you Abbott accurate cost estimate.
goingpostal
Holistic Mentor Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Post by goingpostal on Feb 14, 2011 10:54:26 GMT -5
Also you can run the Tenn. Panel, but it's not 100% and is rather expensive, I think mine was $150 and this was 6 years ago, we did it because Precious was very young, no classic adrenal signs yet, but I knew something was wrong with her and wanted to make sure before commencing with surgery. Now with my current two, I diagnosed based on the mating behavior, hair loss and my vet put them on monthly Lupron shots (there are a few hormonal options, much more info in the health section). Adrenal ferrets can live quite a while, my first never reoccured after her surgery and lived another 3 years, ultimately it was lymphoma and insulinoma that took her. My current two 5-7 months past diagnosis, one is fine, the other is doing ok with some weight and hair loss. I don't see losing either of them from adrenal anytime soon, although it's possible. In the scope of ferret diseases, I would take adrenal over most.
How often has he done this? Just the once, or has it become a regular behaviour. Also- if he was simply scruffing her, that is normal ferret behaviour, especially from a dominant to a submissive ferret. Or how they wrestle. This is normal wrestling behaviour:
This is the only time that I know of that he has done this. She is usually the one to top him and scruff him. But I know she's only playing. I showed my husband the video and he said he was laying on top of her scruffing her neck and she was trying to get him. I asked my husband if he was humping her and he said it looked like it. Bear is a big boy and she is a little one so when he mounts her or wrestles her he has the advantage.. Should I wait and see if it was just play or something else?
Last Edit: Feb 14, 2011 11:05:09 GMT -5 by rajh08
goingpostal
Holistic Mentor Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Post by goingpostal on Feb 14, 2011 11:19:11 GMT -5
I would just keep an eye on him, often if it's not wrestling, the pinned ferret will usually make their unhappiness known, if I hear a lot of screaming or squeaking from my ferret room, I pretty much know my adrenal boy has a hold of someone and have to go up and separate them, if it's play and you hear screaming, by the time you check it out they are usually done with whatever mischief and looking completely innocent or asleep.
I'd certainly be taking a wait and see approach. One of my adrenal girls will mount the others. She actually looks like she's going for a ride on their backs. She straddles them, like she's sitting on their back, and stays there while they walk along I've REALLY got to try to get a video of it.
Ferrets: Contessa Kitties: Watson, Oskar DIP Sinnead, Vincent, Boris, Zeus and Athena, Willow, Mr. Frodo, Indie, Lucrezia, Judge, Odin, Miss Emily, Suki, Cody, Aristotle, Butterscotch, Frankenfurter. RIP Herne, Ligeia, and Mr. Stubbs
I'd certainly be taking a wait and see approach. One of my adrenal girls will mount the others. She actually looks like she's going for a ride on their backs. She straddles them, like she's sitting on their back, and stays there while they walk along I've REALLY got to try to get a video of it.
Aww that's funny lol! I love how shes so tiny but will totally take the big beast on and jump on him. I think I will wait and see if it keeps happening and if anything else occurs. Thank you :
Thank you :