Lisa Mesplay <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
 
>...and not for the better.  Background:  We have two ferrets, a 15-month
>old male light sable named Raphael and an 8-month old female silver mitt
>named Bug.  We've had them for four months or so and thought we knew them
>pretty well, but lately Raphael's behavior has taken an alarming turn.
>He was fixed and descented long before we got him, and he has always been
>the most gentle and affectionate boy.
 
<snip,snip>
 
>We know he has actually been neutered but we poked around Down
^^^^  >There a little anyway just to see if anything has grown back!
||||
Fine, but does _he_ know it? :-)
 
This behavor looks to me as a typical puberty crisis. Since he was
born rather late in the year, this would have been his first season and
there might, even though he is neutered, still be enough hormonal activity
 
to induce this behavior.
 
The stress he experiences when forced to 'claim new territories' in your
new apartment could also strengthen his urge for manliness and virility.
 
I really don't think you should worry. He'll probably grow out of this
strange behavior, when all of his body finds out that he is fixed.
 
But this brings up another question...
 
In Sweden, the common practice among vets and ferret owners is to not
neuter nor spay the ferrets until they actually are in sesaon.
(Descenting is BTW extremly rare)
 
Supposedly this means that there is a less complicated operation and
accordingly less risky. For the male a local anaesthesia is enough and
he doesn't even need any stitches.
 
I understand that the obscure legislation of some of the states in the
US make it impossible to sell unneutered/unspayed kits, but it would
be interesting to learn if there are any medical reasons for neutering
and spaying at a young age.
 
Best regards from Sweden
 
Gugge Tvrnquist
[Posted in FML issue 1118]