To anon with the stinky female ferret:
        Since you said your female has a "hole", it sounds like the vet
screwed up the operation.  One of the OFA shelter ferrets, Kira, was
"spayed" by a doctor who did not know what he was doing.  He ended up
removing the entire vulva.  As a result, she also has a hole.  It's also
possible that the vet did not remove the scent gland entirely, but since
ferrets don't usually "smell bad" even without the scent gland removed,
it's more likely to be caused by an infection.  Kira seems to be very
suspectible to bladder infections. She has been on antibiotics numerous
times, but since she has been eating a special diet (I think it's Science
Diet C/D for cats), she has not had as many infections.  Also, if she has
had her vulva accidently removed, don't use kitty litter.  It seems to
cause a lot of infections.  Try using a recycled paper product such as
Crown bedding or Good Mews. Vets are probably tough to find in a FFZ, but
I might suggest one OTHER than the one that did the surgery. Good Luck!
 
Another problem we have encountered at the shelter was a "spayed" female
going into season. A vet was paid big $$$ to do emergency surgery for an
intestional problem and volunteered to do the spay.  After this >$600
surgery, it seems he did not remove the entire ovary.  Ferrets organs are
encased in a thick layer of fat (according to our now GREAT vet) and
unless the vet knows what he is doing, he can easily botch the job.  Our
highly competent vet removed the remainder of the ovary and the ferret is
now fine.
 
        - Carla Almaraz
 
[Posted in FML issue 0909]