I am very sorry about your loss, Jim.

Some of the shower hooks are chrome which is among the bad heavy
metals, and alternatively galvanized ones can cause zinc poisoning. The
latter is why galvanized dishes and exposed galvanized wire in homemade
cages can pose risks (and also why to not use galvanized wire for
making certain types of upright planters for food plants, plus it is
some antique planters as is lead). There may be some types of shower
hooks with other heavy metals accessible, too.

You can read more about zinc poisoning in _Biology and Diseases of the
Ferret_ and it is probably in both editions (another recent FML topic).
BTW, that book in its second edition still has the best chapter on
illness and poisonings that can be food related of any ferret vet text
I have read though it is old, and for those who are interested in brand
new vet texts: _Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents, clinical medicine and
surgery, THIRD edition_ is now on pre-order.

Interestingly, Petco has a page on avoiding heavy metal poisoning in
ferrets with mentions about:
Lead
Zinc
Cadmium
Copper
Silver
Gold
Mercury

<http://www.petco.com/Content/Article.aspx?id=455&redirecturl=%2FShop%2Fpetco_SearchResults_sm_Article.aspx>

but it is not friendly for reduced vision. When increased in size it
goes off the page, so I can't do more than pick out a few words from
their website and will have to pdf it to read it later myself.

(Actually, I recall an abstract sometime in the last few years with a
serious problem caused by Colloidal Silver and Colloidal Gold, but am
down with bronchitis and can not recall details offhand. If interested
then try searching in PubMed and the archives of the FML and FHL.)

Essential resource all should have not only in bookmarks but also with
the contact info printed out and put where it can very easily be found
later:

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/

and as a back-up also keep:

http://www.mspca.org/programs/pet-owner-resources/animal-poison-control-hotline/

and I have read of the third one for the U.S. and Canada existing but
can not recall name and know nothing about it. Try Googling veterinary
+"poison control"

It is important for animal poison control resources that are accessible
for their locations to be kept handy by everyone.

This is a reply for the FML but it might save even more ferrets if it
also appears on the FHL so am sending it there, too.

We have had items with metal clips that had chrome plate in the past. I
will have to search through our bedding and remove any that are found,
so many thanks, Jim, for sharing your heartbreaking story. Our ferrets
may be among the ones you have saved by doing so.

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

"All hail the procrastinators for they shall rule the world tomorrow."
(2010, Steve Crandall)

[Posted in FML 7224]