The welfare of ferrets (Mustela putorius furo T). A review on the housing and management of pet ferrets

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

Volumn 139, Issue 3-4, 2012, Pages 155-168

  Vinke, Claudia M ^a   Schoemaker, Nico J ^a  

^a UTRECHT UNIVERSITY   (Netherlands)

Author keywords

Behaviour; Diseases; Ferret; Housing; Welfare

Indexed keywords

AGGRESSION; ANIMAL WELFARE; BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY; BEHAVIORAL RESPONSE; DIURNAL ACTIVITY; INFECTIVITY; MUSTELID; SOCIAL ORGANIZATION; TERRITORIALITY; VACCINATION;

ANIMALIA; HELICOBACTER; MUSTELA; MUSTELA PUTORIUS FURO;

EID: 84862643567     PISSN: 01681591     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2012.03.016     Document Type: Review

References (162)

1. Abou-Ismail U.A. Are the effects of enrichment due to the presence of multiple items or a particular item in the cages of laboratory rat?. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2011, 134(1-2):72-82.
2. Akre A.K., Bakken M., Hovland A.L., Palme R., Mason G. Clustered environmental enrichments induce more aggression and stereotypic behaviour than do dispersed enrichments in female mice. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2011, 131:145-152.
3. Alterio N., Moller H., Ratz H. Movement and habitat use of feral house cats Felis catus, stoats Mustela erminea and ferrets Mustela furo in grassland surrounding Yellow-eyed penguin Megadyptes antipodes breeding area in spring. Biol. Conserv. 1998, 83(2):187-194.
4. American Ferret Association. Ferret Color and Pattern Standards. Internetsite: Ferret.org. (not peer-reviewed publication) (retrieved 30.11.2008). http://www.ferret.org/events/colors/colorchart.html.
5. Anderson C., Arun A.S., Jensen P. Habituation to environmental enrichment in captive sloth bears. Effect on stereotypies. Zoo Biol. 2010, 29:705-714.
6. Andrews, P.L.R., Illman, O., 1987. The ferret. In: Poole, T.B., Robinson, R. (Eds.), The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory Animals, 6th ed., Longman Group, UK Limited, Ch. 27, pp. 436-455.
7. Anon., 2001. EU rapport. The welfare of animals kept for fur production. Report of the scientific committee on animal health and animal welfare. Adopted on 12-13 December 2001, Brussels, Belgium.
8. Anon., 2004. Beleid van de dierenbescherming over fretten als gezelschapsdier. Groep Beleid, Dier en Maatschappij. Report of the Dutch Organization for the Protection of Animals, Den Haag, The Netherlands [Title: Policy of the Dutch Organization for the Protection of Animals on pet ferrets] (not peer-reviewed publication).
9. Anon., 2010. Huisdierbijsluiter fret. LICG, Nederland. Internet site: (not peer-reviewed publication). http://www.licg.nl/wcs/lcg/nl/4137/fret.html.
10. Apfelbach R. Imprinting on prey odours in ferrets (Mustela putorius F. Furo L.) and its neutral correlates. Behav. Process. 1986, 12(4):363-381.
11. Appleby M.C. Life in a variable world: behaviour, welfare and environmental design. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 1997, 54:1-19.
12. Applegate J.A., Walhout M.F. Childhood risks from the ferret. J. Emerg. Med. 1998, 16(3):425-427.
13. Ashton E.H., Thomson A.P.D., Zuckerman F.R.S. Some characters of the skulls and skins of the European Polecat, the Asiatic Polecat and the domestic ferret. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1965, 125(2):317-333.
14. Banks R.E., Sharp J.M., Doss S.D., Vanderford D.A. Exotic Small Mammal Care and Husbandry Ferrets 2010, Wiley-Blackwell, USA, pp. 61-73.
15. Bartussek H. An historical account of the development of the animal needs index ANI-35L as part of the attempt to promote and regulate farm animal welfare in Austria: an example of the interaction between animal welfare, science and society. Acta Agric. Scand. 2001, 30:34-41.
