I absolutely agree with Bill Killian on this one. As a breeder, I strongly urge new owners of my kits NOT to descent. Although most of the ferret farms including Marshall Farms and Path Valley descent their kits before shipping to pet stores, I know that Marshall does not recommend descenting older ferrets. Surgery is more difficult and recovery longer when ferrets are older - even just a few months old. And it's not really necessary. ALL animals have anal glands - even dogs and cats will express their anal glands when hit by a cat, attacked by a strange animal, or severely frightened. As Bill said, it dissapates within a minute or two and then is gone. It's not like a skunk spray that hands whoops - hangs - with you forever, and it's not directed at your like a skunk. Neutering is what makes the difference. Unfortunately, several years ago before I was wise to the ways of this info, I had 2 of ferrets descented.....and re-descented.....and re-descented. Some vets don't have a handle on the procedure. This one didn't. In fact everyone I know who had ferrets done by him had to be re-done. If you leave one little smidgen of tissue inside, it's enough to keep producing secretions only now the secretions don't have a complete sac to enter in to, and a cyst forms. I learned my lesson the hard way and when someone asks me about descenting now, I strongly urge them to forget it..... Some kits blow bombs during their early months....it's kind of like sowing wild oats. They do grow out of it as they grow older. I have 7 undescented ferrets and they are all well-behaved unless they get in a serious spat with a sibling, but blowing a bomb is a rare thing these days. One more thing: I feel there's an additional safety measure in not descenting. When animals don't feel one, they tend to stop grooming themselves. This makes them smell like they blew a bomb. I have found this to be a great way to indicate if a ferret is coming down with something - when they stop grooming and start to smell a little bit. It's too early in the AM - too many typos....when they don't feel WELL, I meant to type, not ONE!! Debbie Riccio WNYFLFA [Posted in FML issue 1146]