If the owners do not intend to breed ferrets, then to preserve the health of the animal, they are recommended to remove the gonads. Otherwise, changes in hormonal levels during the rut or estrus will lead to the animal becoming aggressive, irritable, marking its territory, smelling unpleasant, and the quality of its fur deteriorating. Therefore, castration and sterilization of a ferret is the only correct decision that helps preserve not only the health, but also the life of the ferret. After all, a female's estrus can last for several months and cause death.
Castration and sterilization: what is the difference
Many pet owners equate two completely different concepts: castration and sterilization. These are two different procedures with different consequences.
Castration translated from Latin means “emasculation”, “castration”, that is, a procedure consisting in the removal of reproductive organs through surgery.
During castration, the testes of males are removed, and the ovaries of females are removed. If complete castration is carried out, the female's uterus is also removed. During the operation, the gonads are completely removed, which means that the pets are completely deprived of reproductive function. As a result, ferrets' hormonal levels change.
Sterilization in Latin means “infertility.” During the operation, animals lose the ability to reproduce, but the genitals are preserved and no hormonal disturbances occur.
During the sterilization process, ferrets (males) have their spermatic cords ligated, and female ferrets have their uterus removed.
The two procedures have no effect on the animals' behavior.
Complications that may occur
As is the case with humans, ferrets may not be able to cope with the surgery (although this is rare). As a consequence, the occurrence of postoperative complications.
The reasons are:
- Infection or bleeding. The whole reason lies in: unsterile premises;
- poor handling of instruments for surgery;
- inexperience of the medical worker;
- failure to follow care instructions.
After chem. Sterilization may result in:
- breast disease (proliferation of mammary gland tissue);
- rapid weight gain;
- gastrointestinal diseases, etc.
In order for the results of the operation to be positive, you should carefully choose a veterinarian and follow all the advice of specialists on care and feeding.
Preparing for surgery
Regardless of which ferret surgery technique is chosen, you need to prepare for it in advance. It is important to observe the following:
- About a week before the operation, it is necessary to check his health. If you suspect any illness, you should take him to the vet.
- Stop feeding 8 hours before surgery and stop drinking 2 hours before surgery.
- Carry out wet cleaning in the apartment/room.
- Wash the cage thoroughly and remove the bedding;
- Remove food and water from the cage.
- Prepare a towel or small blanket that will be needed after the operation.
Important: Do not give your pet food or water before surgery.
If the operation is performed in a clinic, after the operation you should wrap your pet in a previously prepared towel or blanket. When transporting an animal home, you need to minimize shaking and other inconveniences.
It is worth noting that a qualified specialist can perform surgery at home.
Postoperative care
You can feed the animal only a few hours after the end of the operation, as the body must recover from anesthesia. Because of this, problems in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract may begin. If your ferret has been constipated for several days, you should give a few milliliters of petroleum jelly.
For about a week, you cannot bathe the animal, and you need to make sure that water does not get on the seams. It is advisable to limit movements (you can lock the ferret in a cage). The cage should be dry and clean so that the animal does not start licking its wound; it can be covered with a blanket (it can be easily made from a sock or a piece of dense fabric). A dry wound is treated with brilliant green. If the sutures come apart, you should immediately notify your veterinarian, he will advise you on further actions.
Should you neuter your ferret at home?
Veterinarians believe that the castration procedure will be most successful if the ferret is castrated at home. Despite the fact that the service of a doctor visiting your home will cost slightly more than a regular operation in a clinic, castration at home has beneficial advantages:
- You will reduce the stress your pet may experience from the procedure.
- The ferret will be in its usual habitat
- Recovery after surgery will be smoother and painless
If you choose home castration, you need to make sure that the operation will be performed by an experienced specialist who already has experience in similar operations. In addition, the procedure itself must be supported by modern equipment and high-quality anesthetics.
Rehabilitation
After your ferret is castrated, you must strictly adhere to all the recommendations given by the veterinarian. It is prohibited to change or prescribe any medications on your own. Any actions can be carried out only with the permission of the treating specialist.
Most often, sutures are treated with Chlorhexidine and Miramistin. Medicines destroy bacteria on the incision, preventing inflammatory processes. Zelenka and iodine can cause burns, and folk remedies after surgery are very dangerous.
In the first week, you need to carefully observe your pet’s behavior. An increase or decrease in temperature, a change in the color of the mucous membranes are the first signals that something is wrong in the body. It is better to contact the surgeon by phone or immediately take the animal to the clinic.