16. Baum J.M. Effects of testosterone propionate administered perinatally on sexual behavior of female ferrets. J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 1976, 90:399-410.
17. Baum M.J., Canick J.A., Erskine M.S., Gallagher C.A., Shim J.H. Normal differentiation of masculine sexual behaviour in male ferrets despite neonatal inhibition of brain aromatase or 5-alpha-reductase activity. Neuroendocrinology 1983, 36:277-284.
18. Bays T.B., Lightfoot T., Mayer J. Exotic Pet Behavior. Birds, Reptiles and Small Mammals 2006, Saunders Elsevier Inc., St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
19. BBC News, 1999. Ferrets save millennium concert. Wednesday, 29 December 1999, 14:57 (not peer-reviewed publication).
20. Bekoff M., Byers J.A. Time, energy and play. Anim. Behav. 1992, 44:981-982.
21. Bekoff M., Byers J.A. Animal Play. Evolutionary, Comparative and Ecological Perspectives 1998, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
22. Bell J. Proven or potential zoonotic diseases of ferrets. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 1995, 195:990-994.
23. Bell J.A. Ferret nutrition. Vet. Clin. Exot. Anim. 1999, 2:169-192.
24. Belser J.A., Blixt S., Chen L.-M., Pappas C., et al. Contemporary North American influenza H7 viruses possess human receptor specificity: implications for virus transmissibility. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2008, 105(21):7558-7563.
25. Berzins R., Helder R. Olfactory communication and the importance of different odour sources in the ferret (Mustela putorius f. furo). Mamm. Biol. 2008, 73(5):379-387.
26. Bibeau C.E., Tobet S.A., Anthony E.L., Carroll R.S., Baum M.J., King J.C. Vaginocervical stimulation of ferrets induces release of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone. J. Neuroendocrinol. 1991, 3(1):29-36.
27. Blandford P.R.S. Biology of the polecat Mustela putorius: a literature review. Mamm. Rev. 1987, 17:155-198.
28. Boissy A., Manteuffel G., Jensen M.B., Oppermann-Moe R., Spruijt B.M., Keeling L.J., Winckler C., Forkman B., Dimitrov I., Langbein J., Bakken M., Veissier I., Aubert A. Assessment of positive emotions in animals to improve their welfare. Anim. Physiol. 2007, 92:375-397.
29. Botreau R., Bonde M., Butterworth A., Perny P., Bracke M.B.M., Capdeville J., Veissier I. Aggregation of measures to produce an overall assessment of animal welfare. Part 1: a review of existing methods. Animal 2007, 1:1179-1187.
30. Bracke, M.B.M., 2001. Modelling of Animal Welfare: the Development of a Decision Support System to Assess the Welfare Status of Pregnant Sows. Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering. Wageningen, The Netherlands. PhD-thesis, P.150.
31. Brambell Committee (Report). HC Deb 15 December 1965. 722, cc279-80W.
32. Broom D.M., Johnson K.G. Stress and Animal Welfare 1993, Chapman and Hall, London, UK.
33. Brown S.A. Basic anatomy, physiology and husbandry. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents, Clinical Medicine and Surgery 2004, 3-14. W.B. Saunders Company, UK. E.V. Hillyer, K.E. Quesenberry (Eds.).
34. Brown, S., 2007. History of the ferret. Small Animal health series. Internetsite: Veterinarypartner.com. (not peer-reviewed publication). http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx%3FP=A%26A=496.
35. Bulloch M.J., Tynes V.V. Ferrets. Behaviour of Exotic Pets 2010, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd., USA. V.V. Tynes (Ed.).
36. Byers J.A., Walker C. Refining the motor training hypothesis for the evolution of play. Am. Nat. 1995, 146:25-41.
37. Byrom A.E. Dispersal and survival of juvenile feral ferrets, Mustela furo, in New Zealand. J. Appl. Ecol. 2002, 39:67-78.
