WOLVERHAMPTON FERRET BOARDING

Prolonged Oestrus in Jills

There are still people who believe that their ferret must have a litter every time she comes in season or she will die.

There is a certain amount of truth that if you do leave your ferret in season for a long period of time that she may die, but you DO NOT NEED TO BREED as there are methods that can bring your Jill out of season with out having to find homes for 6 - 8 kits.

Jill’s come into season between March and September. Ferrets are induced ovulators and need the stimulation of mating to ovulate. If they are not mated they will remain in season. Remaining in season results in high levels of oestradiol, which leads to bone marrow suppression, pancytopenia and eventual death.

There are methods of bringing your ferret out of season which

Include; the Jill jab which will need to be administered by your veterinary surgeon (there is a chance that your Jill may come back into season that same year and may require a second injection), use of vasectomised hob who will bring your Jill out of season with no kits produced (but there is a chance she may have a false pregnancy) or you may decide to have your jill speyed which will rule out the health problems related to the season.