It is necessary to limit the ferrets’ excessive mobility after surgery and keep them in a cage for the first time.
What to do if your ferret is licking your stitches? If a nimble pet tries to reach the wound through a bandage, it is better to put a special collar on it. You can purchase it at a veterinary pharmacy or make it yourself from a plastic half-liter bottle.
Before the stitches are removed, hygiene procedures and walking outside are prohibited. Until the fur grows back, drafts must be avoided, and any temperature fluctuations must not be allowed: overheating or cooling. After surgery, the permeability of the stomach may worsen, so a one-time intake of 2 g of petroleum jelly will help protect against constipation.
Castration of a male ferret
In the 7th month of life, males begin the rut, which can last from 6 months to a year. At the same time, the ferret will not calm down after one mating, because he will need at least 4 matings with different females. Due to the increase in hormonal levels, problems with the adrenal glands may occur.
To avoid this, it is necessary to perform an operation to remove the testes. However, there is no need to rush into castration too much. The rut marks the final maturation of the animal’s body. Therefore, veterinarians advise castrating before the start of the first rut, but not before the final formation of the testes.
It is easy to notice the beginning of the rut - the pet’s behavior becomes aggressive and anxious, the testicles increase in size, and the skin begins to smell unpleasant. Foul-smelling marks appear in the apartment.
The procedure itself is done in a veterinary clinic, although an experienced doctor can do it at home. The testes are removed from the testicles through small incisions, which will heal quickly and leave no noticeable scars. You can choose general or local anesthesia; castration of the male is a very easy and quick procedure. At the same time, when the ferret is castrated, the anal glands can be removed at the same time.
At the request of the owner, you can only sterilize the ferret, limiting yourself to ligating the spermatic cords. This method will preserve the possibility of mating for the pet, but will make it infertile. However, the unpleasant odor will not go away, so ferrets are spayed infrequently.
The ferret recovers from anesthesia without complications. The sutures are removed already on the 10th day. Care after surgery is the same as for females.
After recovery, the males' character changes. The animal becomes affectionate and friendly, the aggressiveness goes away, and the ferrets stop biting. The marks also disappear. Contrary to popular belief, castration of a ferret does not cause excess weight gain and does not deprive the pet of playfulness and activity.
Surgery
The procedure takes place under general anesthesia for 30 minutes: the girl’s abdominal cavity is cut with a scalpel in a certain place that bleeds little. The uterus is removed from the abdomen, the ovaries are removed, and then stitches are placed.
Neutering a ferret is less troublesome. Anesthesia is needed in order to immobilize the nimble animal, and the operation itself takes at least 15 minutes. The boy's scrotum is carefully cut, the testes are removed and stitches are applied.
For animals of both sexes, experts recommend additional removal of the paraanal glands, which are a source of unpleasant odor. This secret is used to mark the territory, so it is better to worry about your comfort in advance.
If a person does not want to permanently deprive a pet of reproductive abilities, they practice tying the sex cords. The body continues to produce hormones, but the animals cannot conceive babies. This procedure is rarely used for small pets.
Female ferret in heat
Once started, a ferret's heat will not end without mating. Due to a hormonal imbalance, the animal will begin to lose weight, get sick often, the fur will begin to peel off, and the skin will develop a persistent smell of urine.
Therefore, it is necessary to carefully monitor the onset of puberty in the female. This usually happens at 7-8 months of life, when the first estrus begins. It is important to carry out the operation before it begins, at the age of 5-6 months. The longer you delay spaying a female ferret, the worse it will be for her. The maximum limit is 1-2 donations after maturity.
You can notice the onset of estrus in a ferret by a swollen and enlarged loop and a change in behavior.
How to remove a female from a prolonged heat
A long state of estrus - a month after the start of the rut - leads the pet to exhaustion, baldness, frequent illnesses and even internal hemorrhages. The ferret becomes lethargic and apathetic.
For treatment, you need to carefully study the blood test. And if it is no longer possible to remove the animal’s gonads, temporary measures can be taken:
- Mating with a sterilized male. This will cause ovulation and false pregnancy.
- Injection of the drug "Khorulon". It also leads to a state of false pregnancy. However, it is not recommended to use the product more than once. After such emergency care, it is necessary to sterilize the female with complete removal of the ovaries and uterus.
Sterilization of a female (fert)
There are 3 types of sterilization operations:
- Tubal ligation.