38. Caley P., Morriss G. Summer/autumn movements, mortality rates and density of feral ferrets (Mustela furo) at a farmland site in North Canterbury, New Zealand. N. Z. J. Ecol. 2001, 25(1):53-60.
39. Carpenter J.W., Mashima T.Y., Rupiper D.J. Exotic Animal Formulary 2001, W.B. Saunders Company. 2nd ed.
40. Chitty J. Ferrets: biology and husbandry. BSAVA Manual of Rodents and Ferrets 2009, 193-204. BSAVA, UK. E. Keeble, A. Meredith (Eds.).
41. Chivers S.M., Einon D.F. Effects of social early experience on activity and object investigation in the ferret, Mustela furo. Dev. Psychobiol. 1982, 15:75-80.
42. Church B. Ferret-polecat domestication: genetic, taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships. Ferret Husbandry, Medicine and Surgery 2007, 122-150. 2nd ed. J.H. Lewington (Ed.).
43. Clapperton B.K., Minot E.O., Crump D.R. An olfactory recognition system in the ferret Mustela furo L. (Carnivora: Mustelidae). Anim. Behav. 1988, 36(2):541-553.
44. Clubb R., Mason G.J. Captivity effects on wide-ranging carnivores. Nature 2003, 424:473-474.
45. Clubb R., Mason G.J. Natural behavioural biology as a risk factor in carnivore welfare: how analysing species differences could help zoos improve enclosures. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2007, 102:303-328.
46. Cooper J.J., Albertosa M.J. Behavioural priorities of laying hens. Avian Poult. Biol. Rev. 2003, 14(3):127-149.
47. Cross M., Smale A., Bettany S., Numata M., Nelson D., Keedwell R., Ragg J. Trap catch as a relative index of ferret (Mustela furo) abundance in a New Zealand pastoral habitat. N. Z. J. Zool. 1998, 25:65-71.
48. Davison A., Birks J., Griffiths H., Kitchener A., Biggens D. Hybridization and the phylogenetic relationship between polecats and the domestic ferret in Britain. Biol. Conserv. 1999, 155-161.
49. Dawkins M.S. Animal Suffering. The Science of Animal Welfare 1980, Chapman and Hall, London, UK.
50. Dawkins M.S. Battery hens name their price: consumer demand theory and the measurement of ethological 'needs'. Anim. Behav. 1983, 31:1195-1205.
51. Dawkins M.S. Behavioural deprivation: a central problem in animal welfare. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 1988, 20:209-225.
52. Dunstone N. The Mink 1993, T and AD Poyser, London, UK.
53. Dymond, S.J., 1991. Winter use by ferret (Mustela furo) of vegation buffer zones surrounding yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) breeding areas. University of Otago Wildlife Management. Report no. 15.
54. Einon D. The effects of environmental enrichment in ferrets. Environmental Enrichment Information Resources for Laboratory Animals. 1965-1995: Birds, Cats, Dogs, Farm Animals, Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents. AWIC Resource Series No. 2 1996, U.S.A. Department of Agriculture/Universities' Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW), Beltsville, MD/UK, pp. 113-126.
55. Fagen R. Animal Play Behaviour 1981, Oxford University Press, New York, USA.
56. Finkler M.R. A nutritional approach to the prevention of insulinomas in the pet ferret. Exot. Mamm. Med. Surg. 2004, 2.2:1-5.
57. Fisher P.G. Ferret behavior. Exotics Pet Behavior. Birds, Reptiles, and Small Mammals. 2006, Saunders, Elsevier Inc., Missouri, USA. T.B. Bays, T. Lightfoot, J. Mayer (Eds.).
58. Fox J.G., Bell J.A. Growth, reproduction, and breeding. Biology and Diseases of the Ferret 1998, Lippincott Williams & Wilkens, London, pp. 211-227. 2nd ed.
59. Fox J.G., Marini R.P. Helicobacter mustelae infection in ferrets: pathogenesis, epizootiology, diagnosis and treatment. Bact. Dis. 2001, 10(10):36-44.
