From:
ferrethealer@aol.com
Date: 2010-03-13 01:23:54 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Amputated foot
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
"Thank you. Now is this strictly a behavioural issue (1st time mom jitters) or does it appear to run in genetic lines (nervous, high anxiety)? Would she be better with her next litter or would you spay her and opt for a different Jill? Is this a common problem? By preventing stress what would you suggest? Solitude, away from other ferret, limit human contact??? I've heard of the behaviour mentioned a few times but have never had the opportunity to discuss it, I'm very interested but am unsure if this is a topic for this forum."
For the most part this seems to be a first time mom thing, although even experienced jills can do this if they become stressed. It does not, to my knowledge, seem to run in genetic lines, although since the tendency to be more anxious certainly can, it's something to consider. Many jills that have done this with one litter have had subsequent litters without any mutilation occuriing, so it's not really a reason in and of itself to not breed the jill again. In my own family, the jill will be four next year, so will not be bred again, but her age is the reason for that, not her mothering skills (which, given the care she took of her litter after this occurred, were excellent overall). Sadly, yes, there is a high rate of mutilation in first litters, when compared to dogs and cats. Much less than in the rodents, though.
Stress reducers can include all of the above, but depend on the jill. I've had jills want me to hold their hands, so to speak, during labor, and jills that wanted only to be left alone. Some jills do best alone, some with another jill. Pain from mastitis or retained placentas can cause mutilation behavior, as well, so the breeder needs to be alert for those things.
Dr. Ruth
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