Expert: Marcia Owen - 5/19/2008

Question
hi thanks for your response to my previous questions.I am actually in the uk.I have looked on the net regarding provera and it doesn't state at what age you can start using it?I spoke to a breeder and she orders her over the net from the US but i cant find any site that does not require a prescription?I have also read a little about tom teasers,i assume this is to use a neutered male to bring the queen out of season but surely he wont try and mate if he is not entire?I have not know any neutered tom to want to mate after castration?Other than provera is there anything else that can be used to control calling at all?thanks

Answer
Hi Kelly

When you mentioned Provera I assumed you were in the USA.  However to my knowledge, it is not available in the UK.  Its equivalent is Ovarid and is only obtainable from vets.  If you really want to use Provera you will have to find out where the breeder orders it from.  However UK breeders have been using Ovarid in very small quantities as I mentioned in my previous mail, for many years

Your reference to teaser toms is quite right a castrated male will not mate a girl, however a vasectomised tom will but it is not common to do this in the UK.  Any means of artifically altering a calling cycle whether it be by Ovarid or a teaser tom always carries risks of pyometra, though I must stress to you that it is a very small risk.

If you are considering breeding you might like to consider joining a Novice Breeder Advice Yahoo Group which has members ranging from just starting out right through to 30+ years experience.  Should you think this group would be of benefit do go along to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NoviceBreederAdvice/ and join.  Do however make sure you reply to the message Yahoo sends asking for more information from you to enable me to approve membership.

Regards

Marcia