- Ovariectomy - removal of the ovaries.
- Ovariohysterotomy - removal of the ovaries and uterus.
Complete removal of the uterus and gonads is the preferred solution, since it saves the pet from possible complications and from estrus forever. Ferrets tolerate this operation easily. It lasts no more than 20-30 minutes, during which the animal is under general anesthesia.
The incision to remove the gonads is small, about 1.5 cm. The sutures are removed already on the 6-7th day. You can also use special absorbable threads for stitches that do not require removal.
After the procedure, the smell from the ferret's skin will almost completely disappear. In addition, if the paraanal glands are also removed during the operation, the problem of the unpleasant specific smell that ferrets use to mark their territory and scare off enemies can also be solved.
The animal will recover from anesthesia in ~3 hours and will not feel pain or severe discomfort. The technique of the operation is so simple that, if desired, it can be performed even at home. Of course, you need to call a highly qualified doctor for this, and the cost will be higher than in a clinic. But the pet will not experience severe tension and stress.
Chemical sterilization of a female
Some owners do not want to deprive their pets of the joy of motherhood. Then they resort to temporary methods of stopping estrus. However, sometimes the animal may develop an allergy to the chemical components of the drugs.
- Hormonal injections. They cause a state of imaginary (false) pregnancy due to forced ovulation. Estrus passes on the 8th day, but resumes after 4 - 8 weeks, and a new injection is required. This is fraught with complications of the adrenal glands or the appearance of malignant tumors.
- Prolygestone (steroid) injections. They begin to be pricked before the start of the rut. They have many side effects and contraindications and can only be used for completely healthy animals. However, they are good because they are suitable for ferrets of both sexes. They also provoke a state of imaginary (false) pregnancy in females.
- "Suprelorin" is an implant with the substance deslorelin. It is inserted under the skin with a needle. The rut stops after a month, the drug lasts for ~2 years. It does not cause discomfort to the animal and is recognized as the most effective means of chemical sterilization. It costs expensive.
Only a doctor can prescribe and use these drugs. And, of course, these methods will not solve the problem of smell and marks.
How to stop a heat
If you give the ferret the opportunity to have offspring, but cover her with a sterilized male, or do not comply with the mating dates, then the animal’s suffering will end. But in this case there is a risk of developing a false pregnancy.
Hormonal medications can be used once a season. But they are not safe for the animal’s health and can only support its body for a short time.
The most reasonable way out of the situation, if breeding ferrets is not part of the breeder’s plans, is to sterilize the female ferret.
Why spay female ferrets?
Estrus for female ferrets is even more dangerous than rutting for males. In the absence of mating, the animal cannot exit this state on its own, which provokes irreversible physiological disorders, including death. If left untreated, prolonged estrus is characterized by pet lethargy, thinness, and baldness.
The only option is castration. The term “sterilization” for female ferrets is not entirely appropriate, since this is a tubal ligation procedure, and ferrets have their ovaries removed in order to avoid repeat heat. In some cases, the uterus is also removed.
The ideal age for surgery is 6-8 months. In order to maintain the health of ferrets not intended for breeding, it is necessary to neuter both males and females on time.
Preliminary inspection
It is important to make sure that the animal is healthy and will tolerate surgery well. To do this, you need to be examined by a veterinarian a week before surgery.
- To avoid the risks of surgery, you need to carefully choose a clinic. The doctor must have experience treating ferrets - only a professional can correctly calculate the dosage of anesthesia.
- Before surgery, the veterinarian should carefully examine the pet. The doctor is also interested in the ferret’s nutrition, when signs of estrus appeared, and whether there are any specific complaints.
- Blood composition is analyzed. And if the doctor has doubts about the female’s health, they may additionally prescribe a blood biochemistry test. If blood cannot be taken, feces and urine are examined.
Before the operation, it is necessary to undergo an examination by a veterinarian and take blood tests.
The owner must remember that ferret sterilization is only possible for healthy and vaccinated animals. If the heat comes suddenly, and the female has not yet had time to receive all the vaccinations, she will be urgently administered the necessary medications. Further vaccination is discussed with the doctor.
How to care for an animal after castration
After surgery, the ferret is wrapped in a blanket or blanket to provide him with a comfortable environment and help him adapt faster.
Ferrets recover from anesthesia very quickly, but for several hours they cannot control their actions: pets can rise to their paws and immediately fall to the side, shaking their heads. Within a day, the ferret's condition returns to normal.
