On 10/28 of this year, Skittles underwent surgery for her adrenal disease. The
vet said she handled the anesthesia well, but that he couldn't get the tumor, it
was on the right adrenal and behind her vena cava. She's doing well and the
surgical incision is healing up nicely. However, after I got her home that
night, I noticed that her foot had swelled up larger than anything I had ever
seen. (I posted a picture)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/photos/recent/1526509009/view
I took her back to the vet the following day and he gave her some shots, put a
gel on her foot and gave her some antibiotics. The next day, it was actually
looking a bit better, but over the weekend, it swelled back up, even bigger this
time. Her poor little paw got so swollen that the skin actually split open. Back
to the vet. He wrapped her foot and kept for almost a week. I brought her home
last Friday, with the understanding that she would have to go back Monday,
Wednesday and Friday of this week for bandage changes and monitoring. Yesterday,
they had the bandage off for one hour and within that time, her foot had swollen
back up again. They offered to let me take her home last night, but I refused.
This morning, her foot did look a bit better size wise, but it has some definite
sores on it that need to be taken care of. Now, her vet is a ferret specialist
and does hundreds of ferrets a year - he said he's never seen this happen
before. He said that it could have been from when she tied up during surgery
(but again, he's never had this happen before) or she could have developed a
blood clot. Either way, she's been dealing with this bummed foot now for almost
3 weeks. Has anyone ever heard of this or ever had this happen to their fuzzy?
Any input would be greatly appreciated. I will try to get another picture of her
foot tonight (if she will let me) so that you all can see what it looks like
now.

Thanks for any help you guys might be able to provide!

Kristen and the Sunny Bunch
Sparky, Snickers, Frito, Skittles, Rusty, Rascal and Precious
(Yup - we grew! LoL)

I am confused about the pumpkin use.  I was also under the impression that you
would use pumpkin to make them go to the bathroom and try to get rid of
hairballs or possible obstructions.   What exactly is the pumpkin use for???  
 
Thanks for all of your advise,
Anita with Freddie,Tango,Cocoa
and forever missing my Pepe,Doofy,Sammy,Levi,
                                and now also Mr. Sissy




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>
> I wanted to mention though, so it is clear to others trying to loosen a
possible hairball, that pumkin is not the thing to use. Pumpkin binds the stool,
to use occasionally in cases of diarhea. It is not to use with a ferret with a
possible obstruction.
>
> Risa
>
> I've actually used pumpkin quite successfully on both partial obstructions due
to hair, and on a total obstruction due to foam rubber. The extra fiber in the
pumpkin does bind to loose, watery stool, yes, however it also works to simply
push a potential blockage the rest of the way through the bowel.
Sherry

You are right and wrong. You can use the Pumpkin to bind the obstructed object
and PULL it through the intestine. I learned that on animal planet of all places
(yes on a ferret) and also saw it here on the FHL before that I am pretty sure,
maybe it wa on the FML. On animal planet is where I learned to mix it with a
little meat baby food so they would eat it readily! The episode on AP they
X-Rayed the ferret every few hours so it showed the movement of the obstruction,
it was really cool and I really learned a lot. SO, you can use it for an
obstruction. Thanks, Mary Jo
Ps- I had used this pumpkin regime last year on a ferret that had swallowed a
foreign object also and it worked. She pooped it out while at the vets waiting
for an Ultrasound! I went ahead with that Ultrasound to make sure all was okay
and she was clear.


--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, TheRagans@... wrote:
>
> What is the best product to use if a partial obstruction is  suspected?
>
> Thanks in advance .... Tamera in South Bend, new to the list.
>
>
> In a message dated 11/13/2009 1:46:53 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> risadg@... writes:
>
> I  wanted to mention though, so it is clear to others trying to loosen a
> possible  hairball, that pumkin is not the thing to use. Pumpkin binds the
> stool, to use  occasionally in cases of diarhea. It is not to use with a
ferret
> with a  possible obstruction.
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

This topic came up last year about this time.  Pumpkin works in 2 ways.  The
fiber in the pumpkin adds bulk which helps with constipation.  It also works for
diarrhea in that the fiber absorbs the water in a diarrhea stool, therefore
making the stools firmer and preventing some of the water loss.  I have used
pumpkin for almost 2 years now in my duck soup and I have not had to deal with a
hairball, or give any other hairball medication.  I like the fact that it is a
natural remedy and if you use 1 can to 6 pounds of meat, the carbohydrates it
adds to the soup is minimal.

