I have two baby male ferrets and the one is now dragging the other by his neck causing him to squeal?

Question

they are not neautered yet will this help

Answer 1

This is dominance behavior. They're trying to figure out who is the "stronger, better" ferret. This sort of behavior will continue until it's resolved, and it may periodically come back! Don't worry unless there is blood, OR one ferret is constantly being harassed by the other to the point of being ill, OR one ferret is preventing the other from eating or drinking. These signs mean that you need to separate them and look into other ways to get them to like each other.

However, this behavior may be a constant with two un-fixed males. Un-fixed males are very aggressive, and it's dangerous to leave them together.

Answer 2

This is only play and it is sorting out who is going to be the dominant ferret.

By neautering your ferrets there in 90% chance that it will end up with cancer of one form or another.

Answer 3

Normal behavior for kits who are play fighting and figuring out who is dominant. No blood no worry. The squealing is not from pain; it is submission (at least temporarily).

If it is a dominance issue and you over-protect the submissive one then it will go on longer.

Now, with two adults who know each other but suddenly begin to do that persistently consider the possibility of adrenal neoplasia and have a vet check...


Sukie (not a vet)

Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html

Answer 4

I don't know much about ferrets, but if an animal is in pain it will squeal. I would separate them for their own health and safety. I doubt neutering will help. People think that neutering solves a host of animal difficulties and most of the time it doesn't.

Answer 5

This is normal behavior, neutered or not. They are sorting out their own pecking order and when they find an equilibrium between themselves it will stop. I would personally prefer my ferrets to be neutered at any rate. Just out of curiosity...why haven't you opted to do so?

Answer 6

Hi. My ferrets do that as playing, they don;t squeal. It is normal in ferrets to play with each other like that. If they are only kits [under 1 yr of age] or if it's coming into mating season, they will do this alot! I bought 2 ferrets from the shelter a couple of weeks ago, they weren't neautered before I had them & 1 of them had a BIG pink scare where the other has bit him very hard before. It was because it was season & there were no girls to mate with. You could try having them neautred & see if it helps, if it doesn't try getting a girl to put with them but you will have to have her spayed because the 2 boys won't mate with her as they loose the 'urge' to |& she will die if un-mated. Hope I helped & Happy New Year. From Karlee x.
P.S. My ferrets are all ok together now [3 boys, 1 girl] as they have all been neautred / spayed.

Answer 7

This is part of their play, although they can get a little too rough with each other at times...keep a squirt bottle of water nearby and squirt them once, they usually don't like it and will break up whatever they are doing.

Answer 8

its completely normal dont worry its just a sign of dominence. its what you can do to train them not to bite it shows that theyre the dominent one

Answer 9

i think it is a man thing hun, keeping 2 males together is risky, try seperating them or u will have a huge vets bill on your hands, its similar to this is my home not yours fight. good luck

Answer 10

separate now as one has to be "boss" you will prob have to have both neutered