60. Fox J.G., Otto G., Taylor N.S., Rosenblad W., Murphy J.C. Helicobacter mustelae-induced gastritis and elevated gastric pH in the ferret (Mustula putorius furo). Infect. Immun. 1991, 1875-1880.
61. Fox J.G., Pequet-Goad M.E., Garibaldi B.A., Wiest L.M. Hyperadrenocorticism in a ferret. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 1987, 191:343-344.
62. Grier J.W., Burk T. Biology of Animal Behaviour 1992, Mosby-Year Book Inc., Missouri, USA. 2nd ed.
63. Hall F.S. Social deprivation of neonatal, adolescent, and adult rats has distinct neurochemical and behavioral consequences. Critical Reviews in Neurobiology 1998, 1:129-162.
64. Hansen S.W., Møller S.H. Diurnal activity patterns of farm mink (Mustela vison) subjected to different feeding routines. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2008, 111(1-2):146-157.
65. Hillyer E.V. Ferret preventive medicine and clinical techniques. Exotic Animals: A Veterinary Handbook 1995, Veterinary Learning Systems Co. Inc., New Jersey, USA, (originally published in TNAVC 1994 Proceedings, vol. 8, 7-9).
66. Hinton H.E., Dunn A.M.S. Mongooses: Their Natural History and Behaviour 1967, Oliver and Boyd Ltd., London, UK.
67. Honess P.E., Marin C.M. Enrichment and aggression in primates. Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. 2006, 30:413-436.
68. Howerton C.L., Garner J.P., Mench J.A. Effects of a running wheel-igloo enrichment on aggression, hierarchy linearity, and stereotypy in group-housed male CD-1 (ICR) mice. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2008, 115:90-103.
69. Jackson S., van Hoeven N., Chen L.M., Maines T.R., Cox N.J., Katz J.M., Donis R.O. Reassortment between avian H5N1 influenza viruses in ferrets: a public health risk assessment. J. Virol. 2009, 83(16):8131-8140.
70. Jenkins J.R., Brown S.A. A practitioner's guide to rabbits and ferrets 1993, Amer Animal Hospital Assn, USA.
71. Jeppesen L.L., Falkenberg H. Effects of play balls on pelt-biting, behaviour and level of stress in ranch mink. Scientifur 1990, 14(3):179-186.
72. Johnson-Delaney C.A. Ferrets: anaesthesia and analgesia. BSAVA Manual of Rodents and Ferrets 2009, 245-253. BSAVA, UK. E. Keeble, A. Meredith (Eds.).
73. Jonasen B. Ontogeny of mink. Scientifur 1987, 11(2).
74. Jurek, R.M., 1998. A review of national and California population estimates of pet ferrets. Calif. Dep. Fish and Game, Wildl. Manage. Div., Bird and Mammal Conservation Program Re 98-09. Sacramento, CA, USA, 11 pp.
75. Kaufman L.W. Foraging cost and meal patterns in ferrets. Physiol. Behav. 1980, 25(1):139-141.
76. Korhonen, H., 1992. The effects of environmental enrichment in ferrets. In: Smith, C.P., Taylor, V. (Eds.), Environmental Enrichment Information Resources for Laboratory Animals: Birds, Cats, Dogs, Farm Animals, Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents. AWIV Resource Series (2), Beltsville, MD, US.
77. Kronfeld D.S. Nutrition in orthopaedics. Textbook of Small Animal Orthopaedics 1985, IVIS Ithaca, NY, USA. C.D. Newton, D.M. Nunamaker (Eds.).
78. Landsberg G., Hunthausen W., Ackerman L. Handbook of Behaviour Problems of the Dog and Cat 2003, Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Limited.
79. Laporte J.R., Carné X., Vidal X., Moreno V., Juan J. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding in relation to previous use of analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Lancet 1991, 337(8733):85-89.
80. Larsson F., Winblad B., Mohammed A.H. Physiological stress and environmental adaptation in enriched vs. impoverished housed rats. Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 2002, 73(1):193-207.