Louise

Laurel,  I wonder if since her urine was green (I know that indicates a urinary
infection in males, I'm guessing the same w/ females, but I'm not totally sure),
I am thinking that her spleen may be enlarged from some type of urinary
infection?  Has any vet mentioned that possibility?
Andrea

[I did not have time to look things up yesterday
with our own ferret emergency (all well now)
but posters should ALWAYS remember to check
the over eight and half years of past posts in the
separate FHL archives which can be linked from
the FHL homepage.  For "green urine" they will
find Andrea's smart idea and also these past  posts
from vets and other members on green urine causes:

Liver problem:
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG2077
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG2136
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG2140
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG2166

Anemia:
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG2130

Urinary Tract Infection:
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG2130

an observation of green urine with heartworms:
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG7365

possible dietary cause:
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG7431
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG7393

--Moderator]

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=11+1290&aid=551
*Breanne*

I would be cautious about syringe feeding her unless you've been shown how to do
it correctly.  There's risk of aspiration with syringe feeding.

Generally dipping your finger into the food and putting some on her mouth should
encourage her to lick it off.  It may take a few tries before she'll start
licking it from your finger and you may have to feed her entirely from your
finger.  However, its much safer than syringe feeding.  A few drops of ferretone
in the duk soup generally help as well.

However, if she is actually licking the side of the bowl then she is likely
eating.  Some ferrets don't like to get food on their whiskers as already
mentioned.

You describe her pee but not her stool.  Is it normal looking?    How old is
she?

Tressie

Leo,

    I'm sure you'll hear from someone much more knowledgeble than me but for what
it's worth one of my boys did that a couple years ago and suffered no ill
effects. I was worried about something causing a blockage but nothing happened.
I asked my vet and he wasn't too concerned.

                Matt Claus

You will need to be very careful not to let her do anything too strenuous, as it
could lead to a rupture of her spleen, if it's really enlarged.  That would kill
her.   I know ferrets can have their spleens removed, but you'd need a
knowledgeable ferret vet/surgeon.

As for eating, try mixing a little ferretone or Uncle Jim's Duk Soup mix with
the Gerbers Stage 2, adding some water, and heating until warm, not hot.  Then
try sitting her on your lap with the bowl and see if she's more interested in
eating.  You can entice her first with the aroma of the soup,  then let her lick
a little off your clean finger. You can then proceed to feeding with a spoon,
and hopefully at that point she'll go ahead and eat from the bowl.  This usually
works for us with sick ferrets.   Syringe feeding is a possibility, but you have
to know what you are doing, or she could inhale the food and get aspirate
pneumonia.  Then you'd have a major problem.

Jeff
In Memory of Neo and Mr. Parker
Caring for Trinny, Morphy, Baby Girl, Luna, Dozer, and Possum the Million Dollar
Ferret


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thank you. I didn't realize that about getting her face dirty. My other guy just
dives in.
Laurel

Hi there,

What are the symptoms for both these bugs Giardia and Coccidia?

Thank you,

Jilli + 3

--- On Tue, 11/10/09, RisaD <risadg@...> wrote:

From: RisaD <risadg@...>
Subject: [ferrethealth] Giardia treatments
To: "FHL FHL" <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 5:18 PM

       I'm wondering if there are other treatment plans for Giardia other than
Flagyl.

--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "Laurel Dittman" <dadittman@...> wrote:
>
> A couple of weeks ago she started drinking lots of water, refusing to eat and
sleeping constantly.

>The next day she was running in circles.