After the operation, it is recommended to give your pet water, but it is better to wait with feeding until he has fully recovered from the anesthesia. At first, it is recommended to keep the animal in a cage, thereby limiting its mobility.
Sutures are treated with chlorhexidine or another agent prescribed by a veterinarian.
You should not expect a drastic change in behavior from your ferret. The animals become calmer a couple of months after the operation, and over time their temperament gradually evens out.
Feeding your ferret after sterilization
After sterilization, the metabolism changes somewhat, and some processes in the animal’s body slow down.
To maintain a normal balance of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, special food is needed not only for sterilized ferrets, but for all ferrets. Ready-made professional food should be purchased only from premium and super premium manufacturers with an impeccable reputation.
Purchasing economy class food threatens to deteriorate your pet's health, because... Manufacturers of economy-class food introduce food waste, chemicals, dyes, etc. into their composition. Such nutrition will not only not help maintain the health of the pet, but will also cause irreparable damage to the condition of the animal’s body.
Bosh Totally Ferret ferret food is a complete, super premium ferret food. This food contains easily digestible proteins, vitamins and minerals that make your pet's coat smooth, shiny and silky. This food is even used in the diet of ferrets that are preparing to participate in an exhibition.
Rehabilitation period
After the operation, while the animal is still under anesthesia, it needs to be wrapped in something warm.
You should not shake your pet too much on the way home.
After the animal wakes up, it will be rocked, it may fall, shake its head and not be oriented in space. All these unpleasant symptoms will disappear on the second day.
There is no need to panic if your ferret develops a small hematoma in the area of the suture.
Veterinary help should be sought if:
- the pet is apathetic and inactive;
- he doesn't eat anything;
- there is repeated vomiting;
- the seam bleeds, festeres and leaks.
Immediately after sterilization, you can give water and only after 3-4 days feed the animal. First, give him 1/3 of the usual amount of food so that the pet does not vomit. After 30 minutes you can give more food.
The food should be soft. If the pet is accustomed to dry food, then it needs to be soaked in water for 14-21 days.
In the first 2 days after the operation, the animal’s stool should be monitored; of course, after anesthesia, its consistency will change; if it does not return to normal, then you should consult a veterinarian.
The animal must not be allowed to move actively for 48-72 hours, otherwise it may disturb the suture. It is best to keep your pet in a cage during this time.
In the morning and evening, the seam is treated with an antiseptic solution or antibiotic ointment. For this purpose, you can use a solution of chlorhexidine or hydrogen peroxide, Levomekol ointment (its excess must be removed so that the animal does not lick it off). If a crust has formed in the suture area, the surgical site should be wiped with calendula tincture before applying an antiseptic.
To prevent the animal from licking the seam, you need to put on a collar or blanket.
You cannot bathe or walk your pet for 2-3 weeks after sterilization.
You need to constantly clean the cages and clean the bedding. After surgery, the animal should walk in a bare tray. Do not use wood filler, otherwise it will come into contact with the seam.
Life of a ferret after castration
Castration will have a positive effect not only on the ferret’s health, but also on its overall quality of life. The male will again become playful, affectionate, obedient, cheerful, aggression will disappear, the smell of the skin and hormonal levels will normalize, and sexual desire will no longer bother him.
Castration will not affect your ferret's activity or weight in any way. He will continue to be active throughout his life and will remain at his normal weight. Neutered ferrets will not be lazy and put on weight like cats.
In addition, the risk of cancer and adrenal gland diseases in the animal will decrease, and according to statistics, life expectancy will also increase.
Alternative to surgical sterilization
Some breeders prefer not to subject their pets to surgery. They sterilize a female ferret using medication. In this case, reproductive functions are restored over time.
Some types of chemical sterilization:
- Hormonal injections. They provoke the appearance of an imaginary pregnancy. It evokes the instinct of motherhood in the female - the ferret will take care of someone from the environment. Hormones and false pregnancy can harm the health of the animal.
- Prolygestone injections. They act on the same principle as hormonal ones. Indicated only for animals with impeccable health. They have a huge list of contraindications and side effects.
- Expensive Suprelorin implant. It is injected under the skin without anesthesia and does not cause any discomfort to the animal. Valid for 1-2 years.
Medications can cause allergic reactions and must be used under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Chemical sterilization does not remove the unpleasant odor and may not affect the aggressive behavior of the animal.