81. Lodé T. Comparative measurements of terrestrial and aquatic locomotion in Mustela lutreola and Mustela putorius. Zeit. Saugertier. 1999, 64:110-115.
82. Lodé T. Ontogenese des comportements de predation et role de l'experience alimentaire precoce chez Mustela putorius. Mammalia 1989, 53(4):497-509.
83. Lennox A.M. Gastrointestinal diseases of the ferret. Vet. Clin. North Am.: Exot. Anim. Pract. 2005, 8(2):213-225.
84. MacKay J. Complete Guide to Ferrets 1995, Swan Hill Press, an imprint of Quiller Publishing Ltd, Shrewsbury, UK.
85. MacKay J. Ferret Breeding 2006, Swan Hill Press, an imprint of Quiller Publishing Press, Shrewsbury, UK.
86. Marshall F.H.A. The estrous cycle in the common ferret. Q. J. Microsc. Sci. 1904, 48:323-345.
87. Martin G. Zur Käfighaltung von Legehennen. Eine Stellungnahme aus der Sicht der Verhaltenswissenschaft. Intensivhaltung von Nutztieren aus ethischer, rechtlicher und ethologischer Sicht 1979, 101-122. Birkhäuser, Basel. G.M. Yeutsch, E. von Loeper, G. Martin, J. Müller (Eds.).
88. Martin D.A. Bone marrow depression associated with prolonged oestrus in the European polecat and fitch ferret. Exotic Animals: A Veterinary Handbook 1995, Veterinary Learning Systems Co. Inc., New Jersey, USA, pp. 10-13.
89. Mason G.J., Mendl M. Do the stereotypies of pigs, chickens and mink reflect adaptive species differences in the control of foraging?. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 1997, 53:45-58.
90. Mason G.J., Cooper J.J., Clarebrough C. Frustrations of fur-farmed mink. Nature 2001, 410:35-36.
91. McCune, S., 1992. Temperament and the welfare of caged cats. PhD Thesis, University of Cambridge, UK.
92. BSAVA Manual of exotic pets. 2010, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, UK. 5th ed. A. Meredith, C.J. Delaney (Eds.).
93. Moorman-Roest J. De fret. Diergeneeskundig memorandum. Handleiding voor bijzondere dieren 1993, Gezamelijke uitgave van Mycofarm, Janssen Pharmaceutica en Solvay Duphar, pp. 82-88.
94. Moors P.J., Lavers R.B. Movements and home range of ferrets (Mustela furo) at Puke puke lagoon. N. Z. J. Zool. 1981, 8(1981):413-423.
95. Morgan M.J. Effects of post-weaning environment on learning in the rat. Anim. Behav. 1973, 21:429-442.
96. Morrisey J.K. Parasites of ferrets, rabbits and rodents. Avian Exot. Parasitol. 1996, 5(2):106-114.
97. Morrisey J.K. Ferrets: therapeutics. BSAVA Manual of Rodents and Ferrets 2004, 237-244. BSAVA, UK. E. Keeble, A. Meredith (Eds.).
98. Müller-Schwarze D., Stagge B., Muller-Schwarze C. Play behavior: persistence, decrease, and energetic compensation during food shortage in deer fawns. Science 1982, 215:85-87.
99. Newberry R.C. Environmental enrichment: increasing the biological relevance of captive environments. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 1995, 44:229-244.
100. Norbury G.L., Norbury D.C., Heyward R.P. Space use and denning behaviour of wild ferrets (Mustela furo) and cats (Felis catus). N. Z. Ecol. 1998, 22(2):149-159.
101. Oliveira A.F.S., Rossi A.O., Silva L.F.R., Lau M.C., Barreto R.E. Play behaviour in nonhuman animals and the animal welfare issue. J. Ethol. 2010, 28:1-5.
102. Orcutt C., Malakoff R. Ferrets: cardiovascular and respiratory system disorders. BSAVA Manual of Rodents and Ferrets 2009, 282-290. BSAVA, UK. E. Keeble, A. Meredith (Eds.).
