From:
ferrethealer@aol.com
Date: 2009-06-08 04:52:12 UTC
Subject: Neutering male ferrets Re: [ferrethealth] Digest Number 1548
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
In a message dated 06/07/09 1:58:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com writes:
I have a question. Is there any health concern with a male ferret that has
not been neutered? And is he for sure going to be more aggressive or can
he be tamed with lots of handling? And what is the oldest age they can be
neutered?
**In my opinion, an intact hob is likely to be quite fine healthwise until
they hit about five or six. After that, the stress of going into season can
definitely cause some problems with holding weight (as can happen with
younger hobs in some cases as well). I do recommend neutering breeding hobs
once they hit five or six (fertility drops pretty low at that age in most hobs
anyway), and non-breeding hobs once they have fully matured (at about one to
two years old, IMO) unless they are losing alarming amounts of weight
during their season before then. You also do want to watch an intact hob for
testicular problems (infection, cancer, torsion). I have also seen intact hobs
that have been in season for a while develop outward signs very typical of
adrenal disease due to the levels of testosterone.
Behavior wise, intact hobs do need to be separated during their seasons, or
they will fight and can do serious damage to other ferrets. As far as
behavior to people, though, most of my hobs tend to be sweeter and more cuddly
than the jills, even when they are really "on the prowl"!
They can be neutered at any age, as long as they are up to the anesthesia
required.
Dr. Ruth
*****************************************
Save lives - spay or neuter your pet.
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