From:
Roger Vaughn
Date: 2002-01-05 19:52:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Photoperiods and sleeping quarters
Hi, Dr. Murray.
Unfortunately, that doesn't answer my question. It's a good intro,
though. I understood this part of it. Let me try to rephrase my
question a little bit.
Ok, let's suppose my ferrets sleep in a total-darkness nest (they do).
Now suppose they come out to play at say, 10pm, when the house lights
are on.
Does this light at 10pm affect the photoperiod their bodies are
sensing, or does the time they spend sleeping in the darkness during
the day make up for it?
Another way of putting it is this: they spend most of the time in the
dark. If they come out to play at 10am, 4pm, and 10pm in the light,
and then at 4am in the dark, do their bodies still interpret this as a
12 hour+ photoperiod? I would assume the answer would be yes if they
also keep a 24 hour circadian body clock.
Thanks!
Roger
Digger and Bear
> Hi Roger,
> The photoperiods are important for intact ferrets
> and for ferrets that have been spayed or neutered.
> For intact ferrets the photoperiod is what controls
> the breeding season. In the springtime as the days
> become longer (ie.more light) the melatonin level
> is decreased. Ferrets shed, put on their summer
> coat, and lose some weight. Plus the breeding
> season starts. In the fall as the days become shorter
> (ie less light and more darkness) the melatonin level is
> increased. Ferrets shed, put on their thick winter coat,
> and gain their winter weight. Plus the breeding season
> ends.
> Now for pet ferrets that have been spayed/neutered, the
> photoperiod is also important. The adrenal glands are
> "acting like ovaries or testicles" because they have LH
> receptors on them. Thus if they are kept indoors with
> artificial lights on at night time, they are being kept in
> "long day" photoperiods (like spring/summer time). This
> stimulates the adrenal glands. With chronic stimulation
> the adrenal glands produce the sex hormones, and this
> may cause adrenal gland disease with time. Unfortunately
> most pet ferrets are spayed/neutered at an early age,
> kept indoors under "long day" photoperiods, and are at
> risk for adrenal gland disease.
> Keeping your ferrets in a fall/winter like photoperiod
> (8-10hours of light,14-16 hours of dark) may help prevent
> the stimulation to the adrenal glands and adrenal gland problems.
> Treatment with melatonin simulates a fall/winter photoperiod
> which causes a decrease in the LH levels which stops the
> stimulation to the adrenal glands. This in turn stops the
> overproduction of the sex hormones by the adrenal glands.
> So the big picture is to keep your ferrets in a dark room
> at night time! Try to keep them in the dark just like they would
> be if outdoors during the fall/winter time!
> Hope that answers your question,
> Jerry Murray, DVM