103. van Oostrom H., Schoemaker N.J., Uilenreef J.J. Pain management in ferrets. Vet. Clin. Exot. Anim. 2011, 14:105-116.
104. Pedersen V. Gnawing Objects to Farm Foxes: Effect of Renewal, Sharing and Deprivation 2003, Zoological Institute, Department of Animal Behaviour, University of Copenhagen, Denmark., Report Fur Animal Welfare Committee (report reference: FA009).
105. Pham T.M., Ickes B., Albeck D., Soderstrom S., Granholm A.C., Mohammed A.H. Changes in brain nerve growth factor levels and nerve growth factor receptors in rats exposed to environmental enrichment for one year. Neuroscience 1999, 94(1):279-286.
106. Plant M., Lloyd M. The ferret. The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory and Other Research Animals 2010, 418-432. Wiley-Blackwell. 8th ed. R. Hubrecht, J. Kirkwood (Eds.).
107. Poole T.B. Aggressive play in polecats. Sym. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1966, 18:23-44.
108. Poole T.B. Some behavioural differences between the European polecat, Mustela putorius, the ferret, Mustela Furo and their hybrids. J. Zool. 1972, 166(1):25-35.
109. Poole T.B. The aggressive behaviour of individual male polecats (Mustela putorius, M. furo and hybrids) towards familiar and unfamiliar opponents. J. Zool. Lond. 1973, 170:395-414.
110. Poole T.B. Detailed analysis of fighting in polecats (Mustelidae) using ciné-film. J. Zool. Lond. 1974, 173:369-393.
111. Poole T.B. An analysis of social play in polecats (Mustelidae) with comments on the form and evolutionary history of the open mouth play face. Anim. Behav. 1978, 26:36-49.
112. Powell R.A. Mustelid spacing patterns: variations on a theme by Mustela. Z. Tierpsychol. 1979, 90:153-165.
113. Powell R.A. Structure and spacing of Martes populations. Biology and Conservation of Martens, Sables and Fishers 1994, 101-121. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, USA. S.W. Buskirk, A. Harestad, M. Raphael, R. Powell (Eds.).
114. Price E.O. Behavioural development in animals undergoing domestication. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 1999, 65:245-271.
115. Price E.O. Animal Domestication and Behaviour 2002, CABI Publishing, CAB International, Wallington, Oxon, UK.
116. Prohaczik A., Kulcsár N., Trigg T., Driancourt M.A., Huszenicza G. Comparison of four treatments to suppress ovarian activity in ferrets (Mustula putorius furo). Vet. Record 2010, 166:74-78.
117. Quesenberry K.E., Carpenter J.W. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery 2004, WB Saunders Co., Philadelphia, USA. 2nd ed.
118. Quesenberry K.E., Rosenthal K.L. Endocrine Diseases. Ferrets, rabbits and rodents, clinical medicine and surgery 2004, 79-90. W.B. Saunders company, UK. E.V. Hillyer, K.E. Quesenberry (Eds.).
119. Rosenthal K.L., Peterson M.E. Stranguria in a castrated male ferret. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 1996, 209:62-63.
120. Rosenthal K.L., Peterson M.E. Evaluation of plasma androgen and estrogen concentrations in ferrets with hyperadrenocorticism. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 1996, 209:1097-1102.
121. Rosenthal K.L., Peterson M.E., Quesenberry K.E., Hillyer E.V., Beeber N.L., Moroff S.D., Lothrop C.D. Hyperadrenocorticism associated with adrenocortical tumor or nodular hyperplasia of the adrenal gland in ferrets: 50 cases (1987-1991). J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 1993, 203:271-275.
122. Rushen J., Lawrence A.B., Terlouw C.E.M. The motivational basis of stereotypies. Stereotypic Animal Behaviour: Fundamentals and Applications to Welfare 1993, 41-64. CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon, UK. A.B. Lawrence, J. Rushen (Eds.).