Relationship between surgical castration and the development of hyperadrenocorticism in ferrets
In an unspayed ferret, luteinizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland acts on the testes and ovaries, stimulating the gonads to secrete sex hormones.
After castration, LH continues to be produced in the pituitary gland, but since the gonads are absent, the target tissue becomes the adrenal glands, which contain receptors for LH (after removal of the gonads, the feedback mechanism for suppressing the production of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which is used to suppress the production of gonadotropin-releasing hormone in a healthy ferret, disappears). production of LH and FSH).
Under the influence of prolonged stimulation, adrenal hyperplasia and neoplasms - adenomas and adenocarcinomas (hyperadrenocorticism) occur. A correlation has been described between the age of castration and the time of manifestation of symptoms of hyperadrenocorticism (the earlier one was castrated, the earlier the disease manifests itself).
The incidence of hyperadrenocorticism in the population of castrated ferrets, according to various authors, is estimated at 20-80%, which is very high.
The main clinical signs of hyperadrenocorticism in ferrets are: spontaneous alopecia (hair loss), itching, enlargement of the skin of the vulva in females, urinary disorders in males (development of prostate cysts). Provided castration is over 7 months of age, the average age of development of hyperadrenocorticism is 3-4 years.
Unfortunately, chemical castration cannot 100% guarantee the absence of the development of hyperadrenocorticism (since this disease has also been described in non-castrated animals), but the likelihood of the disease occurring is several times lower. Photos 5 and 6. Typical appearance of a ferret with hyperadrenocorticism.
Operation at home
This procedure can be carried out not only in a specialized clinic, but also at home, it is not complicated, the most important thing here is the experience and qualifications of the veterinarian. But the owner and pet will not experience unnecessary stress and tension. In a familiar home environment, the operation will be more comfortable for both of them.
During sterilization, it is recommended to remove the paraanal glands - these are miniature sacs with yellow liquid secretion, located on both sides of the anus, they emit an unpleasant odor, in this case the ferret will not have to be subjected to general anesthesia twice. Their removal is a prevention of the development of possible inflammation and abscess that occurs when the glands are overfilled. Their presence is relevant in the animal’s natural habitat, in the wild, where they are used to scare away enemies and mark their territory; in the home environment they lose their functions.
The pet owner should not worry; the female animal tolerates the procedure easily.
After the operation, the ferret becomes more joyful, healthy, his excess aggressiveness and the desire to mark his territory disappear. And if the pet is happy, then the owner is happy.
Points for and against
Opponents of castration of ferrets are owners who do not have experience in breeding and keeping these animals. The main arguments that are usually put forward against the operation are: inhumane treatment of the animal and deprivation of its ability to reproduce.
As a result, an animal that does not have the opportunity to mate is in constant psychological stress, and a prolonged rut, which causes the production of an increased amount of sex hormones, causes the ferret to become bald and develop many dangerous pathologies.
Often, owners seek medical help too late, and sterilization performed on an adult pet does not help restore the ferret’s lost health.
Veterinarians and experienced breeders advocate the need for castration of ferrets. Removing the gonads, in their opinion, is much more humane than exposing the animal to constant stress and the risk of developing aplastic anemia and other diseases.
pros
The positive aspects of castration of ferrets include the following:
- Males stop leaving unpleasant-smelling marks, and the pungent odor from the pet itself disappears.
- Ferrets stop searching for a sexual partner, become calmer and more obedient, and are easier to train.
- After the intervention, fights and rivalry between individuals of the same sex stop.
- Life expectancy increases, the likelihood of developing certain dangerous pathologies decreases.
Minuses
The disadvantages include possible complications after surgery and side effects of hormonal drugs that are used for chemical sterilization of ferrets.
At what age should I do it?
The ideal age for manipulation is 7-9 months. It is advisable to carry out the operation before the age of 8-9 years, later - only for medical reasons.
To avoid health problems in the future, after removing the female from breeding, she should also be sterilized.
The myths that pregnancy and childbirth at least once in a lifetime are necessary to maintain and preserve health and that nothing threatens the pet after pregnancy remain myths.
The period of gestation and birth of puppies is a serious test for the animal’s body, after which not only complications can arise, but also a number of dangerous diseases.
Constant mating (since the choriha can be in heat all year round) will lead to rapid exhaustion and death of the animal.
conclusions
- Chemical castration is the method of choice for suppressing sexual behavior in ferrets; placement of Suprelorin implants is a safe alternative to surgical castration
- Surgical castration is the method of choice if there are medical indications for removal of the uterus, ovaries, testes (neoplasms, inflammation, trauma, etc.)