>She quit eating altogether and one time her urine was bright green.

>her spleen is enlarged.

>She has gone from a happy energetic ferret to a limp exhausted ferret who I
manange to feed a bit of Gerber chicken to each day. She acts as if she's hungry
but then starts lapping the side of the bowl instead of the food.

>Any ideas?


You may be dealing with lymphoma.

Karen McCabe
http://www.cinnamonsprite.net

<http://www.smallanimalchannel.com/critter-experts/ferret/how-to-care-for-a-preg\
nant-ferret-0911.aspx
  >

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/
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
all ferret topics:
http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html

I would suggest getting blood work done as quickly as possible.  It will point
your vet in the proper direction.  As for feed Baby, I would get a syringe and
make sure she's getting 15-30 cc of baby food in her twice a day.  I mix my
chicken baby food with a little heavy cream (for added fat) and heat it up in
the microwave.  All my guys would rather just lick off the side of the bowl too
as they don't like getting their faces dirty.  I'm sure that will help her
strength.

Good luck.


--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "Laurel Dittman" <dadittman@...> wrote:
>
> I adopted Baby from a shelter recently. The woman who surrendered her told
them no details of her past life. She was extremely thin when I got her. I put
her on Totally Ferret and she was doing very well. A couple of weeks ago she
started drinking lots of water, refusing to eat and sleeping constantly. I took
her to a vet who said some virus and put her on baytril. The next day she was
running in circles. Took her back and they gave her pain meds and said stay on
the baytril. She quit eating altogether and one time her urine was bright green.
I took her to a different vet. He will do blood work next week but until then
has put her on clavamox and said he can feel that her spleen is enlarged. She
has gone from a happy energetic ferret to a limp exhausted ferret who I manange
to feed a bit of Gerber chicken to each day. She acts as if she's hungry but
then starts lapping the side of the bowl instead of the food. Any ideas?
> Laurel and Baby
>

What is the best product to use if a partial obstruction is  suspected?

Thanks in advance .... Tamera in South Bend, new to the list.


In a message dated 11/13/2009 1:46:53 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
risadg@... writes:

I  wanted to mention though, so it is clear to others trying to loosen a
possible  hairball, that pumkin is not the thing to use. Pumpkin binds the
stool, to use  occasionally in cases of diarhea. It is not to use with a ferret
with a  possible obstruction.




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

ok I took my ferret Zeek to the vet again yesterday... hes a quick recap of his
story ...
  3 weeks ago found out zeek had Insulnomia, was put on  Predelisone , he also
had a small lump on his spine , the vet thought it might be just arthritis and
said that if it was the pred would help some , well, as of 3 weeks later Zeek is
still not using his hind end to walk but is able to move his legs , so I called
my vet and told him what was still going on , ( after many other phone calls to
the man ) ..lol.   I made  an appointment for him for yesterday to get an x ray
, and what was found was a Calcium Mass in the middle of his spin and that is
why he isnt walking, my vet is at a loss at to what to do for him to fix this
besides maybe surgery , and that is totally out of the question as he will be 8
yrs old in march, so does anyone else have any ideas of anything I can give to
him to disolve this calcium mass , I was doing a lot of reading last night and I
have found threw some Herbal Remedie sites that amino acids and antioxidents 
will actually dissolve bone spurs and calcium masses on the bones , but my
question is  I guess is has anyone else heard of this tried it and how much do u
actually give to a ferret that weighs on 2.5 pnds.
  oh and bye the way his sugar is fine so that is not the problem





Suz & THE FUZZ-BUTTS





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I am so sorry for you loss!! Without signs of thin stool and straining to go it
would be a hard thing to diagnose. I don't know if it would show up on an x-ray.

That is a hard call to make, if they are really sick and may not make it through
exploratory surgery, that would be a hard way to lose them.

I wanted to mention though, so it is clear to others trying to loosen a possible
hairball, that pumkin is not the thing to use. Pumpkin binds the stool, to use
occasionally in cases of diarhea. It is not to use with a ferret with a possible
obstruction.