123. Schilling K. Ferrets for Dummies 2000, IDG Books Worldwide Inc., CA, USA.
124. Schoemaker N.J., Schuurmans M., Moorman H., Lumeij J.T. Correlation between age at neutering and age at onset of hyperadrenocorticism in ferrets. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 2000, 216:195-197.
125. Schoemaker N.J., Teerds K.J., Mol J.A., Lumeij J.T., Thijssen J.H., Rijnberk A. The role of luteinizing hormone in the pathogenesis of hyperadrenocorticism in neutered ferrets. Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 2002, 197:117-125.
126. Schoemaker N.J., Van Deijk R., Muijlaert B., Kik M.J.L., Kuijten A.M., De Jong F.H., Trigg T.E., Kruitwagen C.L.J.J., Mol J.A. Use of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist implant as an alternative for surgical castration in male ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). Theriogenology 2008, 70(2):161-167.
127. Schoemaker N.J. Ferrets: endocrine and neoplastic diseases. BSAVA Manual of Rodents and Ferrets 2009, 320-330. BSAVA, UK. E. Keeble, A. Meredith (Eds.).
128. Seksel K., Mazurski E.J., Taylor A. Puppy socialization programs: short term and long term behavioural effects. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 1999, 62:335-349.
129. Siviy S.M. Neurobiological substrates of play behaviour. Animal play. Evolutionary, comparative and ecological perspectives 1998, 221-242. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. M. Bekoff, J.A. Beyers (Eds.).
130. Slayton, J., 2009. Ferret legging among the activities at Celtic festival. Richmond Times-Dispatch, 26 October, 2009 (popular publication).
131. Solnick J.V., Schauer D.B. Emergence of diverse Helicobacter species in the pathogenesis of gastric and enterohepatic diseases. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 2001, 14:59-97.
132. Špinka M., Newberry R.C., Bekoff M. Mammalian play: training for the unexpected. The Quarterly Review of Biology 2001, 76(2):141-168.
133. Staton V.W., Crowell-Davis S.L. Factors associated with aggression between pairs of domestic ferrets. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 2003, 222(12):1709-1712.
134. Tetley H. Notes on British polecats and ferrets. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1965, 155(1-2):212-217.
135. Thompson A.D. A history of the ferret. J. Hist. Med. Allied Sci. 1951, 6(4):471-480.
136. Thompson K.V. Self assessment in juvenile play. Animal play: evolutionary, comparative and ecological perspectives 1998, 183-204. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K. M. Bekoff, J.A. Byers (Eds.).
137. Thornton P.H., Waterman-Pearson A.E. Behavioral responses to castration in lambs. Anim. Welfare 2002, 11:203-212.
138. Thorpe, W.H., 1965. The assessment of pain and distress in animals. Report of the Technical Committee to Enquire into the Welfare of Animals kept under Intensive Livestock Systems. Command Paper 2836, HMSO, London, UK, pp. 125-134.
139. Torasdotter M., Metsis M., Henriksson B.G., Winblad B., Mohammed A.H. Environmental enrichment results in higher levels of nerve growth factor mRNA in the rat visual cortex and hippocampus. Behav. Brain Res. 1998, 93(1-2):83-90.
140. Trickett S.L., Guy J.H., Edwards S.A. The role of novelty in environmental enrichment for the weaned pig. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2009, 116:45-51.
141. Turner D.C. The human-cat relationship. The Domestic Cat. The Biology of its Behaviour 2000, Cambridge University press, UK. 2nd ed. Turner, Bateson (Eds.).
142. van den Berg, C.L., 1999. Play deprivation, long-lasting consequences of juvenile isolation in rats; involvement of opioid systems. PhD Thesis, University of Utrecht. Ponsen & Looijen BV, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
143. van den Berg C.L., Hol T., Everts H., Koolhaas J.M., van Ree J.M., Spruijt B.M. Play is indispensable for an adequate development of coping with challenges in the rat. Dev. Psychobiol. 1999, 34(2):129-138.
144. Vanderschuren, L.J.M.J., 2010. How the brain makes play fun. American Journal of Play. Winter 2010© by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, USA.
