Ferrets - Neutering

It has always been customary for vets to recommend surgical neutering of ferrets.

Unfortunately, it is now clear that this has been a major factor in the large increase in cases of adrenal gland disease.

This is due to ferrets being seasonal breeders with daylight changes being the trigger for onset of hormonal changes each season. When the gonads are removed, the light changes still occur and the hormone cascade is initiated – however, there is nothing for them to act on except the adrenals which become overstimulated.

Timing of neutering does have an effect – the earlier it is done, the earlier adrenal disease will occur.

We must therefore look for alternatives to surgical neutering:

Jills

Hormone injections may be given when the jill comes into season. Hormone injections are rapidly effective with the jill coming out of season in 1-2 weeks.

In some years, one hormone injection suffices. However, sometimes two or three are needed – it is important for owners to watch out for the signs of coming into season (the swollen vulva, hair loss, extra skin smell).

On no account should jills be left in season – unless mated or artificially brought out of season they will develop a potentially fatal anaemia.

Hobs

This is trickier as there is currently no effective chemical means of bringing hobs out of season and the entire hob is not a pleasant animal with sticky fur and a very strong scent.

It is likely that effective hormone implants will be available in the next few years. However, for now owners only have three choices;

1. Only keep jills.
2. Keep hobs outdoors only.
3. Have hobs castrated.  If this is to be done then it should always be performed after puberty – this will at least delay the onset of adrenal disease.

Vasectomy will not reduce the smell of the ferret, nor will descenting operations (these are unethical in Australia and New Zealand).

However, vasectomized “teaser” hobs may be kept with jills to bring them out of season (instead of hormone injections). This is very effective for working ferrets, though it must be noted that teasers should not be shared between ferret colonies for reasons of disease control. In show or pet jills it should be remembered that ferret mating is rough and jills kept with teasers will develop fur loss and wounds over their shoulders where grabbed by the hob.