Is it Male or Female?

Question
How doI determin if my ferret is male or female?

Answer
Hi Anthony:

I will assume you just got your ferret :-)  - CONGRATULATIONS!  I hope you will learn as much as possible about him/her. That's the ONLY way you can ensure that your ferret will live a long healthy life. Ferrets are very very different than ANY other pet, so you are going to need to do a lot of reading!  Here are some great websites that will tell you about FERRETPROOFING (that's super important to keep your ferret safe!) and other topics important to new ferret parents.

FERRETPROOFING (do this BEFORE bringing a ferret home if possible):  
* http://www.ferretcentral.org/faq/part2.html#ferretproofing
* http://groups.msn.com/Ferret/yourwebpage10.msnw
* http://groups.msn.com/Ferret/ferretproofing2.msnw

GENERAL INFO - ALL TOPICS: (PERFECT FOR FOLKS CONSIDERING OR NEW OWNERS)
* www.thechipster.com/fert-man.html   <----------BEST!!
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferret#See_also
* http://www.ferretcentral.org  & scroll down to topic necessary
* http://www.craftycreatures.com/forferretsonly/ferret_school/ferretschool_aboutfe...
* http://www.craftycreatures.com/forferretsonly/ask_angela/index.html

To figure out if you have a male or female ferret, turn your ferret over on it's back (be sure to support his/her back or lay it on the bed for this exam).  Does it look like your ferret has a belly button? If so, that's not a bellybutton, it's a penis. If your ferret's tummy is smooth and just has a little bump under the anus (another opening under the opening just beneath the tail), then you have a little girl.

A really easy way that doesn't even require looking at the ferret! Look at where the ferret has gone potty - if the ferret's pee lands just about on top of the poop, it's a girl.....if the pee is a couple inches in front of the poop, it's a boy!

CONGRATULATIONS - please please be sure to get your ferret's necessary vaccinations if it's a baby. They usually have the first distemper when you get them from nearly any pet store, but needs two more distemper boosters at 11 and 14 weeks; then one distemper booster yearly; Rabies shots need to be given once a year. Your ferret should receive an injection of BENADRYL *before* any vaccinations are given (both distemper AND rabies) and never ever give distemper and rabies shots in one visit to the vet.

It's very important that your ferret have a vet who specializes in ferrets or "exotics". Regular dog and cat vets don't automatically have knowledge about ferrets unless they have had specialized training in ferrets. Here are some lists of ferret vets - hopefully you can find one within driving distance so you can get your little one established right away and get going on those vaccinations...if it's a new kit (baby).  Otherwise, be sure to check with the previous owner to see when vaccinations are due and be sure to get vet records from the previous owner. You DON'T want to duplicate vaccinations, as they seem to be much much more likely to have serious (life threatening) reactions of they receive duplicate injections overlapping coverage.

Best of luck - take lots of pictures!

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers