spayed

[codycat]

Has anyone had their female squirrel spayed?

[whopoopwrasse]

why would you want to do that? :thinking

[PBluejay2]

why would you want to do that? :thinking

Just the question I wanted to ask!

[Ardilla]

Aside from the ethical considerations, I recall reading on TBS that it's unsafe to put an animal that small under general anesthesia for the length of time required for the operation.

Spaying squirrels is a definite no-go. Ditto on neutering males.

[TinyPaws]

Besides that, squirrels are notorious for messing with stitches, bandages...to the point at times it could mean their life....meaning self mutilation.....I also say NO......

[squirrelfriend]

My vet said that they had spayed a squirrel there before. But I myself have raised many squirrels males and females together and I have not had any of them try to breed. No babies. I wish they would!:D Therefore I don't think that spaying is necessary. I agree on the squirrels would chew at the stitches. Plus the cost for a procedure that doesn't really need to be done.

[prgault]

One reason to spay/neuter captive wildlife would be to eleminate hormonal fluctuations associated with breeeding and reduce the resulting behaviors and possible stress.

P_

[Pointy Tale]

I'm not a rehabber, but I would not spay or castrate, unless there was a real specific reason to do so and so far, for me I have not found a good enough reason. This is only my personal opinion.

[muffinsquirrel]

I have had my NR male greys neutered, and they had no ill effects from it. They were up and climbing around their cage by that evening. I DO NOT recommend having flyers neutered, as they are worse than greys about chewing stitches - I know of several people that lost their flyers because they would not leave the wound site alone.

I would NEVER have a female squirrel spayed, unless it was a life or death situation. Spaying is much more intrusive than neutering. They are under anethesia much longer than for neutering, and squirrels do not take anethesia very well. And squirrels are so small that the operation is much more difficult.

muffinsquirrel

[Ardilla]

I have had my NR male greys neutered, and they had no ill effects from it. They were up and climbing around their cage by that evening. I DO NOT recommend having flyers neutered, as they are worse than greys about chewing stitches - I know of several people that lost their flyers because they would not leave the wound site alone.

I would NEVER have a female squirrel spayed, unless it was a life or death situation. Spaying is much more intrusive than neutering. They are under anethesia much longer than for neutering, and squirrels do not take anethesia very well. And squirrels are so small that the operation is much more difficult.

muffinsquirrel

:goodpost

[scurry'smama]

Just wanted to add some 2 cents to this.... we had a female rat spayed years ago, she was much smaller than a female squirrel and she did great. Had not one ill effect from the anesthetic or actual spay surgery.
I will not spay our girl squirrels, just wanted to add that I have had a very small pet spayed with no problems.
Main reason for spayng cats and dogs relate to health issues that can arise, of course the behavioral aspect is always a consideration with them. I wonder if people with squirrels as pets think of spaying and neutering from that view.?... testicular tumors, prostate probs for males and mammory tumors and or pyometra in females. All of which can be very life threatening.
Just wondered if that was why some consider doing it or if it is always hormonal reasons?

[thunderstarstruk]

dunno about squirrels.. but im thinking i might have my baby boy rats neutered so i can keep them in the cage with the females and not have zillions of accidental litters! (because i dont really want to give them away!!)