subject: Baby Ferrets - Procedures To Keep Baby Ferrets Healthy [print this page] Baby ferrets, or kits, need a lot of attention and care. By making the right moves early in their lives, you may lengthen their lifespans significantly. A handful of procedures will make or break your ferret's life in major ways.
The first, and arguably the most important item on the list, is their vaccinations. Distemper is the most important vaccination series as it is almost always fatal if contracted. Generally you will get your baby ferrets with their first distemper shot already. Usually there are three more thereafter, given a few weeks apart. As with most animals rabies is also on the vaccination list.
Unless you'll be breeding your ferrets, get them spayed or neutered early. The idea may seem cruel, but if you know anything about ferret physiology, you'll find it's far more cruel and dangerous not to (at least in the case of females). Unless your female ferret has regular sexual contact or is spayed, it may be in heat for months at a time. This releases gobs of estrogen into the system which may become toxic in time. Males will become less aggressive after being neutered. All ferrets will have their coat softened and have them smelling more pleasantly as a result of the procedure.
Descenting may be a factor in the minds of some kit owners. Ferrets have a defensive mechanism much like a skunk's spray when they feel threatened. After this procedure they may no longer do that. There isn't much time for you to decide for or against this as it may only be done with any modicum of ease in a short time period when they are young. The majority of those that own ferrets never have a problem even without having this procedure done to their pet.
In summation, the critical ones for baby ferrets are distemper and rabies vaccinations and getting females spayed. The others are based on your preferences and situation Pet stores often sell their baby ferrets already altered and descented, so ask before you buy.
