Mary wrote: >Subject: Re: Ferret Lifespan > >>One cannot but wonder how long a neutered/spayed human being could >>live compared to an intact man. > >I don't know about castrated males but there are many women who have >been spayed, although we humans call it hysterectomy, who live to a >ripe old age. Admittedly they tend to have been operated on as adults >not as babies like many ferrets in America. One more point on human hysterectomies-- humans take hormonal supplementation afterwards... something young ferrets do not receive! Meanwhile they are castrated/ spayed priori to major growth & development ( we are talking main stream pet shop ferrets) so their musculature, bone density and immune systems do NOT fully develop. I am so enlightened to hear that Dr Shoemaker stated at the IFC symposium that effects of spay/neuter DO set in and adrenal complications are apparent 3 years after spay/neuter. That falls right into my observations here of both early & late alter ferrets. Can't wait to see his study published! Alicia at Ferret Wise www.ferretwise/org [Posted in FML 6160]