To Carinne and Rascal, who shows a fondness for newspaper:
 
        Congratulation Carinne, on getting your new ferret.  I hope everything
works out this time.
 
        Concerning ferrets who eat paper - small pieces will  pass through.  But
if Rascal eats too much, it can cause a blockage. I have seen several ferrets
over the years that died from accumulations of paper in their intestine.  This
is especially prominent in younger and older ferrets, whose stomach are not
secreting as much acid (either due to immaturity or gastric Helicobacter
infection.
 
        While there is nothing toxic in newpaper, I would suggest something else
for under the litter pan.
 
       Bruce Williams, DVM                 Department of Veterinary Pathology
       [log in to unmask]         Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
       (202) 782-2600/2602                 Washington, D.C.  20306-6000
[Posted in FML issue 1069]