How To Choose a Baby Ferret (Part 2)

By Eric Shefferman

  Part 1 of this article appeared in FerretNews #93

Neutering

  Altering is another word for neutering. When it is done to a female ferret, it is called spaying. When it is done to a male ferret it is called castration. For our discussion, they all functionally mean the same thing -- the animal can no longer reproduce and no longer has reproductive urges.

  The ferrets from a private breeder will usually not be neutered. As per the comments (in part 1 of this article) about non-neutered ferrets, if your ferret is going to just be your pet then you will want to neuter your ferret. This is an operation done by a veterinarian and it will cost more or less depending on the general costs of vet care where you live and the amount of ferret experience your vet has. Some vets may consider neutering a female ferret to be a more difficult operation and charge accordingly.

  Note: Ferrets sold in pet stores commonly come from large breeding “farms” and as part of that process, they have already been neutered before they even reach the pet stores.

  We’ve had ferrets since 1992 and we’ve heard arguments for early neutering and arguments for neutering the ferret after it has reached maturity. In the pet world there have long been arguments for both sides of this.

  Personally we have not seen any major health advantages from late neutering over early neutering in our own ferrets or in the ferrets of close friends.

  Anecdotal stories abound on both sides of this issue. We’ve heard of both early alter and late alter ferrets living to ripe old ages of 10, 11, 12 years -- and we’ve heard of ferrets of all kinds dying at less than a year old of some bizarre cancer.

  Different people have different agendas: they want to push the ferrets they are breeding, they are against any kind of animal farm, whatever it may be. Very few private breeders keep good records of ferret health in their lines or records for a sufficient number of generations back (ferrets are bred while they are way too young to determine their long-term health). We’ve seen plenty of people be coerced into silence after an expensive “show ferret” from a private breeder died too young. At the very least, use caution when someone promises you that a ferret will have exceptional health properties.

Some pros and cons of early alter and late alter ferrets

  Early neutering (ferrets in pet stores are often sold already neutered)

• They are usually neutered and descented at the same time.
• The operation is usually done when they are so young that they heal completely in a few days (you probably won’t see where the incision was).
•  It is one less surgery you will have to do (which means one less day of worry for you).
• The cost is included in the cost of the ferret.

  Late neutering (you usually have to neuter a ferret you get from a private breeder)

• Late neuter ferrets usually grow larger than early neuter ferrets.
• Some people claim there are health benefits due to late neutering. (I have not personally witnessed any great examples of this, but some people claim it.)
• You’ll have to find a vet and schedule the surgery yourself.
• You’ll have to plan to pay for the surgery (some breeders include details of this, suggest vets with discounts, or even include it in their sale contract)

Descenting

  Ferrets have anal scent glands that they can use when they are frightened or feel threatened (much like skunks).

  Often when ferrets are altered young, the anal scent glands are removed at the same time since it does not add to the difficulty of the operation. This does *not* change the musky smell of the ferret! Although some ferrets smell more ferrety than others, the anal scent glands have nothing to do with that -- ferrets have other scent glands around their body that emit ferrety-ness all the time.

  When ferrets are altered later, the anal scent glands are not affected.

  We’ve had both ferrets with their scent glands removed and ferrets that still had their scent glands. You could not tell the difference by looking at them or smelling them (they all had their own personal ferrety scent).

  The ones with their scent glands would occasionally let off a stink -- and when they did you knew it. Since this is under their control, it usually only happened when they were frightened by something (like a loud noise) or if they were having a bad dream. While the smell is unpleasant, it dissipates in a few minutes -- it is nowhere near as strong as a skunk’s spray.

  Just to repeat this: Descenting will not take away a ferret’s ferrety smell. That is just the nature of the animal. Learn to love having their musk on you, your blankets, your sweaters, etc. or don’t get a ferret.

See Part 3 of this article in the next FerretNews newsletter