- Regular placement of Suprelorin implants is recommended for all previously neutered ferrets to prevent hyperadrenocorticism.
Methods
Veterinarians practice two methods of castration:
- chemical;
- surgical.
Let's look at each of them in more detail.
Chemical
This method involves the use of special drugs, including hormonal, steroid and implants. Each of them gives a temporary effect and is fraught with the following consequences:
- Hormonal drugs are intended only for females. They give the effect of an imaginary pregnancy. As a result, estrus stops on the 8th day. After 4-8 weeks it resumes, after which a second injection is required. A significant disadvantage of this method is the development of various tumors.
- Steroid drugs are good because they are suitable for both sexes. The disadvantages include the absence of diseases in the pet at the time of injection and a large number of side effects.
- Implants, the main disadvantage of which is their high cost. Today they are the most effective remedy and have no side effects. The main advantage of the drug is its validity period, 2 years.
Chemical castration does not relieve the animal of the desire to leave marks and the unpleasant smell of fur.
Surgical
Surgery, which is performed under general anesthesia, is the most optimal for the ferret. At the same time, the risks of developing complications are minimal.
The technique of the operation depends on the sex of the animal. Thus, when a male ferret is castrated, the seminal glands are removed. The operation time varies around 10-20 minutes.
In females, surgical intervention in the case of removal of the uterus along with the ovaries takes a little longer.
It is worth noting that, if the owner wishes, a pair of anal glands can be removed from the pet. As a result, after some time, the pet’s fur will acquire a normal smell.
Ferret sterilization progress
The surgeon’s actions are approximately the same for all breeds of pets.
- The dosage of anesthesia is selected. Anesthesia can be intravenous, intramuscular and inhalational (gas). Inhalation anesthesia is the safest, but requires complex and expensive equipment, which is not available in all clinics. After administering anesthesia, the doctor has an hour to carry out sterilization. After the operation is completed, the animal will sleep for several more hours.
- The ferret is fixed on the operating table in the dorsal position. The doctor shaves the fur on the operated area and treats the skin with antiseptics.
- The genitals are amputated. The doctor makes an incision (usually two) through which the organs are removed.
- The surgeon places sutures that dissolve on their own or must be removed after 7-10 days.
- The owner is given instructions on how to care for the pet after surgery.
The whole action takes about an hour.
Complications of ferret spaying
The more experienced the surgeon, the lower the risk of complications, but they cannot be completely eliminated even with the most qualified doctor.
- Some ferrets are prone to allergies and will have unexpected reactions to anesthesia that cannot be predicted in advance.
- Weight gain. This complication is not caused by sterilization itself, but by a decrease in hormone production. To eliminate the problem, you need to consider a healthy lifestyle for your ferret, reducing the amount of food and increasing the pet’s physical activity.
- Inflammation or suture dehiscence. Usually occurs when the owner does not properly care for the animal. If this complication is detected, you should immediately consult a doctor who will prescribe antibiotics.
- Infection of an animal during sterilization due to insufficient hygiene measures. This only happens to incompetent surgeons, so it is fundamentally important to choose your doctor responsibly.
Complications do not occur in all ferrets; the advantages of sterilization outweigh the possible disadvantages.
Age restrictions
To reduce the risk of complications, the castration process should be carried out in a timely manner. Veterinarians warn novice ferret lovers against carrying out this procedure too early, before the animals have completed the formation of the genitourinary system and while the animals are growing. Both of these processes are completed by the end of puberty. Therefore, it is necessary to sterilize animals no earlier than they reach sexual maturity.
The first signs of puberty in female ferrets begin to appear at about six months of age. Therefore, the most optimal time for their castration is considered to be 6-8 months of age. At the same time, some veterinarians advise carrying out the procedure even before the start of estrus, while others recommend doing it after it has started.
Important! The physiology of each ferret is individual, so the time of castration for each individual must be selected individually.
The onset of maturity in a female can be determined by her behavior. An animal ready for mating begins to show anxiety that seems unreasonable at first glance, and the ferret’s appetite worsens. Also, females, like males, can leave urinary marks.
Among the external signs, it is worth paying attention to the enlargement of the outer part of the urogenital opening (loop).
If you have doubts about the correctness of your observations and whether the animal has reached sexual maturity, it is recommended to contact a specialist who will determine the time of castration.