Risa


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

i have a call into my vet waiting on a call back now. one of my climbers got on
my  desk and has  chewed up some  halls throat  lasongers (sp) it  does not seem
he ate a  whole one any thing i should be looking out  for

I adopted Baby from a shelter recently. The woman who surrendered her told them
no details of her past life. She was extremely thin when I got her. I put her on
Totally Ferret and she was doing very well. A couple of weeks ago she started
drinking lots of water, refusing to eat and sleeping constantly. I took her to a
vet who said some virus and put her on baytril. The next day she was running in
circles. Took her back and they gave her pain meds and said stay on the baytril.
She quit eating altogether and one time her urine was bright green. I took her
to a different vet. He will do blood work next week but until then has put her
on clavamox and said he can feel that her spleen is enlarged. She has gone from
a happy energetic ferret to a limp exhausted ferret who I manange to feed a bit
of Gerber chicken to each day. She acts as if she's hungry but then starts
lapping the side of the bowl instead of the food. Any ideas?
Laurel and Baby

In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "MJB" <mary_jo_bright@...> wrote:
>
>  I can't believe I killed my ferret for no real reason.
>

I think you are blaming yourself prematurely for something that may still have
ended badly. Many years ago in the 1980's I had a female ferret who began
grinding her teeth and was reluctant to eat.

I'd only had a few ferrets prior to her, and relied on local vets who were
exotic vets, but perhaps not up on the ferret illnesses that may have been known
about at that time. The first vet I consulted told me (when I said I suspected
from reading that perhaps Stubby had a gastric ulcer) told me that ferrets just
did not get gastric ulcers.

We tried various treatments to no avail. I then found a second vet closer to my
home - a kind woman who said (when I explained I'd read up on the symptoms) that
perhaps it might be an ulcer since nothing else seemed to fit. She suggested a
barium meal and a radiograph to see if the ulcer would show up. The ferret was
deteriorating by then.

The ferret did not want to swallow the barium suspension, and we force fed her -
I held her, and I remember she struggled. She became limp and unresponsive. To
the veterinarian's horror when she rushed to develop the radiograph, the stomach
had ulcerated through and the barium suspension was all over the peritoneal
cavity. Both of us felt dreadful. The veterinarian was upset. The ferret died
within a few minutes. I have never forgotten it. I mentioned non-judgmentally to
the first veterinarian (several years later) that the ferret had an ulcer after
all, and she was very interested. I thought about it, and realized that
veterinarians try to diagnose to the best of their ability, and that sometimes
despite the best of intentions they and we cannot always diagnose what is
wrong.If a veterinarian (or owner) beat themselves up about every misdiagnosis
or unsuccessful surgery, they (and we) would never be able to learn and
progress.

Even if you had somehow figured out the problem, and done the surgery, it could
have been that the ferret would have died on the operating table. At least your
ferret was euthanized, whereas poor Stubby had a more protracted and probably
painful passing.I still remember her and wish I had somehow had pushed more for
trying some ulcer therapy, but even so - maybe she would not have responded -
and there may not have been much success with treatment in the 80's.

It's so hard when one feels something got missed. That's why the FHL is such a
great site - information and communication so we can learn.

Meryl

.... what are the possible causes of a ferret vocalizing in the litter  box?

I am open to any and all suggestions, experiences, theories.  I'd  rather
not learn via necropsy what is causing this.  Only other major  symptom is
the lack of appetite, though she is OK with hand feeding for  now.

Thanks in advance ...

Tamera in South Bend
Waiting for new meds to start working, calling vet tomorrow, blood work
pending

OK - I lied .... one more query.

Anyone here ever tried making their own ferret food rather than using
commercial products?  Someone suggested changing out the Gerber Chicken  with
Gerber Turkey, and I went to buy some at the store, read the label, and  found
the fat content of the turkey half that of the chicken.  Three hours  later
it dawns on me that a dash of olive oil (canola?) could quickly make up
the fat content difference.

