Female ferrets are induced ovulators, which means that they ovulate eggs from their ovaries only when stimulated to do so by the friction of mating. A Jill in season will have a persistently swollen and enlarged vulva. An intact Jill in season that has not been mated will generally remain in heat for very long periods of time and this is dangerous to the jill due to the massive amounts of estrogen.

Estrogen at toxic levels causes thinning of the fur (especially in the tail-base region) and, most critically, bone marrow suppression. The estrogen stops the bone marrow from making red blood cells (which carry oxygen around the body); white blood cells (which fight disease, cancer and infection) and platelets (which help the blood to clot). Ferrets suffering from prolonged estrogen toxicity can suffer from severe infections (due to white blood cell loss) and severe bruising and blood loss (from platelet loss). Untreated, this can result in the death of the ferret.

 

The best way to prevent this is to have your ferret friendly Vet Neuter her to prevent her from coming into season and producing dangerous amounts of estrogen. If you are breeding her or she is not spayed then you can use the jill jab or a vasectomised hob but neither is as apropriate as neutering. Jill Jab works out expensive as they can come back into seaon and there has been side affects.

 

Jills that are not taken out of season and develop Aplastic Anemia will show symptoms of:

 

Breeding ferrets is not like breeding cats or dogs. Many things can go wrong during and after your jill’s pregnancy, so if you value your girl, please don’t consider using her to breed from if you are inexperienced or don't need to.

 

Due to the high amount of Jills left in season we will be Introducing for 2012 a Service inwhich we will put your in season Jill to a vasectomised Hob to take her out of season. She will have a Phantom Pregnancy (not produce babies) and be taken out of season. On healthy Jills free from illness can use the service to stop spread of diseases. Please see the Vasectomised Service Page.