By: ASPCA Ani-Med

First-time ferret keepers are often surprised to learn that their new pet must be spayed or neutered. "I don't plan to breed her," they may reason, or "Why should I have him altered if he's never going to come into contact with any unspayed female ferrets?" The fact is, this simple surgical procedure can save your pet's life.
Most companion ferrets for sale by breeders and pet shops have already been altered. This is commonly done when the animal is as young as five weeks old. However, if for some reason you have purchased an unaltered animal, it is recommended that the ferret be spayed or neutered by the time she or he is six months old.

For females, spaying is an absolute medical necessity. Unlike other mammals who go into heat for a fixed, short period of time, a ferret will stay in heat until she is bred. And if she stays in heat long enough, she will most likely become anemic from the constant blood flow to her uterus and vagina--a condition that can be fatal. The stress of the heat can also weaken her immune system, putting her at risk of disease and infection. A female can be spayed after she goes into heat, but the veterinarian will first have to administer a hormone injection to bring her out of heat. Hormone injections, however, are NOT a viable alternative to spaying.

Wondering when ferret mating season begins? If you have an unneutered male, he'll be sure to let you know. When a ferret enters rut--the period of time when he is ready, willing and able to breed--he will mark his territory with an unbelievably smelly slime. (FYI when not in rut, he will also smell much stronger than his neutered counterparts.) Unaltered ferrets also become very aggressive with other males and even females in the home; in some unfortunate cases, an unaltered male will try to kill other ferrets, even if they are neutered or spayed. For these reasons, it is strongly recommended that only neutered males be kept as pets.

If you do not want to spay or neuter your pet because you are thinking of breeding your ferret, please think again. There are so many things that can go wrong during pregnancy and, in general, female ferrets make poor mothers. It is not uncommon for mothers to fail to nurse or, in the worst case scenario, kill their young. And should she have a difficult pregnancy or labor, which happens often, the female could die. Ferret breeding should be left to the professionals. And did you know that there is a serious ferret overpopulation problem? Rescue groups and shelters are filled with fuzzballs in need of homes, If you absolutely must have another ferret, by all means consider adopting one. You'll feel good just knowing you've given an animal a second chance at a good life!