However, Is it possible that she's getting too much fat in her diet?   The
Carnivore Care is 45% protien, 32% fat and the Gerber has 7 grams fat and 8
grams protein per jar (eats one every other day).  Additionally, she's
getting 1/2 tsp FerreTone daily.  Certainly gained her weight back quickly,
but also now have the vocalizing in the potty issue.  I need RDA for  ferrets!




[Responders should remember that discussions of
personal food preferences should be private responses,
BUT discussions of any ways to create or provide a
balanced diet are fine.

A helpful animal food creation site by a person who
has doctorates in both animal nutrition and in
veterinary medicine is
http://www.petdiets.com/
Cat requirements come close to ferret ones in many
ways.
-- Moderator]

Having lost Whizbang to diabetes recently I am noticing announcements
like this one more.  It may also be useful for extreme vulvar
infections, another problem that Whizbang had.

http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=22814

Short quotes:

> ...Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, are
> developing a new type of pill  [that can go to the] bloodstream
> through the gut.
>
> Pills must go through the stomach’s acid, and then to intestines
> filled with enzymes designed to break down molecules such as insulin.
>
...
> Tejal A. Desai, who is leading the study, is designing a spiny-bead
> structure to fill with the drugs. The spines will be silicon
> nanowires that will stick to the hair-like cilia covering the cells
> lining the gut. Once the two stick together, the drug can be
> absorbed through the gut, into the bloodstream.
>
...

> [Her] new approach may potentially also offer the ability to deliver
> drugs to other parts of the body including nasal mucosal tissues,
> lungs, and the vagina.

Also:

http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=22815

>Thin films of silver and copper embedded in a porous ceramic
>can kill bacteria and may one day be used to battle hospital infections.

>Using ceramic structures, Dana Filoti, a graduate student in physics
>at the University of New Hampshire, is researching the hypothesis
>that a combination of silver and copper might work synergistically
> to better kill bacteria. "The hard ceramic structure looks like Swiss
> cheese and inside the holes there are ions of silver and copper,"

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/
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
all ferret topics:
http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html

I posted asking for help on Fossa a few months ago (grinding teeth, non
responsive to helicobactor meds normal blood work, Ultrasound fine ect.)and only
received one kind response saying sometimes it takes longer and just hang in
there.

I finely just couldn't see her in the pain she was in ( It was down to forced
feedings) and couldn't keep her pain under control with the pain meds and had
her euthanized. I hated it. A bouncing around ferret put to death. I had a
second vet Ultrasound her one week before I had her euthaninized also. So, she
had 2 Ultrasounds 60 days & 7 days before her death. Neither vet hospital picked
up the hairball.

Upon necropsy she had a hairball cast of her stomach and that was the cause of
her pain and death. I post this so if you have a ferret with Fossa symptoms you
may consider an exploratory surgery. No one even mentioned one to me as an
option. I didn't think of a hairball because I had given her a 5 day regime of
pumpkin and petromalt just in case of a blockage. I would have thought that any
hairball would have been removed then. I would have thought that a hairball
would show up on an Ultrasound. They are suppose to I am told. But hers did not,
twice and it cost her her life. I can't believe I killed my ferret for no real
reason. Please learn from mine & Fossa' experience and don't let it happen to
you and your ferret! Thanks, MJB

Hi all:

Oreo had her appointment with a Chicago area ferret vet today.

Vet was "very pleased" with her condition; "very good" considering her
age.  She got the best exam ever - palpated everything, looked at  everything,
listened to everything, noted anomalies before I mentioned all of  them.  I
quickly got the distinct impression this vet has treated many,  many ferrets
(vet identified the breeder from her tattoo). Oreo got 2 x-rays and  blood
work to help diagnose.  Here's what vet thinks ....

Glucose level was great at 109.  Her prednisolone dose was  decreased.

