Message Number: SG10437 | New FHL Archives Search
From: "katharine"
Date: 2004-09-03 12:00:35 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] age at neutering
To: "Ferret Health List" <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <008901c491ad$9f35a800$27102cc7@D1CW2811>

I recently took 3 ferrets in for fostering. They are all retired breeders.=
The youngest is a 4 y.o. She was desexed well after she reached sexual m=
aturity, and after having one or more litters. Prior to her being delivere=
d to me, it was noticed that her nipples were very dark. The vet said she =
was either pregnant or adrenal. She had previously had deformed babies and=
the breeder had her spayed. So, it was likely adrenal, but needed to be d=
ealt with either way. Surgery was performed and her left adrenal gland was=
diseased, and removed. =

I also bought two kits from a breeder several years ago, a brother and sist=
er. They were desexed at about 8 months of age, well after the males testi=
cles has descended, and he went into rut. He developed adrenal disease bef=
ore he was 3 y.o. and actually had 2 surgeries. I'm sure many of you remem=
ber Champ, my little boy with renal failure. That's who I'm talking about.=
His sister, Blaze, never developed adrenal disease but died from lymphoma=
at 3 y.o.

Katharine
http://community.webshots.com/user/katharine524