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How to Get Your Ferret Spayed or Neutered

Three Parts:Scheduling the ProcedureBringing Your Ferret to the VetProviding Post-Operative CareCommunity Q&A

Ferrets are lovable pets, but breeding them is challenging and only recommended for experts. Having your furry friend spayed or neutered is best for its health, especially for female ferrets. While most ferrets are already fixed before they’re sold, some breeders leave their kits, or young ferrets, intact. If your ferret does need to be fixed, try to relax when you bring your ferret in for the operation. Remember that spaying and neutering are safe and routine, and that ferrets heal quickly. With a little post-operative care, your pet will be back to its normal routine in a day or two.  

Part 1
Scheduling the Procedure

  1. 1
    Verify that your ferret isn’t already spayed or neutered. Ferrets sold at pet stores are almost always already spayed or neutered. Many breeders also spay or neuter kits, or young ferrets, before selling them.[1]
    • Purchasing a ferret that’s already spayed or neutered is in your best interest, since the operation can cost a lot of money.
    • If the store is uncertain, you can also take the ferret to the vet. The vet can tell you whether or not it has been spayed or neutered.
  2. 2
    Spay or neuter your ferret when it’s four to six months old. Most exotic small animal vets recommend spaying or neutering a ferret between four and six months, or before it reaches sexual maturity. This allows enough time for a young ferret to grow normally, but lowers the risk for health and behavioral issues related to sexual maturity.[2]
    • Most ferrets sold at pet stores are spayed or neutered at three weeks, which is probably too early. While it’s not well understood, there’s a correlation between spaying or neutering a ferret at a young age and adrenal disease.[3]
  3. 3
    Schedule the procedure with an experienced small animal vet. Search online, ask friends who own ferrets, or consult your local ferret owners group for a referral to an exotic small animal vet. Ferrets have become popular pets, so it’s not hard to find a ferret vet in most areas.[4]
    • While spaying and neutering are routine procedures, it’s important to have an experienced vet perform the operation.[5]
    • Call the vet’s office to make appointments for the procedure and for any required preliminary exams.
  4. 4
    Ask the vet if they descent ferrets during spay or neuter surgery. When you make the appointment, consult the vet about descenting your ferret. Descenting is when the anal glands are removed along with the reproductive organs. While most pet store ferrets are descented, there’s some debate over whether it’s a necessary and humane procedure.[6]
    • Spaying and neutering alone help reduce the smell ferrets produce. The notorious ferret odor is produced by skin glands, not by the anal glands.
    • When a ferret feels threatened, it does spray a secretion from its anal glands. However, this occurs rarely and the smell dissipates quickly, so many ferret vets and organizations are against removing the anal glands. The American Ferret Association, for instance, opposes descenting unless a ferret’s health is in jeopardy.[7]

Part 2
Bringing Your Ferret to the Vet

  1. 1
    Take away food and water three to four hours before surgery. Fast your ferret for three to four hours before surgery. You shouldn’t fast a ferret any longer than four hours, so keep its food and water accessible the night before the operation.[8]
    • Talk to your vet about when the ferret will be anesthetized so you can take food and water away in a timely manner.
    • Fasting for too long can weaken your ferret if it has any underlying conditions.
  2. 2
    Bring your ferret to the vet the morning of the procedure. When you take your ferret to the vet, they’ll take preliminary tests to make sure it’s healthy enough to undergo anesthesia.[9] They’ll then anesthetize your ferret, insert an IV catheter, and perform the operation.[10]
    • These tests can vary based on the veterinarian. They may do blood work, X-rays, or ultrasounds based on the needs and health of your ferret.
    • The vet will let you know what time you can pick up your pet. Ferrets can almost always go home the same day as the procedure.
  3. 3
    Relax and remember that neutering surgeries are routine procedures. It’s perfectly normal to feel nervous about spaying, neutering, or any other medical procedure. Try to relax and remind yourself that spaying and neutering are routine and safe.[11] If you have a female ferret, spaying could be a lifesaving operation.[12]
    • Ask your vet plenty of questions before the surgery to put your mind at ease. You might ask how long the surgery will take or how many previous surgeries they have done on ferrets before.
    • Female ferrets have a unique reproductive system. They go into heat continuously until they mate, which causes a dangerous buildup of sex hormones. Being in heat for over three weeks can cause bladder stones and infections, bone marrow failure, anemia, and death.[13]
  4. 4
    Pick up your ferret and ask about post-operative care. After the procedure, the vet will give you a call to update you and let you know when to pick up your ferret. When you go to the office to bring your pet home, the vet will give you specific post-operative care instructions and answer any questions you might have.[14]
    • Ferrets recover quickly from surgery, and your furry friend will most likely be back to its normal routine within 24 hours.
    • Ferrets are at risk of hypothermia after surgery. To keep your ferret warm, wrap a hot water bottle in towels and place it in its crate.
    • Your ferret needs plenty of water for up to 48 hours after surgery. Make sure they have constant access to clean, fresh water. Change their water frequently.

Part 3
Providing Post-Operative Care

  1. 1
    Offer your ferret warm, soft food to encourage it to eat. Choose a product that only contains meat, such as a meaty baby food. Microwave it for 10-20 seconds. Start offering your ferret food when it wakes up. If they don't eat at first, keep offering the food periodically until the ferret starts to eat.
    • After microwaving, test the food with your finger to make sure it is not too hot.
  2. 2
    Disinfect your ferret’s living area and provide fresh bedding. Clean your ferret’s enclosure thoroughly before you let it nestle into bed to sleep off its anesthesia. Take it apart, wash it with soap and hot water, and disinfect with a mild bleach solution. Rinse away the disinfectant, then reassemble the habitat and add fresh bedding.[15]
  3. 3
    Check the surgical site for issues at least once a day for a week. Ferrets heal quickly, but you should still check the surgical site for signs of complications. Look for swelling, redness, bleeding, or discharge. Call the vet immediately if you notice any of these symptoms.[16]
  4. 4
    Avoid strenuous activity for one week. Your ferret will probably run around and chase things the day after being spayed or neutered.[17] Try to discourage it from getting too rough, and keep its environment as quiet and stress-free as possible. Strenuous activity could hurt the surgical site.[18]
  5. 5
    Have the vet remove stitches if necessary. The vet will most likely use absorbable stitches that don’t need to be removed. If they used nylon or stainless steel sutures, you’ll need to bring your ferret to the office after seven to ten days to have them removed.[19]
    • Depending on how surgery went, the vet might have you schedule a follow-up visit even if they used absorbable stitches.

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    Categories: Ferret Health


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