Her X-rays show a thickening (tumor?) in the area just past her stomach,
inlet to her intestine.  Does not appear to be blockage or fur ball (wrong
area).  Vet believes she has indigestion/excess acid from this ...  thing.
Could cause ulcers.  Vet believes  this is one of  her primary problems
(feeding issues).  Vet doesn't feel the pancreas  is causing her any excessive
grief now, though suspects adenoids are  dysfunctional; thought her mouth
looked good -  that excessive  chewing action was a function of upset tummy.

Rx'd  BeneBac probiotics, Phytomucil (herbal), and Nux Vomica
(homeopathic) to help settle her upset digestive system.  Further blood  test
results
are pending.

Hers is not an easy case.  Vet feels she is a good surgical candidate  ...
no brainer if she was 3-4.  Her age makes it more difficult to decide
wether or not to pursue surgery ot any sort.  At this point, we wait for  blood
work to be finished, see how she responds to the new meds.

Thank you to all who whispered a prayer for little Oreo (763 gms), to all
who responded with suggestions to my plea for help.  She did well today.  I
know now that she has highly skilled medical  care.

Tolls to and from Chicago - $12.20
Hardees for lunch - $13.50
Ferret saavy vet - Priceless!


Tamera
Mom to Oreo and 11 other furry souls



[Adenoids are lymph tissue at the back of the throat.
Were you wondering about her throat due to nausea
and inappetence?  I don't think that I recall reading
of these ever being a problem in ferrets in the past.
-- Moderator]

<http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/vet-breaking-news/2009/11/11/more-oregon-\
ferrets-test-positive-for-h1n1.aspx>

More information:

http://news.vin.com/VINNews.aspx?articleId=14275

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/11/more_ferrets_in_oregon_get_swi.\
html

--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "sukiedaviscrandall" <sukie@...> wrote:
>
>
> more on avoidance and also shedding periods for humans
>
>
<http://www2.starexponent.com/cse/lifestyles/culpeper_news/article/recent_tests_\
show_cats_can_have_h1n1/46762/>
>

I'm wondering if there are other treatment plans for Giardia other than Flagyl.

One of our boys tested positive for Giardia and Coccidia. All three of our
ferrets were put on a course of flagyl (in addition to Albon for the coccidia).
The flagyl course was three times a day, for 8 days. Their doses varied due to
their different weights. The one with the positive fecal was especially hard to
get the flagyl in, he did this mouth thing where he would start to drool/foam it
out immediately in addition to trying to face fling it.

After treatment the fecal showed positive for coccidia still but neg for
giardia. We did a longer course of albon, and the next fecal came back neg for
coccidia and positive for giardia. We did a course of an experimental Panacur
but the fecal today showed positive for giardia.

Does anyone know of another treatment? I'll be talking to our vet tonight. I
know Biaxin is sometimes an alternate course than flagyl, but not sure if it's
effective for giardia.

We have all this time been washing their bedding with Rocal-D, scrubbed the
floor with it, removed everything from their room and cleaned with it. We
switched to puppy pads with the first diagnosis to avoid recontamination in the
litter box, and have been using them since.

Risa


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

My little boy passed away yesterday. I arrived at [vet hospital name removed per
rules]  around 8am. They brought Bruce to me, who looked so tired and weak.
Lymphoma was diagnosed. I really believed he hung on until I could get there. I
can't believe my baby is gone. He wasn't even 4 years old. I didn't get enough
time with with. I pray that he is happy and know how much his mama misses him.
Thank you all for reaching out with ideas concerning Bruce.

[Moderator's reminder:
I am am sure that a number of members will want to
send private notes of sympathy to Crystal because so
many of us know the heartbreak of hidden lymphoma,
and so many of us have had a loving ferret hold on just
long enough to say goodbye.

While all of our hearts are with Crystal, PLEASE,
remember that notes of sympathy that lack new
health content must be sent directly to the poster
instead of being posted to the FHL.]

Lance,
  Please tell us more of Wullie:
How and what he eats, what he does when he comes out for play.
  He may be grieving over the loss of his friend, or he may have a medical issue
that can be addressed.

We are here to help.