Betty, if the ferret responded lovingly to her name then I'd think sticking
with it would make sense, but since she has had so little interaction that
she doesn't even respond to her name, sure you should feel free to consider
changing it.  We've had adults who have gotten new names with no problems,
and when a ferret has been abused and has a name we always change it as
part of new beginnings -- kind of like the way that a number of people who
were abused children change names as adults or take a legal alias.
 
Steve and I are wondering if part of Warp's problem may that she might also
be starting to develop megaesophagus along with her small intestine problem
from autoimmune disease, or if all the reflux and vomiting she's had
associated with that might have damaged part of the esophagus.  She says
"Glack!" sharply several times after each meal now, even ones which are
given vertically, and if she eats in non-vertical postures she is not
unlikely to bring up at least part of what she's eating.  On her own she
will simply no longer eat enough to maintain even a thin weight, and even a
thin soup with something like A/D will be licked-above rather than eaten --
sort of smell-tasting rather than tasting.  On the other hand, if it is put
into an accordian -top dropper (Ezy Dose, 1 tsp Dr. Clown 67032) and held
above her head with her held vertically she eats a small but full meal that
way, very happily so, too.  Should have tried the vertical posture before
now.  We just let it slowly drip into her mouth and she obviously has great
pleasure from it.  Yesterday she happily did that every four hours plus
over a space of maybe 18 hours, and she weighs 3/4 oz more than yesterday
and is more enthusiastic.  Of course, even with the gain that is still only
1# 4 and 1/2 oz. on a girl who normally is about 1# 11.  Her energy level
has not dropped below low-normal but I think that's because we jumped so
fast with assistance, given the rapid weight loss.  She's a bony little
thing now, but lovey-dovey and not acting like she's in any pain except in
association with normal eating.  Hope she does not also have that, but am
starting to learn about it in case.  Have a discussion and an appointment
set up with vet.  I know there's been stint work done with dogs and that
there have been some dog meds considered for ferrets (but don't know if any
were useful on trials in ferrets, or what would even make sense to try on
her, yet), and know that vertical feeding makes a great difference, and
that aspiration pneumonia is a grave danger in such individuals if she does
have megaesophagus.  It may not apply to her, and we'll heave a sigh of
relief if she looks okay on that score, but would rather be as safe as
possible for her, even if it does give us some worry.  The only esophageal
problems we've ever dealt with before in a ferret was an esophagus
compressed by dilative cardiomyopathy, so this scare is just one of those
unpleasant reasons to learn which can happen.  It's easier in some ways
when they get things a person is used to dealing with.  NOT happy about
what I've read on megaesophagus so am hoping it's not that; maybe the
posture is somehow easier on her friable small intestine, which hopefully
hasn't torn itself again.  Six years is too danged young for her to have
such concerns.
[Posted in FML issue 3068]