Russ,
The ear wax may be normal. Do you notice a strong odor around the ears? If
you have a magnifying glass and a good eye you should be able to see the
small white mites if you rub the wax on a sheet of dark paper.
The dry paws are fairly common in older ferrets. A little petrolium jelly on
the foot pads will help moisturize. Don't over do it or you'll have greasy
paw prints all over the house.
Dick B.
[Posted in FML issue 1218]