Landmines: do they know that ferrets prong when excited?  Such concentrated
jumping might be a risk factor for setting off the mines if there is enough
force.  If this could be done safely I'd imagine that the ferrets would be
considered very valuable and would be treated royally as a result; it would
also be good PR.  Research situation which tend to involve training tend
to be very loving ones -- except in those universities which have very
repressive vets.  Not all do; some have marvelous conditions and fine
controls over types of experiments considered acceptable -- it varies.
(Many years ago worked with primates that were used for a non-invasive form
of mobility research -- that the researchers also did on themselves -- and
which had incredible living conditions.  The university vet was fine about
that.  That same school a few years ago (Don't know about now.) had a
different vet who placed human health and ease way, way above the living
conditions for the primates became very bad.  The department is still very
careful to do what they can to take the best care possible of the critters
but the ceiling on basic living conditions dropped way down and they can't
do a thing about that, though they still try.  Despite easy categories
people often fall back toward, sometimes the researchers are the good
guys.)
 
With limited funds the professional videotape of the procedure becomes a
great way to get the best learning experience per dollar spend.  We have
sent out an order and are giving it to the vet hospital we use because our
specialist is going to be moving (for a positive reason, though one not
connected to medicine or the practise).  That's a loss personally and also
a loss for our ferrets.  Since the videotaping is supposed to cover a LOT
of things with detailed information and viewing of diagnostics,
exploratory, partial pancreatomy, right and left adrenalectomies, splenic
tumors, gastric hairballs, cryosurgery, replacement hormone therapy,pre-
and post-operative care, and more, we have placed an order, one for us as
a loaner, and one to the hospital as a gift so that the remaining vets can
learn about ferrets.  We just view it as an investment.  At times we also
give a little to them to help care for animals which have impoverished
owners and need prices reduced or are strays; this time we won't be able
to do an end-of-year donation that way or only a tiny one due to the
videotape, but just think of the ferrets it may save.  In the continental
U.S. it's $195; Ferret Video Productions, POB 59510, Potomac, MD 20859.
 
Question: Karen Purcell's book is great for vets unused to ferrets, but
I've lost the ordering info.  Have one for us, but would like to pass on
the ordering information and loan our copy of the book to the hospital.
Guess I'll have to use the search function when get a chance, but if anyone
has that info handy and wants to save me time (tomorrow is Dad's vascular
surgeon appt., and there's another family member in our immediate human
family with a surgical consultation on Wednesday)...
 
Seven year old Meeteetse has begun bruising so she had to get into the vet
yesterday and have blood drawn for tests.  The place was the same area in
which she had a lesion in Sept.  when she got behind me and tripped me --
just used a light scruff for a short while to clean her ears and she got
raspberry right away -- which fortunately is almost gone today.  This is
very aberrant.  She has also not been getting completely past a quick
intestinal virus which Jumpstart and I also had last week, and recently she
had pneumonia (rare in ferrets) and pluerosy (exceedingly rare in ferrets),
so something appears to be going on, though we still hope that there's just
some damage from the injury and the rest is coincidence.  She's always had
popped nodes -- ever since kithood so that can't help with a quick-see, and
her heart rate has always been fast, ditto always had a busted tail from
original people (at a pet store) who tried to hit her out of biting when
she was only trying to dislodge an unshed and turned-on-its-side deciduous
canine caught between two adult teeth that had caused a gum sore -- I got
the baby canine out on first try with forceps and we then got her to the
vet with the thing draining, and she never bit again.  A node was pulled
when she had insulinomae and her left adrenal out over a year ago and that
node was clean at that time.  Has several mast cells tumors again --
typically not a big deal and they aren't itching her too badly, yet.
Hoping for one of the least nasty options, but with easy bruising and a
problem easily getting and then not being able to rapidly toss infections
she might have something unpleasant behind all this so have to find what is
going on and respond accordingly.  She is such a sweet-heart, very cuddly
and very kissy, and likely to be the biggest beggar of ANY ferret we have
ever known or even met.  Almost didn't tell you, yet, because it's
upsetting and we haven't gotten the tests back, yet, but figured you can
hope for her.
 
Misplaced Kerry's address but wanted to say THANK YOU; we've located some
RDs in Great Falls to possibly help Steve's parents after his triple-by
pass thanks to your lead of the American Dietetics Association!
FML people are the BEST!!!!!
[Posted in FML issue 2851]