145. Van Leeuwen M. Inventariserend onderzoek naar het aanbod en de welzijnsconditie van bijzondere huisdieren bij opvangcentra in Nederland (Inventory on Welfare Conditions of Exotic Animal Species in Dutch Animal Rescue Centers) 2010, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
146. Varty G.B., Paulus M.P., Braff D.L., Geyer M.A. Environmental enrichment and isolation rearing in the rat: effects on locomotor behavior and startle response plasticity. Biol. Psychiatry 2000, 47(10):864-873.
147. Veasey J.S., Waran N.K., Young R.J. On comparing the behaviour of zoo housed animals with wild conspecifics as a welfare indicator. Anim. Welfare 1996, 5:13-24.
148. Veissier I., Butterworth A., Bock B., Roe E. European approaches to ensure good animal welfare. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2008, 113:279-297.
149. Vinke C.M. Onderzoek naar de welzijnsomstandigheden van exotische dieren in de dierenhandel. Rapport Interfacultair Centrum Welzijn Dieren 1998, Faculteit Diergeneeskunde, Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands, 107 pp. (Policy Report).
150. Vinke C.M. Some comments on the review of Nimon and Broom on the welfare of farmed mink. Anim. Welfare 2001, 10:315-323.
151. Vinke C.M., Eenkhoorn N.C., Fermont P.C.J., Netto W.J., Spruijt B.M. Stereotypic behaviour and tail biting in farmed Mink (Mustela vison) in a new housing system. Anim. Welfare 2002, 11(2):231-245.
152. Vinke C.M., van den Bos R., Spruijt B.M. Anticipatory hyperactivity and stereotypical behaviour in American mink (Mustela vison) in three housing systems differing in the amount of enrichments. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2004, 89:145-161.
153. Vinke C.M., van Deijk R., Houx B.B., Schoemaker N.J. The effects of surgical and chemical castration on intermale aggression, sexual behaviour and play behaviour in the male ferret (Mustela putorius furo). Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2008, 115:104-121.
154. Vinke C.M., Hansen S.W., Korhonen H., Mohaibes M., Mononen J., Bakken M., Cooper J.J., Spruijt B.M. An interpretation of farmed mink's motivation for a water bath: to swim or not to swim?. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2008, 111(1-2):1-27. (review).
155. Vinke C.M., van Eijk I.A.M., Boissevain I. Inventarisatie en prioritering van welzijnsproblemen binnen de sector bijzondere dieren 2011, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands, (Dutch Policy Report).
156. Wanker R. Socialization in spectacled parrotlets (Forpus conspicillatus): how juveniles compensate for the lack of siblings. Acta Ethol. 1999, 2(23):23-28.
157. van de Weerd H.A., van Loo P.L.P., van Zutphen L.F.M., Koolhaas J.M., Baumans V. Preferences for nesting material as environmental enrichment for laboratory mice. Lab. Anim. 1997, 31:133-143.
158. Weiss C.A., Williams B.H., Scott M.V. Insulinoma in the ferret: clinical findings and treatment comparison of 66 cases. J. Am. Anim. Hosp. Assoc. 1998, 34(6):471-475.
159. Welter J., Taylor J., Tartaglia J., Paoletti E., Stephensen C.B. Vaccination against canine distemper virus infection in infant ferrets with and without maternal antibody protection using recombinant attenuated poxvirus vaccines. J. Virol. 2000, 74(14):6358-6367.
160. Wolf P., Hebeler D. Characteristics of the digestive physiology in ferrets. Kleintierpraxis 2001, 46(3):161-164.
161. Woodley S.K., Baum M.J. Effects of sex hormones and gender on attraction thresholds for volatile anal scent gland odors in ferrets. Horm. Behav. 2003, 44:110-118.
162. Zimmerman A., Stauffacher M., Langhans W., Würbel H. Enrichment-dependent differences in novelty exploration in rats can be explained by habituation. Behav. Brain Res. 2001, 121:11-20.