Hello Andria:
 
We adopted a ferret to a woman who said she had just lost her ferret.
Of course we always ask, "Oh, how old was she?"  When she said she was a
baby I immediately thought the mystery disease, but she said that after
she passed away the vet told her she died of Aplastic Anemia because she
had apparently not been spayed.  She was purchased from a large Pet Store
chain, no names.  She slipped through the cracks.  That is the only story
of someone's "personal experience" that I was told.  So, to me it appears
to be true.  I have never had a vet say that it was not true.
 
I believe most vets will say that it is about a 90% chance that if a
female ferret is allowed to go into heat without being bred she will
die.  That is a big chance.  It is called Aplastic Anemia.
 
I would discuss this with your vet or several vets before I would take a
chance with a female and not spay her.  There are many sites online for
more information on this subject.  Just type in Aplastic Anemia ferrets
into a search on Google and there are 850 sites to read.
 
Hope this helps,
 
Fran C. Freedman, President & Co-Founder
Morning Starr Animal Sanctuary
"A New Beginning..."
www.morningstarr.org
 
You may contact us at: 928-821-2420 or email: [log in to unmask] or
mail: P.O.  Box 1363, Cornville, AZ 86325
[Posted in FML issue 5196]