I have two ferrets, Pan (neutered, 1 1/2 yrs) and Io (7 months). When I bought Io, the store said that she had been spade. But I know a few people that have bought female ferrets from the same store and they were told that they were altered, but they were not. I was wondering if there was any way to tell if she has been spade. She does not have a scare. How old are they when they go into heat and are there any signs I could recognize that would tell me if she was in heat? I have been told that a ferret will die if they go into heat and do not mate, is this true? My vet said he could perform surgery on her and see if she had been spade. But I would hate for him to cut her open for no reason. What should I do? Ginger, Pan and Io [Posted in FML issue 0817]