Creating a Teaching Aid for Ferret Reproductive and Adrenal Anatomy

Nicoll, Sarah; Norman, Rebecca

Abstract

The ferret (Mustela putorius furo) is a species often overlooked in veterinary teaching as it is not one of the core domestic species traditionally taught on vet programs. Ferrets are popular pets in the UK and US thus it is likely they will increasingly present to small animal general practitioners requiring advice and treatment. Ferret reproductive behaviour and physiology can be inconvenient for owners and can present health risks if not managed appropriately (Sherrill and Gorham, 1985). Surgical neutering is one way to control reproduction, it is a controversial procedure in ferrets as early neutering is a potential risk factor for development of primary hyperadrenocorticism (Schoemaker et al., 2000). Therefore a good working knowledge of the reproductive and adrenal systems in the ferret is clinically relevant, and a teaching aid was required specifically to demonstrate this. The teaching aid consisted of a ferret cadaver that had been embalmed, dissected to show the urogenital tract and adrenal glands and then subsequently plastinated. A poster was produced to accompany the plastinated ferret detailing reproductive issues which arise in this species and how to control them.

Citation

Nicoll, S., & Norman, R. (2017). Creating a Teaching Aid for Ferret Reproductive and Adrenal Anatomy. Journal of the Institute of Anatomical Sciences, 43-47

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 14, 2017
• Publication Date: Nov 15, 2017
• Deposit Date: Apr 20, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 20, 2021
• Print ISSN: 1471-8871
• Publisher: The Institute of Anatomical Sciences
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Issue: 18
• Pages: 43-47
• Keywords: Ferret, embalming, dissection, plastination, reproduction
• Public URL: https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/output/1548365