This is part 2 of the posting on vasectomization. This part tells how it is done. It is a bit technical because it is my letter conveying a scientific paper I coauthored to a veterinarian in Tennessee who requested a copy. If you have no interest in this subject, then please go on to other postings and skip this one. However, if your ferret veterinarian should like a copy, please let me know (on his letterhead) and I am obligated by professional courtesy to send. Dr. Bxxxxx X. Bxxxx December 3rd, 1999 Pxxx Animal Clinic XXXX Winchester Road Mxxxxxx, TN 38XXX Dear Doctor Bxxxx, Thank you for you request letter of November 29,1999. Please find enclosed a copy of "A Technique for Vasectomizing Male Ferrets." This reply is not from Dr. Ryland, but from the co-author of the above paper, Edward Lipinski. I, Edward, am the founder of the organization called Ferret Endowment for Research, Rehabilitation, Education & Training Society, NorthWest, aka F.E.R.R.E.T.S., NW, or simply FNW. As a breeder of ferrets and operator of a small ferret shelter/adoption/boarding/birth control center, we employ several vasectomized ferrets to take incoming ferret jills who are in 2nd stage estrus, usually in the late Spring, out of estrus for at least 6 weeks. During this hiatus and into pseudopregnancy there is usually time to get the ferret spayed during her ownership by the adopter before she completes her seven week term and returns to a reduced state of estrus. By reduced state of estrus, I mean that this subsequent estrus is not as vigorous as the initial state, (second stage estrus asymptomatic) and often will subside without a second intervention of the vasectomized male. Of course, this practice is conditional on the health vibrancy of the female, who in any case should be monitored , at least grossly, for external symptoms of aplastic anemia, normally benign. To reduce the potential for uterine infection, we have found it advantagous to ensure superb cleanliness of the genetial areas of the mated pair immediatly prior to intromission. As an aside, we have found that rapidly repeated coitus utilizing two vasectomized males followed immediately after withdrawal that the intromission of a viripotent male results in a greatly reduced litter number, for reasons that are not understood and subject to speculation. To conclude let me emphasize that coitus proceeds optimally when the female has been separated from the male (vasectomized or viripotent) for some time during her estral development and that the female be displaying positive signs of 2nd stage estrus. Coitus attempted prematurely usually results in savage disengagement by the female and consequent "cave-man etiquette" by the unsatiated male. The aftermath may likely leave the female displaying massive trauma to the neck. And lastly, we have found that during excising the vas deferens within the tunic the paired testicular blood supply vessels, more than adequate care should be taken that neither vessel is nicked, bruised or pinched. Otherwise the result will likely be a physiologically neutered male "done the hard way." Thank you for your interest. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask and I will try to put you in touch with Dr. Rylands, who last I knew was with the HIV/AIDs division of an epidemiology group, but I can't at the moment remember where. /Signed/ Edward Lipinski F.E.R.R.E.T.S.,N.W. Enclosure. A Technique for Vasectomizing Male Ferrets. [Posted in FML issue 2887]